Not even a one-hour rain delay could keep Ellwood City from earning a one-score victory over Neshannock Friday night.
The 28-21 rain-soaked victory was the Wolverines first win over the Lancers since 2005.
Ellwood City drove 69 yards on its opening possession and took a 7-0 lead when quarterback Chris Smiley scored on an 11-yard option keeper midway through the first quarter.
A fourth-down defensive stop gave the Wolverines the ball back, and the offense capitalized as the Wolverines marched 84 yards in 11 plays. Elijah Palmer-McCane dashed in for a 6-yard touchdown run to give the visiting Wolverines a 14-0 advantage.
Neshannock, the 5th-ranked Class-A team in the state, was able to respond, collecting two touchdowns in the second quarter to knot the game. Running back Anthony Eakin scored on a 35-yard run, and quarterback Gino Mozzocio scored on a 1-yard run.
With just over two minutes to play in the first half, lighting struck and the players were sent to the locker rooms for what amounted to a 50-minute delay. Due to the delay, the final two minutes of the first half were played and the game continued right into the third quarter with no additional halftime.
When play resumed and after the teams exchanged possessions, Chris Smiley connected with Palmer-McCane on a 59-yard touchdown pass down the sideline.
Palmer-McCane 59 yd TD from Smiley, Ellwood City 20 Neshannock 14, 0:22 2nd, @Csmiles1409 @EC_Wolverines @AJWPIAL pic.twitter.com/2kEKOYJWLz
— Shane Lux (@PFN_Luxy) September 7, 2024
Ellwood City extended its lead to 28-14 in the third quarter when Smiley scored on his second rushing touchdown of the evening.
After punting on three consecutive drives, the Lancers pulled to within seven when Mozzocio scored his second rushing touchdown on a 9-yard run late in the third quarter.
Ellwood City’s defense held its ground in the last quarter, holding off the Lancers attempted rallies as Dailonn Currie intercepted Mozzocio midway through the frame and later, back-to-back sacks led to a Neshannock punt on its last possession.
Offensively, Palmer-McCane finished with a game-high 200 yards on 29 carries while adding one reception for 59 yards and a score. Ellwood City rushed for 253 yards as a team. Defensively, Gavin Partridge and Deklan O’Brien each collected 10 tackles in the contest. O’Briend added two tackles for loss and two sacks in an impressive defensive performance. Luciano Gagric also pitched in a TFL and sack for the Wolverines defense.
The Wolverines, now 2-0 on the season, will play Mohawk during their home opener next Friday night.
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