North Catholic too much for Spartans
Laurel (14) vs. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (54)
Written: Oct 08, 2016
By Clayton Sauertieg
New Castle News
Laurel high football coach Brian Cooper knew his team was undermanned.
Without running backs Spencer Jones, Jesse Pacifico and Lance Hill, the Spartans simply could not keep up with WPIAL Class AA Midwestern Conference opponent Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic. The Trojans used their superior speed and depth to top host Laurel, 54-14.
"We just had too many injuries to come back," Cooper said. "The kids played hard. The young guys are in there doing the best they can. They're a good football team, we have to get better and keep working and hopefully we get some of our guys back and are ready to finish strong."
North Catholic (3-1, 4-2) received an early shot in the arm from dynamic running back Mario Latronica, who bounced a quick handoff outside and turned on the jets to take it 64 yards for the opening touchdown just 17 seconds into the contest. It then doubled that lead early in the second quarter on a Joey Porter Jr. 13-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Ryan Maziarz.
Porter is a son of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr. Joey Porter Sr. was in attendance, as was current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, whose son Michael also plays for North Catholic.
But the Spartans ((3-3, 4-3), led by freshman quarterback Will Shaffer, didn't lie down. A 39-yard touchdown pass from Shaffer to senior wide receiver Jordan Dantico cut the Trojans' lead to 12-7, midway through the second quarter. North Catholic answered immediately, however, as Latronica added another touchdown run of 51 yards on the first play on the ensuing drive. The senior finished the night with an impressive 155-yard, two-touchdown performance on the ground.
Laurel was able to move the ball well on the Trojans, who are coached by former Steelers linebacker Jason Gildon, but a couple of red zone interceptions proved to be costly.
"We needed to capitalize on our opportunities a couple of times down near the end zone and we weren't able to do that," Cooper said. "You can't keep giving that team opportunity after opportunity without putting points on the board."
North Catholic received a spark from a quarterback change in the second quarter, with sophomore William Gipson spelling Maziarz. Gipson went seven of twelve through the air for 167 yards and three touchdowns despite playing slightly over half of the game. He also added 92 yards on the ground on just four carries.
The change worked a treat for the Trojans offense, which scored 35 of its 54 points after Gipson was inserted into the game.
"Will's a great, really athletic guy," Gildon said. "We've been trying to get him more involved and bring him along slowly and he definitely provided a spark for us tonight. But they (Laurel) fought. They're at home, it's homecoming and they you'd expect nothing less from a team like that."
The loss was Laurel's second consecutive, as it fell to conference leader Neshannock last week. It will now head to non-conference opponent Deer Lakes next Friday as it looks to right the ship.
"We just have to put this one behind us. We can only do one thing, and that's keep focusing and getting back," Cooper said. "We're a good football team, we know we're a good football team. That score is not any indication of what type of team we are and we just have to get some of those guys back and be able to finish. Right now that's where we're at and hopefully by next week things change."
(Email: csauertieg@ncnewsonline.com)
C. W. North Catholic Laurel
8 First downs 15
224 Yards Rushing 191
6 Yards Lost 8
218 Net Rushing 183
17 Passes Attempted 32
11 Passes Completed 11
0 Passes Intercepted 4
219 Yards Passing 192
437 Total Yards 375
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
2-20.5 Punts-Average 4-36.0
14-127 Penalties-Yards 3-32
C.W. NORTH CATHOLIC 6 13 7 28 — 54
LAUREL 0 7 0 7 — 14
Scoring plays
NORTH CATHOLIC - Mario Latronica, 64-yard run. (XP Failed)
NORTH CATHOLIC - Joey Porter Jr., 13-yard pass from Ryan Maziarz. (Conversion failed)
LAUREL - Jordan Dantico, 39-yard pass from William Shaffer. (Andrew Perry kick)
NORTH CATHOLIC - Latronica. 51-yard run. (Noah Kosobucki kick)
NORTH CATHOLIC - Porter Jr., 78-yard pass from William Gipson. (Kosobucki kick)
NORTH CATHOLIC - Jack Cassidy, 17-yard pass from Gipson. (Kosobucki kick)
NORTH CATHOLIC - Tyree Brown, 22-yard pass from Gipson. (Kosobucki kick)
NORTH CATHOLIC - Cassidy, 22-yard interception return. (Kosobucki kick)
LAUREL - Daniel Black, 1-yard run. (Perry kick)
NORTH CATHOLIC - Cameron Branch, 53-yard run. (Kosobucki kick)
|