Smiley, Wolverines Rout Freedom 43-3; Panthers Down New Brighton

Quarterback Chris Smiley accounted for four touchdowns as Ellwood City defeated Freedom 43-3 on the road Friday night in MAC Section play.

The victory moved the Wolverines to 4-0 on the season, their first 4-0 start since 1997.

After allowing the games first points early in the opening quarter, the Wolverines scored seven unanswered times to race away from the Bulldogs.

Smiley scored on a pair of 7-yard runs in the first half to go along with two touchdown passes to lead the offensive charge. Running back Elijah Palmer-McCane also found paydirt twice with a pair of rushing touchdowns for Ellwood City.

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After Smiley and Palmer-McCane put the Wolverines ahead 12-3 with the first of their rushing touchdowns, Smiley went to the air midway through the second quarter to connect with Dom Hogue. A short bubble screen found Hogue and the shifty receiver did the rest, scoring on the 29-yard touchdown.

A second touchdown scamper by Smiley, by way of a 7-yard fumble run after an advanced fumble, put the visiting Wolverines ahead 27-3 at halftime.

Palmer-McCane collected his second touchdown run in the third quarter. The bruising tailback finished with 78 yards rushing on 16 carries.

After a defensive safety by Evan Twedell stretched the lead to 36-3 midway through the third quarter, Smiley rounded out the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Partridge.

Smiley finished 12-15 passing for 189 yards to go along with his four offensive touchdowns. Partridge led the receiving corps with four catches for 98 yards and a TD. Five different receivers hauled in passes for Ellwood City.

Defensively, the Wolverines held the Bulldogs to a field goal, five first downs, and only 48 yards of total offense.

Kaden Docchio posted a team-high seven tackles, including two for loss. Luciano Gagric posted three tackles for loss while Delan O’Brien finished with five tackles and 1.5 sacks on the evening.

Ellwood City (4-0 Overall, 2-0 Class 2A-2 – Ranked #2 WPIAL Class 2A by TribHSSN) next host New Brighton on Friday as part of their homecoming festivities. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. Pregame festivities, where the Queen’s Court will be introduced, begin at 6:30 p.m.

GARCIA’S ARIEL ATTACK LEADS RIVERSIDE OVER NEW BRIGHTON 20-13

Ayden Garcia tossed three touchdown passes as the Panthers picked up a road victory Friday night, defeating New Brighton 20-13 in MAC Section play.

In the first quarter, Garcia connected with Joe Chill on a 33-yard strike to put Riverside ahead 7-0, a score that held until halftime.

After the host Lions got on the board to respond, Garcia connected again with Chill on a 13-yard pass to put the Panthers ahead 13-6. Garcia then found Zach Hare on a 3-yard touchdown pass to stretch the advantage to 20-6 after three quarters.

Garcia finished 10-17 passing for 168 in the victory. Rob Janis rushed nine times for 50 yards to pace the Panthers ground attack.

The Lions went to the air 38 times in the contest, finishing with 212 yards passing in defeat.

Riverside (3-2 Overall, 2-0 Class 2A-2) next faces Western Beaver on Friday night as part of its homecoming festivities. An October 11th home game versus the section-leading Wolverines looms in the near future.