New Castle drops third straight
New Castle (7) vs. West Allegheny (35)
Written: Oct 16, 2010
By GAYLORD MUNY
ncsports@ncnewsonline.com
IMPERIAL — Missed opportunities have been the theme for the New Castle High football team this year.
The script didn’t change for the Red Hurricane last night.
New Castle squandered scoring opportunities and dropped six passes in losing a 35-7 Parkway Conference decision at West Allegheny. It’s the third setback in a row for the ’Canes (1-4 conference, 3-4 overall).
New Castle dropped an aerial in the end zone and another on a fake punt.
The Indians (5-0, 6-1) are ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL in Class AAA by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The ’Canes trailed 14-7 with 1:30 left in the first half and lined up to punt. Marcus Carter was the target of the pass, but he dropped the ball. The Indians took over on the ’Canes’ 40.
Three plays later, Aaron McKinney raced 31 yards for a touchdown and provided a 21-7 buffer.
“We had the fake punt set up like we wanted it, but we didn’t get it done,” New Castle coach Frank Bongivengo Jr. said. “We had a lot of opportunities in the first half, but we never capitalized on them.
“That’s been a problem all year for us. The opponent makes the plays, and we’re not making them.”
Two plays following McKinney’s score, Mitch Posel scooped up a Jalen Holmes fumble and sprinted 45 yards for another score and a commanding 28-7 lead at the break.
West Allegheny scored on its first possession of the second half to put the game away.
New Castle marched to the Indians’ 20 on its opening drive before a sack and a dropped pass led to a turnover on downs. The guests’ second drive ended when Brandon Beck missed a 26-yard field goal.
Holmes paced the ’Canes with 93 yards rushing. Johnny Matarazzo was 9 of 17 through the air for 120 yards. He accounted for their lone score on a 10-yard scoring jaunt in the first stanza.
McKinney rolled up 157 rushing yards on 14 dashes.
New Castle will host Moon at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a conference matchup.
NEW CASTLE WEST ALLEGHENY
16 First downs 11
170 Net Rushing 276
18 Passes Attempted 7
9 Passes Completed 5
0 Passes Intercepted 0
120 Yards Passing 69
290 Total Yards 345
5-3 Fumbles-Lost 2-0
3-31 Punts-Average 2-30.5
3-23 Penalties-Yards 5-45
NEW CASTLE 7 0 0 0 — 7
WEST ALLEGHENY 6 22 7 0 — 35
Scoring plays
WEST ALLEGHENY — Aaron McKinney, 12-yard pass from Dylan Bongiorni (kick blocked).
NEW CASTLE — Johnny Matarazzo, 10-yard run (Brandon Beck kick).
WEST ALLEGHENY — Alex Sinclair, 75-yard run (B.J. Revti, pass from Bongiorni).
WEST ALLEGHENY — McKinney, 31-yard run (Steve Amic kick).
WEST ALLEGHENY — Mitch Posel, 45-yard fumble return (Amic kick).
WEST ALLEGHENY — Posel, 39-yard pass from Bongiorni (Amic kick).
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