Warriors struggle against Beaver Falls
Mohawk (0) vs. Beaver Falls (41)
Written: Sep 08, 2012
By Kayleen Cubbal
New Castle News
It was a rough night for the Mohawk High football team.
The Warriors, riding high after a 21-20 season-opening victory over Freedom last week, ran into a buzzsaw in a 41-0 Midwestern Athletic Conference loss to visiting Beaver Falls.
Mohawk (1-1 in the conference, 1-1 overall), snapped a 14-game losing streak with last week’s victory.
And for a time last night, it appeared that the Warriors might hang in with the Tigers.
Following an hour-long weather delay, Beaver Falls (2-0, 2-0) jumped out to a 6-0 first-quarter lead courtesy of a 79-yard run by Rob Bell, a score that did not change until a minute left in the second quarter when Bell scored on a 4-yard run. Just 16 seconds later, though, Cadee Akins returned a Mohawk fumble 45 yards and the game never was in doubt again.
“We have to do a better job finishing games and gaining confidence,” Warriors coach Joe Lamenza said. “Beaver Falls is one of the best teams in the WPIAL. They are a veteran team and we hung in there with them for almost two quarters.”
Mohawk managed just two first downs in the game, none in the second half, and had just 61 yards of total offense. Warriors quarterback Gio Menichino suffered an apparent shoulder injury and was expected to be taken to a hospital for X-rays. One bright spot came when Mohawk’s Austin Main returned the second-half kickoff 55 yards to the Tigers’ 28, but the drive stalled at the 22.
Beaver Falls amassed 491 total yards, including 361 rushing. Bell led all rushers with 127 yards on 12 carries and Damian Rawl added 121 yards on 13 carries, including two second-half TDs. Quarterback Dan Stratton was 6 of 14 through the air for 130 yards.
“The kids have to realize what we’re capable of,” Lamenza said. “This was a tough one tonight, but we’re 1-1 in the conference and still have control of our destiny for the playoffs.”
(Email: kcubbal@hotmail.com)
BEAVER FALLS MOHAWK
19 First downs 2
361 Net Rushing 22
15 Passes Attempted 3
6 Passes Completed 3
1 Passes Intercepted 0
130 Yards Passing 39
491 Total Yards 61
1-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-2
1-30 Punts-Average 6-38.7
7-65 Penalties-Yards 2-20
BEAVER FALLS 6 12 16 7 — 41
MOHAWK 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring plays
BEAVER FALLS — Rob Bell, 79-yard run (kick failed).
BEAVER FALLS — Bell, 4-yard run (pass failed).
BEAVER FALLS — Cadee Akins, 45-yard fumble return (pass failed).
BEAVER FALLS — Damian Rawl, 25-yard run (Bell run).
BEAVER FALLS — Sage Curry, 80-yard pass from Dan Stratton (Rawl run).
BEAVER FALLS — Rawl, 8-yard run (Spencer Alceus kick).
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