Mohawk snaps losing streak with dramatic win
Mohawk (21) vs. Freedom (20)
Written: Sep 01, 2012
By Kayleen Cubbal
New Castle News
FREEDOM — The Mohawk High football team can look ahead now.
The past is officially behind it.
The Warriors ended a 14-game losing streak, longest in Lawrence County, with a 21-20 Midwestern Athletic Conference victory over Freedom.
The Bulldogs beat the Warriors last season, 35-20.
“It feels really good,” said second-year Mohawk coach Joe Lamenza. “More than anything, I’m happy for the kids. They started getting ready for the season last November. They bought into what we do in the offseason and it paid off tonight.
“I felt we were the better-conditioned team,” he added. “Freedom lost a lot of players due to cramps from the heat and we didn’t lose nearly as many. We were ready to play.”
Junior Shane McFarland ran back a punt 80 yards with 6 minutes left and senior John Hartzell added the point-after kick to put Mohawk ahead for good.
But the drama was just getting started.
Freedom was driving on its ensuing possession, but fumbled on the Mohawk 1. A 99-yard run by McFarland was called back because of an illegal formation, but the Bulldogs came right back and forced a fumble and got the ball on the 12. Freedom reached the Warriors 10, but sophomore defensive back Zach Shasteen intercepted the ball in the end zone to end the threat. It was Shasteen’s second interception of the night.
“Our backs were against the wall late in the game a couple of times, but we conquered the adversity,” Lamenza said. “We dominated stat-wise, but we let Freedom make too many big plays on special teams and that is something we definitely have to fix.
“But we’re feeling good,” he added. “We’re on our way.”
McFarland finished with 72 yards rushing on 20 carries, while senior running back Vince Menichino added 60 yards on 14 carries.
Junior quarterback Gio Menichino was 5 of 7 through the air for 61 yards with no interceptions.
Vince Menichino opened the second for the Warriors in the second quarter on a 1-yard run. McFarland added a 3-yard run in the third quarter and Hartzell chipped in with all three PAT kicks.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
MOHAWK 0 7 7 7 — 21
FREEDOM 0 12 8 0 — 20
Scoring plays
MOHAWK — Vince Menichino, 1-yard run (John Hartzell kick).
FREEDOM — Jared Hogue, 88-yard kickoff return (pass failed).
FREEDOM — Sam Beckey, 19-yard pass from Forrest Petcovic (run failed).
MOHAWK — Shane McFarland, 10-yard run (Hartzell kick).
FREEDOM — Kahlil Caracter, 3-yard run (Beckey pass from Petcovic).
MOHAWK — McFarland, 85-yard punt return (Hartzell kick).
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