Western Beaver Scores Big, Downs Ellwood City 41-18

An opportunistic Golden Beavers football team racked up 475 yards of total offense on its way to a 41-18 victory over Ellwood City Friday Night.

The Western Beaver offense accounted for only 9 first downs in the contest and possessed the ball for only 15:51 (compared to Ellwood City’s 32:09 minutes of possession) but used quick scoring drives and big scoring plays to post six touchdowns and earn its road victory.

After Ellwood City opened up the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown strike from Chris Smiley to receiver Michael Walters, Western Beaver responded in less than a minute of game time as Tyson Florence scampered in from 38 yards out for the first of three touchdowns on the evening.

A methodical drive from Ellwood City was capped by a 8-yard touchdown run by Elijah Palmer-McCane to put Ellwood City ahead 12-7 but again the Golden Beavers responded. With just under one minute remaining in the 1st quarter, Florence was on the receiving end of a 45-yard pass from quarterback Jaivin Peel and Western Beaver jumped ahead 13-12 – a lead they would not relinquish.

The 14-year-old freshman Peel was just getting going as he connected on three more long passing touchdowns in the contest that saw the Golden Beavers (2-3 Overall) rack up 338 yards in the passing attack.

Peel hit Dorian McGhee for a 49-yard strike in the 2nd quarter, McGhee again for a 63-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter , and Mikey Crawford on a 14-yard pitch and catch in the 4th quarter.

Florence capped the scoring for the Golden Beavers with a 31-yard touchdown run in the final frame that stretched the Western Beaver lead to 41-18.

For Ellwood City, Elijah Palmer-McCane finished with 216 yards rushing on 38 carries and two touchdowns. The back scored on a 2-yard run in the 3rd frame to round out the scoring for the Wolverines.

Six combined turnovers by both teams created the high scoring, back-and-forth section contest.

Defensively for the Wolverines Kaden Docchio led the team with eight tackles, including a sack and three tackles for losses. Walters earned a fumble recovery and a sack on the evening.

Ellwood City (3-2 Overall, 1-1 WPIAL Class-2A Section 2) will continue its homestand with another home contest Friday against the 4-1 Mohawk Warriors at 7:00 p.m. at Helling Stadium.