In a clash of conference unbeatens, Ellwood City bested Western Beaver 26-20 on the road Saturday to remain unbeaten.
The win gives the Wolverines sole possession of first place in the Midwestern Conference.
On Saturday, the Ellwood City offensive ground attack churned out 234 yards rushing while the Wolverine defense was opportunistic in stopping Western Beaver four times on fourth down conversion attempts.
After stopping the Golden Beavers twice on downs and a scoreless first quarter, Ellwood City quarterback Chris Smiley opened the scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.
In the 3rd quarter, Smiley scampered in from 22-yards out after a QB sneak never evoked a whistle and the quarterback rolled off the pile and ran for the touchdown.
Less then 90 seconds later, Elijah Palmer-McCane raced in from 33 yards out to push the Ellwood City advantage to 20-0.
The teams exchanged interceptions late in the 3rd quarter as Smiley was picked off with 21 seconds remaining but the Wolverines defense abruptly forced a tipped pass and Luciano Gagric hauled in the interception as the 3rd quarter ended.
The Wolverines special teams checked in midway through the final quarter, recovering a muffed punt that led to Palmer-McCane finding paydirt for a second time in the second half, on a 2-yard run to stretch the Wolverines lead to 26-6.
Palmer-McCanen finished with 122 yards rushing on 29 carries. Smiley collected 83 yards rushing on the afternoon. Jaivin Peel finished 22-42 passing for 314 yards for Western Beaver (4-2 Overall, 3-1 Section 2A-2) in defeat.
Gagric added six tackles, including one tackle for a loss, to his interception defensively. Kaden Docchio posted a game-high 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery.
Ellwood City (6-0 Overall, 4-0 WPIAL Section 2A-2) is out to its best start to a regular season in nearly three decades. The Wolverines will next travel across the mighty Connoquenessing River to Riverside on Friday for a rivalry contest beginning at 7:00 p.m. and look to improve to 7-0 for the first time since 1944.
PA Today Player of the Game goes to Elijah Palmer McCain and the entire Ellwood City offensive line.
• The Wolverines established the LOS from their first play on offense. The offensive line is a big reason the Wolverines were able to win today.
• @E_PM05 is a special… pic.twitter.com/DWGP2rk3hW
— PA Today (@PA_TodaySports) October 5, 2024
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