Kirkwood, Lancers level Western Beaver
Neshannock (17) vs. Western Beaver (6)
Written: Oct 10, 2009
  By TODD KRISE
t_krise@ncnewsonline.com
Chris Kirkwood played like a man possessed last night.
And Western Beaver High felt the effects.
The Neshannock linebacker tore through the Golden Beavers’ offensive line time and again, registering big hits and lost yards.
“I was psyched,” Kirkwood said.
The rest of the Lancers’ defense followed suit in helping Neshannock to a 17-6 Big Seven Conference win.
“The defense played really great today,” Neshannock coach Pat Cuba said. “They played excellent. They kept people off of him (Kirkwood) and gave him an opportunity to run. Then he can get a beat on somebody and come down hill and hit somebody.”
The Lancers’ defense had plenty to prove entering last night’s game, after allowing 34 points or more in each of their last four contests.
Kirkwood said the defense has been “coming early and staying late” to watch film. The extra work translated into Neshannock’s best defensive output since its shutout against Kennedy Catholic in Week 1.
Kirkwood made his presence felt the most early in the third quarter.
Western Beaver (1-3 conference, 1-5) was moving the ball and threatening to tie the score at 7, but on third-and-2 Kirkwood blasted through the line and flattened running back Dustin Creel. He did the same thing to quarterback Joe Dawida on fourth down.
After each play, Kirkwood flexed his muscles and let out a triumphant scream.
“We know what’s coming and we’re just hitting people,” Kirkwood said. “We’re just going to keep doing that week in and week out.”
On offense, Kirkwood was just as bullish.
He carried 12 times for 45 yards and notched the Lancers’ second touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter.
Kirkwood all but sealed the win for Neshannock (1-3, 2-4) on a third-and-12 pass from John Sansone in the fourth. Again, Kirkwood leveled an oncoming tackler to pick up 22 yards.
“He’s a great kid,” Cuba said of Kirkwood. “He’s going to be a good player for somebody next year. Anybody that wants a good player, he’s a good one.”
Sansone provided the rest of the offense, collecting 152 yards on 25 carries. He also completed 8 of 16 passes for 68 yards.
The sophomore quarterback scored the Lancers’ first touchdown on a 28-yard run in the second quarterback. The score came two plays after a botched punt return that set up Neshannock on the Golden Beaver’s 36-yard line.
Michael Molinaro added a 27-yard field goal two possessions later to clinch the win.
Cuba insisted after the game his team is improving despite its record. Last week, 11 penalties cost the Lancers in a 34-21 loss to South Side Beaver.
“I feel bad for these guys, because the last two weeks we should be in the ‘W’ column,” Cuba said. “And I really believe it.
“They’ve been hard working. We’ve been watching more film. They’ve made more of a commitment to prepare for football games. We still make some mistakes because we’re young.”
W.BEAVER NESHANNOCK
11 First downs 13
185 Yards Rushing 214
5 Yards Lost 20
180 Net Rushing 194
13 Passes Attempted 16
5 Passes Completed 8
2 Passes Intercepted 0
51 Yards Passing 68
231 Total Yards 262
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
5-29 Punts-Average 7-32
5-40 Penalties-Yards 6-45
W.BEAVER 0 0 6 0— 6
NESHANNOCK 0 7 7 3 — 17
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — John Sansone, 28-yard run (Michael Molinaro kick).
NESHANNOCK — Chris Kirkwood, 1-yard run (Molinaro kick).
WESTERN BEAVER — Dustin Creel, 4-yard run (run failed).
NESHANNOCK — Molinaro, 27-yard field goal.
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