GRIDIRON: Panthers Fall To Neshannock (Photos), Wolverines Downed By Tigers

The Riverside Panthers had a tough match-up on Friday, facing a section-leading Neshannock Lancers team.

The visiting Lancers (7-1 Overall) flexed their moxy early, scoring five times in the first quarter and racing out to a 49-6 halftime advantage en route to their comfortable 64-20 section victory over Riverside.

Riverside was able to get on the board in the second quarter with a 90-yard kick off return by Zachary Hare.

In the second half, Brady Newman found the endzone on a 2-yard run and Austin DeCarmo also scampered in on a 8-yard touchdown run.

The game featured three kick off returns for touchdowns as the Lancers ran back two separates second half kickoffs, 70-yards each, for scores – their lone two touchdowns in the second half.

The Panthers (0-7 Overall, 0-5 Section 2A-2) will look to earn their first victory on the regular season Friday when the travel to play the winless New Brighton Lions.

RELATED: Beaver Falls Pulls Away, Defeats Wolverines 42-28

In a battle for playoff positioning in the MAC Conference Friday night, the Tigers pulled away from the visiting Wolverines to collect a 42-28 victory at Reeves Field on the campus of Geneva College.

The victory was the 3rd section victory in the Midwestern Athletic Conference for the Tigers while Ellwood City fell to 2-3 in Section 2A-2.  Both teams hold a 4-4 regular season record.

In a back-and-forth contest Friday, Beaver Falls broke a halftime tie with two third quarter touchdowns to take a 30-14 lead. Ellwood City responded with two touchdowns by running back Elijah Palmer-McCane – one rushing, one receiving – to close the game to 30-28, but the Tigers took an ensuing kickoff for a 77-yard touchdown return and capped the scoring with a Brixx Rawl 2-yard run, his third of the game.

Palmer-McCane posted 75 yards of total offense and three touchdowns to lead the Wolverines. Quarterback Chris Smiley tossed for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Smiley connected with DaiLonn Curry on a 63-yard strike in the first quarter and later with Palmer-McCane on a 24-yard strike in final frame.

Ellwood City next hosts Neshannock on Friday at Helling Stadium for Senior Night and rounds out the regular season on the road versus Riverside on October 27th.