Palmer-McCane Sets Rushing Record, Wolverines Earn Opening Week Victory Over Laurel

The Ellwood City Wolverines football team picked up a season opening victory on the road Friday night, edging Laurel 14-7 in overtime.

Ellwood City may have earned a narrow victory, but Elijah Palmer-McCane made a huge mark in the record books.

The senior running back finished with 146 rushing yards, adding two touchdowns in the contest, to become the Ellwood City Wolverines all-time career rushing leader.

Palmer-McCane plunged in from 2-yards out in the second quarter to put the Wolverines ahead with a 7-0 advantage. The lead held until late the 4th quarter when the host Spartans struck with less than a minute remaining in regulation to tie the game at seven apiece.

source: ecwolverines.com

It its first possession of the untimed overtime, Ellwood City scored thanks to a Palmer-McCane 3-yard touchdown. The Wolverine defense held and forced a Spartan interception as Luciano Gagric hauled in the interception to preserve the victory.

Ellwood City rushed for 221 yards in the contest, and finished with 16 first downs and 333 yards of total offense.

Quarterback Chris Smiley finished 8-21 passing for 135 yards. A long 61-yard toss to Dominic Hogue highlighted the ariel attack. Hogue finished with a team-high three receptions and 77 yards receiving in the victory.

Defensively, Deklan O’Brien finished with a team-high nine tackles, including one tackle for a loss. Drake Davis finished with a team-high two tackles for loss among his eight tackles in the contest. Trent Schilling registered the lone sack for the Wolverines defense.

Palmer-McCane’s career rushing mark now stands at 2,901 (2021-Present) and eclipses Damon Thompson’s tally of 2,799 (1986-1989).