Neshannock rolls over North Catholic
Neshannock (71) vs. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (28)
Written: Nov 12, 2016
  By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
New Castle News
BUTLER — The Neshannock High football team is giving the scoreboard a real workout.
Last week, the Lancers rolled up 533 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns in a win over Serra Catholic.
Friday night, Neshannock found a way to outdo that performance.
The Lancers rang up 601 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns in a 71-28 WPIAL Class 2A win over Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic in the quarterfinals at Butler High School.
"I'm very pleased we're moving on," Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio said. "We were right on point offensively tonight. Things were clicking.
"Everybody was doing a great job on both the offensive line and our skilled guys. We had great practices all week and it carried over into tonight."
Neshannock (11-1) advances to play Washington (11-0), a 61-27 victor over Brentwood, on Nov. 19 at a time and site to be determined.
Lancers quarterback Frank Antuono turned in another stellar effort. He was 13 of 17 for 257 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Antuono also amassed 127 yards rushing on 14 carries with three touchdowns.
All four of Antuono's touchdown passes went to Danny Welker. Welker finished with six catches for 152 yards, while rushing four times for 28 yards.
"They're clicking right now and they have a great chemistry," Mozzocio said of the Antuono to Welker connection. "They've been playing together since they were little kids.
"Things are working out right now for them. Hopefully they can continue to stay hot."
Antuono, who accounted for seven of the 10 touchdowns, surpassed a personal milestone in the victory. He came into the game with 99 total touchdowns — 58 through the air and 41 on the ground. Antuono now has accounted for 106 career touchdowns.
"I couldn't have done it without my linemen and the receivers I'm throwing to," he said. "All week at practice we just wanted to be crisp on offense. We really came out and executed the way we wanted to.
"The line today blocked great. Our wide receivers were making plays after catching the ball. We couldn't have done it without them."
Neshannock notched 454 of its total yards in the half in building a 50-28 lead at the break.
"We came out and we executed on offense," Antuono said. "Our offense executed really well and I'm happy with that."
Despite the fact that it's the postseason, the Lancers are averaging an incredible 65.5 points a game.
"This is what we do," Mozzocio said. "We're going to keep the pedal to the metal in the playoffs.
"We're not taking any chances. We don't want to be denied. We want to get to the WPIAL championship game. Whoever is in our way, we have to put points up on the board. We understand that."
The only hiccup in the win came on special teams for Neshannock. The Trojans scored two of their four touchdowns on kickoff returns.
In fact, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (6-5) scored four first-half touchdowns and managed just three first downs.
"We have to clean up some stuff with our special teams. That's a concern," Mozzocio said. "Give them credit, they have some athletes back there.
"Defensively, we have to keep playing the way we've been playing. We're pleased with the way we played in the second half."
The Lancers are going back to the WPIAL semifinals for the fourth time during Mozzoci's five-year tenure.
"We're thrilled to be going back," Mozzocio said. "The feeling every day at practice and in the locker room is these kids want to get there so bad. They want to play so bad for a WPIAL championship. All I can tell you is our kids will lay it on the line next week and we'll let the chips fall where they may."
Said Antuono, "We were there in my freshman and sophomore seasons. We couldn't get it done. This is the year. This is our time."
Sean Doran delivered 149 yards rushing on 17 carries with three touchdowns for Neshannock.
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
CWNC NESHANNOCK
6 First downs 29
134 Yards Rushing 357
12 Yards Lost 13
122 Net Rushing 344
13 Passes Attempted 17
6 Passes Completed 13
0 Passes Intercepted 0
77 Yards Passing 257
199 Total Yards 601
4-3 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
2-26.0 Punts-Average 2-26.5
8-100 Penalties-Yards 5-96
CWNC 7 21 0 0 — 28
NESHANNOCK 14 36 21 0 — 71
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — Sean Doran, 11-yard run (Tristan Tuck kick).
CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATHOLIC — Joey Porter Jr., 84-yard kickoff return (Noah Kosobucki kick).
NESHANNOCK — Frank Antuono, 12-yard run (Tuck kick).
NESHANNOCK — Danny Welker, 47-yard pass from Antuono (Tuck kick).
NESHANNOCK — Welker, 10-yard pass from Antuono (Tuck kick).
CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATCHOLIC — Mario Latronica, 5-yard run (Kosobucki kick).
NESHANNOCK — Antuono, 13-yard run (Tuck kick).
NESHANNOCK — Welker, 33-yard pass from Anutono (Antuono run).
CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATHOLIC — Michael Tomlin, 77-yard kickoff return (Kosobucki kick).
NESHANNOCK — Welker, 30-yard pass from Antuono (Tuck kick).
CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATHOLIC — Latronica, 71-yard run (Kosobucki kick).
NESHANNOCK — Antuono, 3-yard run (Tuck kick).
NESHANNOCK — Doran, 4-yard run (Tuck kick).
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