Lancers light it up against South Side
Neshannock (50) vs. South Side Beaver (12)
Written: Sep 28, 2013
By Shawn Fox
New Castle News
HOOKSTOWN — Neshannock High continued the offensive fireworks last night against South Side Beaver.
The Lancers piled up nearly 500 yards of offense en route to a 50-12 mercy rule victory over the Rams in a WPIAL Class A Big Seven Conference football game at the Richard J. Ashcroft Athletic Complex.
“Everything clicked tonight,” Lancers coach Fred Mozzocio said. “We held onto the football and played the way we’re supposed to play.”
Neshannock (4-1 conference and overall) wasted little time in taking control of the game, putting together a six-play, 59-yard drive in less than two minutes. Quarterback Ernie Burkes connected with Tyler Perry for a 5-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive. The PAT kick was blocked, but the Lancers held a 6-0 at the 10:11 mark of the opening quarter.
“We came back from a not so well-played offensive game last week and tonight we just wanted to turn up the tempo, get things rolling, get on our blocks and execute,” junior left guard Adam Wawrzynski said.
Burkes was on the mark all night for Neshannock, completing 15-of-19 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns. The senior was also the Lancers’ top rusher with 90 yards on just three carries.
“Ernie had a big night,” Mozzocio said. “He stayed within his boundaries, he stayed within the offense and took what the defense gave him. He pretty much dissected them in the first half.”
After holding South Side Beaver (0-5, 0-5) on fourth down on its next possession, the Lancers again found the end zone as Eli Owens scored on a 13-yard run. Jason Owrey booted home the PAT kick to give the visitors a 13-0 lead with 3:56 remaining in the first quarter.
Owens finished the game with 72 yards on eight carries.
“Eli, when he got the ball, did what he’s supposed to do,” Mozzocio said.
Following a Rams punt, Neshannock once again scored quickly, taking just a minute to find the end zone. Burkes did the honors by racing in from 51 yards out to give the Lancers a 20-0 edge at the end of one.
“We just click on offense,” senior center Nate Nativio said. “We have a varsity line that’s been together since last year. We know what we’re doing. That’s what makes us so explosive.”
South Side Beaver finally broke through midway through the second quarter, as Mason Wilcoxen hooked up with Cameron Smith for a 25-yard TD pass. The kick failed, and the Rams trailed, 20-6.
That score seemed to ignite the Lancers, as Burkes connected with Jimmy Medure for an 18-yard touchdown.
Burkes then hit Perry in stride for a 47-yard score a minute later to give the Lancers a 34-6 lead.
“Tyler just exploded through,” Mozzocio said. “Tyler Perry is a kid who, when you look at him, he’s not very imposing. But one thing he’s got is the biggest heart in the WPIAL. On that ball, it might have been overthrown a little bit, but he ran through it. He made sure it wasn’t getting over his head. That’s the type of kid he is.”
Perry, a junior, was Burkes’ top target, catching five passes for 84 yards.
“Ernie threw me a perfect ball, and I just got on my horse and made sure I made the play,” Perry said of the 47-yard TD strike. “We’re just working each other each and every day to get better because our goal is to win a WPIAL championship and go onto states.”
Neshannock’s defense got into the act on the Rams’ next possession as Steve Senko sacked Wilcoxen in the end zone for a safety.
“The defense played well,” Mozzocio said. “Our front seven has been playing well all year.”
Robert Lindsey capped the Lancers’ 23-point second quarter by scoring on an 8-yard run with 48.3 seconds remaining in the first half to give Neshannock a 43-6 lead heading into intermission.
With a running clock the entire second half, Wilcoxen scored on a 1-yard run for the Rams in the third quarter, and Lindsey wrapped up with scoring by going in from 29 yards out to set the final.
Neshannock will host Rochester on Friday.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
NESHANNOCK SOUTH SIDE
19 First downs 12
279 Yards Rushing 93
5 Yards Lost 27
274 Net Rushing 66
20 Passes Attempted 21
16 Passes Completed 11
0 Passes Intercepted 0
220 Yards Passing 86
494 Total Yards 152
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-2
0-0 Punts-Average 2-27.5
11-95 Penalties-Yards 1-5
NESHANNOCK 20 23 0 7 — 50
SOUTH SIDE 0 6 6 0 — 12
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK – Tyler Perry, 5-yard pass from Ernie Burkes (kick blocked)
NESHANNOCK – Eli Owens, 13-yard run (Jason Owrey kick)
NESHANNOCK – Burkes, 51-yard run (Owrey kick)
SOUTH SIDE BEAVER – Cameron Smith, 25-yard pass from Mason Wilcoxen (kick failed)
NESHANNOCK – Jimmy Medure, 18-yard pass from Burkes (Owrey kick)
NESHANNOCK – Perry, 47-yard pass from Burkes (Owrey kick)
NESHANNOCK – Steve Senko, safety, tackled Wilcoxen in end zone
NESHANNOCK – Robert Lindsey, 8-yard run (Owrey kick)
SOUTH SIDE BEAVER – Wilcoxen, 1-yard run (pass failed)
NESHANNOCK – Lindsey, 29-yard run (Owrey kick)
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