Neshannock wins share of title with win
Neshannock (42) vs. Union (34)
Written: Oct 27, 2012
  Neshannock wins share of title with win
By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
New Castle News
The Neshannock High football team secured a piece of hardware last night.
But it came with a price.
Gianni Oliva scored four touchdowns to lift the Lancers to a 42-34 Big Seven Conference come-from-behind win over Union at Bob Bleggi Stadium last night.
The win clinches a share of the conference crown for Neshannock (7-1 league, 8-1 overall) because Sto-Rox (7-1, 8-1) rolled past Rochester (7-1, 8-1), 25-0. The Lancers beat the Vikings, but lost to the Rams.
“We’re Big Seven champions. We’re 8-1,” first-year Lancers coach Fred Mozzocio said. “If you ask me my opinion, we’re the best team in the Big Seven. We’ll play anybody, any time, anywhere.”
The bad news for Neshannock is, despite a piece of the conference crown, it gets bumped down to the No. 3 seed in the conference on tiebreakers. Sto-Rox and Rochester were both plus-59 coming into the final week and the Lancers were a plus-44. The Vikings get the No. 1 seed because of their tiebreaker points advantage and the Rams earn the No. 2 slot because of their head-to-head decision over Neshannock.
The WPIAL will release playoff pairings Monday.
Though the Lancers will enter the WPIAL Class A playoffs as a conference champion, or tri-champ in this sense, they will have to hit the road for the opening week. It’s Neshannock first trip to the playoffs since 2004.
“I don’t care where they send us. We’ll be ready to go,” Mozzocio said. “I don’t care where they seed us. We’re in the playoffs and we’re ready to roll. I’m not concerned about seeds.
“All we wanted to do was beat Union, and then whatever happened, happened. We can’t control that other stuff. That’s out of our hands. All we can control is our game against Union, and we did that.”
The Scotties (5-3, 6-3) secured a postseason berth last week, their first since 2003. Union enters the postseason as the conference’s No. 4 seed. It was a rare meeting between the teams with postseason momentum on the line.
“It’s good to be higher up on the mountain for both of us,” Scotties coach Stacy Robinson said. “That’s why there was so much at stake.
“Our kids knew it. We dressed 23. I told them it was going to be a case where we’d have to march all night and fight all day. We just came up short in the end.”
Scotties quarterback Joe Salmen scrambled in for an 11-yard touchdown with 8:13 remaining and a 34-29 Union lead.
Salmen rushed for a team-best 113 yards on 16 carries, while completing 11 passes in 27 attempts for 108 yards.
“I challenged Joe before the game that he was going to have to step up and he did,” Robinson said. “He made big plays running and throwing. That’s what we expect out of him. He’s improved a lot, but that comes with age.”
The Lancers marched 61 yards on 11 plays — all of which were runs — on their next possession. Oliva capped the drive off with his third score with 3:15 to play, putting Neshannock back in front, 35-34. The Lancers tried for the two-point conversion, but the pass failed.
Union turned the ball over on downs on its next drive, moving just two yards in four plays. The Lancers took over at the Scotties 10 after a Union penalty with 2:17 to play. The Scotties were down to two timeouts.
Oliva made sure to put the finishing touches on a Lancers win. He carried three straight times, the last resulting in a one-yard scoring plunge. All four of his scores came from a yard out.
“I think they’re the biggest team we faced all year,” Robinson said. “I knew it was going to be a struggle. They made the plays when they had to.”
Connor Richards’ extra point gave the Lancers an eight-point lead with just 1:08 to play. Union did move the ball to Neshannock’s 35 but got no closer.
“This was a tremendous game. It was western Pennsylvania football at its best,” Mozzocio said.
Penalties were tough on both teams. Neshannock committed 10 infractions to 12 for Union. There were numerous other penalties that weren’t accepted.
“We’re off and on with it,” Mozzocio said of the amount of penalties. “I don’t care what the records are when these two teams get together, it’s an all-out war. That’s what it was tonight and with that comes a lot of penalties.”
Said Robinson, “I’d like to think tonight was an aberration. We haven’t been penalized like that all year. This was a big game. Emotions are going to be flowing.”
Two of Union’s scores came on interception returns of errant Ernie Burkes aerials. Wayne Seamans returned a pick 67 yards for a score and John Clark returned one 77 yards for a score.
“Defense is a big part of the football game,” Mozzocio said. “Give credit to Union for creating turnovers and getting points off the defense. It’s a part of the game. Offense and defense are not two separate teams. They’re one team.”
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
UNION NESHANNOCK
14 First downs 19
249 Yards Rushing 270
19 Yards Lost 4
230 Net Rushing 266
27 Passes Attempted 20
11 Passes Completed 11
2 Passes Intercepted 3
108 Yards Passing 126
338 Total Yards 392
1-0 Fumbles-Lost 4-1
4-39.7 Punts-Average 3-46.6
12-83 Penalties-Yards 10-85
UNION 0 14 14 6 — 34
NESHANNOCK 7 14 8 13 — 42
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — Ernie Burkes, 2-yard run (Connor Richards kick).
UNION — Joe Salmen, 9-yard run (Salmen kick).
NESHANNOCK — John Conglose, 29-yard pass from Burkes (Richards kick).
UNION — Wayne Seamans, 67-yard interception return (Salmen kick).
NESHANNOCK — Gianni Oliva, 1-yard run (Richards kick).
UNION — Drew Robinson, 75-yard run (Seamans pass from Salmen).
NESHANNOCK — Oliva, 1-yard run (Burkes run).
UNION — John Clark, 77-yard interception return (kick blocked).
UNION — Salmen, 11-yard run (pass failed).
NESHANNOCK — Oliva, 1-yard run (pass failed).
NESHANNOCK — Oliva, 1-yard run (Richards kick).
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