wpial football

PHOTOS: Wolverines Defeated By South Park In WPIAL Semifinals

The unbeaten Wolverines season came to an end Friday night as Ellwood City was defeated by South Park 28-7 in the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals at North Allegheny High School. After gaining and early advantage the Wolverines were torched by chunk plays by the #2 seeded Eagles rushing attack who posted a resounding 376 yards rushing in its victory. Ellwood City recovered the opening kickoff on the South Park 21 yard line after the Eagles mishandled the ball and just two plays later took a 7-0 lead when Chris Smiley connected with Dailonn Currie for an 18-yard touchdown. The Wolverines…


PHOTOS: Wolverines Survive South Allegheny, Advance To WPIAL Semifinals

Elijah Palmer-McCane tallied 150 yards of total offense and accounted for both Ellwood City scores Friday night as the Wolverines survived a scare from #6 South Allegheny and escaped with a 13-12 quarterfinals victory in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. Ellwood City advances to the WPIAL semifinals for the first time since 1987. In the low scoring affair Friday, the Wolverines had to overcome a 95-yard touchdown catch and run by the Gladiators standout receiver Drew Cook early in the second quarter. The splash play silenced the raucous home crowd eager to see Ellwood City’s first home playoff game in…


Panthers Open Up WPIAL Playoffs Against OLSH On Friday

The Riverside Panthers will square up and face Our Lady of Sacred Heart on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Moon High School in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 2A Playoffs. Riverside finished 4-3 in Class 2A Midwestern Conference, earning a 9-seed in the 13-team playoff picture, surprising many including their coach. “They played far better than I expected this year,” says head coach Rob Magnifico. “They out performed my expectations.” Defense has been key to the Panthers success this season as the unit only allowed 14 points a game this year, a stark contrast and improvement over the 37…


PHOTOS: Wolverines Wrap Up Unbeaten Regular Season With Senior Night Victory Over Beaver Falls

Ellwood City has earned is first unbeaten regular season in 80 years after a convincing 52-0 blowout of Beaver Falls Friday night. The shutout performance was part of the senior night where sixteen Wolverine players were recognized before the game. One the game started, Ellwood City made quick work of the visiting Tigers as quarterback Chris Smiley tossed three first half touchdowns and the Wolverines raced out a 39-0 halftime advantage. Dailonn Currie was on the receiving end of two of the tosses, first an 11-yard strike in the first quarter and later a 59-yard touchdown in the second quarter…


Ellwood City, Riverside Each Cruise To Victories

A week after a low scoring slugfest between section rivals, Ellwood City and Riverside each found some offensive firepower in collecting big section wins Friday night. The ground attack was on display as Elijah Palmer McCane rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns as Ellwood City wiped out Union 33-6 and, not to be outdone, Robbie Janis rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns as Riverside shutout Beaver Falls 31-0. For the Wolverines, the victory clinched at least a share of section title – a first since 1997 – and continues their bid for an undefeated regular season. Palmer-McCane’s rushing…


Wolverines Best Western Beaver 26-20 In Section Showdown

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…


PHOTOS: Wolverines Shutout New Brighton On A Rainy Homecoming Night

The Wolverines forced five turnovers defensively, Elijah-Palmer McCane scored three second half touchdowns, and Dailonn Currie hauled in two touchdown passes Friday night as Ellwood City shutout New Brighton 33-0 on a rainy homecoming night at Helling Stadium. Holly Palmer was crowned the 2024 Homecoming Queen at halftime. The in MAC Section game, Ellwood City quarterback Chris Smiley connected with Currie on the first of two touchdown passes, a 21-yard strike midway through the first quarter to put the Wolverines ahead with a 7-0 lead that would last to halftime. A 40-yard strike from Smiley to Currie put Ellwood City…


PHOTOS: Riverside Falls To Western Beaver On Homecoming Night

Western Beaver jumped on Riverside early, gaining an early 21-0 advantage as they held on to defeat the Panthers 21-10 Friday night at Riverside Memorial Stadium. Brandon Mayo scored two first half rushing touchdowns for the Golden Beavers (4-1 Overall) who remain unbeaten in MAC section play. Robbie Janis led all rushers with 108 yards on the ground for the Panthers who outgained the visiting Golden Beavers 220-96 in total yards of offense, but came up short on the scoreboard. Aiden Garcia connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Joe Chill in the fourth quarter. Garcia finished 8-12 passing for…


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…


Wolverines Outlast Neshannock For Rain-Soaked Victory

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…