Warriors make statement against Montour in loss
Mohawk (26) vs. Montour (27)
Written: Sep 14, 2013
 By Ron Poniewsaz Jr.
New Castle News
The Mohawk High football team has made strides under third-year coach Joe Lamenza.
Last night, the Warriors nearly took a giant leap — one that would have seemed impossible against a team like Montour just a year ago.
Spartans quarterback Tynen Greer dashed in from five yards out with just 16 seconds left and Adam Check’s extra point was the difference in a 27-26 nonconference win over host Mohawk.
The Spartans are a member of the WPIAL Class AAA Parkway Conference and the Warriors compete in the district’s Class AA Midwestern Athletic Conference.
Mohawk (1-2) dropped all nine games in Lamenza’s first season at the helm (2011). That same year, Montour blitzed through the Class AAA ranks, winning the WPIAL championship before falling in the state semifinals and posting a 12-3 mark.
“Tonight is a great example of how far we’ve come as a program,” Lamenza said. “Two years ago they’re the best team in all of triple-A and we didn’t win a game.
“We played pretty well against them. We just came up a little short. Sometimes you win and don’t play well. Sometimes you lose and feel like you played a pretty good game. We’re going to build on this.”
Last year, the Spartans (2-1) rolled past visiting Mohawk, 41-0.
Mohawk’s workhorse senior running back Shane McFarland took a handoff and raced 69 yards through a gaping hole to put the Warriors up for the first time at 20-13 with 8:54 to play.
“We made some adjustments in the second half and we just executed them,” said McFarland after his team trailed 13-6 at the break.
Greer, who transferred to Montour from Shenango two years ago, forced a tie at 20 with a 14-yard run followed by Check’s conversion kick with 6:54 to go.
“Greer made some plays when he had to,” Lamenza said. “We made him earn everything he got.”
Mohawk took over at its own 35 and four plays later was staring at a fourth-and 2. The Warriors had a conference on how to attack the pivotal play.
“The team said let’s go for it,” Lamenza said. “The guys on the field said let’s go for it. When they say that to me, I have confidence that they can get it.”
McFarland more than picked up the two yards to move the chains. He rumbled through the line and dashed past the Spartans en route to a 57-yard scoring scamper for a 26-20 buffer with 4:54 to go.
“The line just opened up a big hole for me,” McFarland said. “It was a battle out there. Our line did what they did. They opened up some holes and seams for me to run through.”
But the extra point never had a chance as the ball couldn’t be placed down to be kicked and Spencer McConahy’s attempt to run around the end for the two-point conversion was stuffed.
The Spartans managed just one yard in four plays and elected to punt with just under four minutes to play. Four plays later, Mohawk once again faced a crucial fourth-down scenario.
The Warriors had third-and one on the drive, but they were pushed back five yards for delay of game. A short pass play set Mohawk up with fourth-and-three at its own 42 with two minutes to go.
This time, McFarland was stuffed at the line and the Spartans took over on downs.
“We had a chance to beat a top-notch triple-A team,” Lamenza said. “We were aggressive with our play-calling. I told the players before the game that we were going to attack and compete to win the game, treat it like a conference game.
“We were very aggressive with our playcalling and we took some chances at the end.”
Montour took over at the 42 and went the distance in nine plays. Greer knotted the count at 26 when he ran around the left side for a five-yard touchdown. Check drilled the extra point for a 27-26 Montour lead with just 16 seconds to play.
The Spartans’ drive was aided by a pass interference call that set them up first-and-goal at the 5 after burning their final timeout on the previous play. Greer scored on the next play.
“It’s always a challenge when you play a nonconference team,” Lamenza said. “The game doesn’t mean anything in the standings, but you have to play the game and hope to come out healthy.
“The way we approached the game, we coached it like it was a conference game and we were going to compete to win. Tonight proved that we stood more than just a chance against Montour. Montour made just one more play than we did.”
McFarland finished with 230 rushing yards on 34 carries with three touchdowns. He had eight carries for 143 yards in the final frame.
“We had enthusiasm. We came ready to play,” McFarland said. “I don’t know if they expected us to be contending, but we came out and played hard.”
Said Lamenza, “Shane is the reason that we took chances at the end. We trust Shane in critical situations and he came through for us tonight. The reason we had a chance to win is because of Shane and the blocking. It’s a testament to the players and the line.”
Greer garnered 125 rushing yards on 15 attempts and threw for 97 yards as well.
Mohawk looks to rebound at 7 p.m. Friday at MAC foe Riverside. Montour welcomes New Castle at 7:10 p.m. Friday in Parkway action.
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
MONTOUR MOHAWK
20 First downs 11
265 Yards Rushing 257
22 Yards Lost 19
243 Net Rushing 238
27 Passes Attempted 5
10 Passes Completed 2
0 Passes Intercepted 0
97 Yards Passing 19
340 Total Yards 257
2-1 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
4-34 Punts-Average 6-26.8
5-82 Penalties-Yards 4-21
MONTOUR 7 6 0 14 — 27
MOHAWK 6 0 0 20 — 26
Scoring plays
MONTOUR — Donald Payne, 9-yard pass from Tynen Greer (Adam Check kick).
MOHAWK — Shane McFarland, 14-yard run (kick failed).
MONTOUR — Greer, 48-yard run (kick failed).MOHAWK — Michael Kurtz, 15-yard pass from Gio Menichino (Brock Barber kick).
MOHAWK — McFarland, 69-yard run (Barber kick).
MONTOUR — Greer, 14-yard run (Check kick).
MOHAWK — McFarland, 57-yard run (run failed).
MONTOUR — Greer, 5-yard run (Check kick).
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