Red-hot Lancers drub South Side Beaver
Neshannock (41) vs. South Side Beaver (6)
Written: Sep 29, 2012
By Patrick E. Litowitz
New Castle News
One and done sparked the drive for five.
Ernie Burkes’ 81-yard touchdown run on Neshannock High’s first offensive play spearheaded the Lancers’ 41-6 WPIAL Class A Big Seven Conference victory against South Side Beaver last night at Bob Bleggi Stadium.
“Winning a football game is one of the hardest things to do,” Lancers first-year coach Fred Mozzocio said.
Defeat was an annual expectation with the school’s gridiron program. This season, the trend reversed as Neshannock reached 5-0 in the conference and overall.
“This year is so much more fun,” said Burkes, the starting quarterback. “We’re winning. We play as a team.”
Burkes hit 11 of 14 passes for 171 yards and led the team in rushing with 74 net yards.
Burkes’ touchdown dash was the first of six scores that highlighted the squad’s offensive and defensive talents.
“We wanted to get off to a fast start and try to establish ourselves,” Mozzocio said. “They feed off of each other.”
Alex Welker and John Conglose combined for four touchdowns.
Welker picked off a Jon Mugsiak pass late in the opening quarter. Two plays later, he crossed into the Rams’ end zone on a 15-yard run.
With less than three minutes in the third quarter, replacement quarterback Michael Sanfilippo connected with Welker on a 63-yard pass for the touchdown.
Conglose’s two touchdowns came in the third quarters on runs of 6 and 23 yards.
Neshannock senior Kienan Owens represented the defense with an 85-yard interception TD return.
Connor Richards converted five of six extra-point tries.
South Side (0-5, 0-5) scored its lone points in the fourth quarter on Cameron McCoy’s 1-yard run.
Mozzocio said there’s no temptation to look ahead to the playoffs.
State powerhouse Rochester is next on the Lancers’ schedule. The teams meet in Rochester on Oct. 5.
“They’re top of the line,” he said. “We’re just honored that we get to go down there and see how we match up.”
“It’s one of the bigger games in Neshannock football.”
(Email: plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com)
SS BEAVER NESHANNOCK
15 First downs 16
188 Yards Rushing 208
22 Yards Lost 22
166 Net Rushing 186
18 Passes Attempted 15
8 Passes Completed 12
3 Passes Intercepted 0
72 Yards Passing 234
238 Total Yards 420
6-2 Fumbles-Lost 1-0
3-36.3 Punts-Average 2-34
7-72 Penalties-Yards 5-41
S S BEAVER 0 0 0 6 — 6
NESHANNOCK 14 7 20 0 — 41
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — Ernie Burkes, 81-yard run (Connor Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Alex Welker, 15-yard run (Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Kienan Owens, 85-yard interception return (Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — John Conglose, 6-yard run (kick failed).
NESHANNOCK — Conglose, 23-yard pass from Burkes (Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Welker, 63-yard pass from Michael Sanfilippo (Richards kick).
SOUTH SIDE BEAVER — Cameron McCoy, 1-yard run (kick failed).
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