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September 4, 2018

Football Recaps: Panthers Blowout Lancers; Wolverines Fall To Serra Catholic

Both local schools were hosts in high school football action Friday night, the last Friday of August, with Riverside easily dismissing the Neshannock Lancers 45-14 while the Ellwood City Wolverines were on the losing end of a 24-14 contest against Serra Catholic. For Riverside, the Panthers continued strong offensive play that dates back to last season – scoring 31 points in the second quarter and scoring on their opening possession of the second half to evoke the mercy rule. Quarterback Ben Hughes led the offense that scored on every offensive possession and racked up over 340 yards of offense. For…

August 10, 2018

REPORT: Wolverine Football hoping to take advantage of move down to Class-2A

According to a publish report this week by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tri-State Sports & News Service, Ellwood City football will be looking to take advantage of a WPIAL reclassification this year. The offense returns eight starters, including QB Ryan Gibbons (5-10, 170, So., QB), while the defense will return seven starters, including senior LB Coulton Cunningham (5-9, 175, Sr., OL-MLB).  A trio of running backs also return for the Wolverines as Rick Petrelli, Rocco Sesti and Donovan Chambers will lead the charge. Post-Gazette writers Ed Phillipps suggests “the Wolverines should benefit this year from the move down to the Class 2A Midwestern Athletic…

August 10, 2018

REPORT: New faces on defense need to make an impact for Riverside

According to a publish report this week by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tri-State Sports & News Service, the Riverside Panthers will use new faces on defense in hopes of continuing its string of consecutive playoff appearances. Riverside finished with a 9-3 record last year, but lost 16 seniors, and returns only two starters on defense in cornerback LeMarcus Cleckley (6-0, 175, Sr., RB-DB) and lineman Jarrett Speer. The offense returns junior Ben Hughes (6-2, 200, Jr., QB), who led the an offense that averaged 33.8 points per game last season. Cleckley will move into the featured back role after racking up 930…

November 11, 2017

Panthers oust Avonworth, move onto WPIAL Class-AA Semifinals

Riverside made quick work of Avonworth Friday night with a 42-14 victory that move the #4-seeded Panthers into the Class-AA semifinals for a second consecutive year. After their first drive stalled with an interception, the Panthers scored on six consecutive drives – by ground and by air – to run away from the Antelopes. Noah Harris added 105 rushing yards  and accounted for three touchdowns for Riverside, while Maurice Cleckley joined Harris in the scoring column with two touchdowns of his own. Harris caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Ben Hughes, who completed 10 of 16 passes for 149 yards…

November 4, 2017

Panthers Run Over Frazier In WPIAL Playoff Opening Round Victory

The Riverside Panthers used a strong ground game and a stout defense to blank Frazier 34-0 in WPIAL Class-AA opening round action Friday night at Riverside Memorial Stadium. Panther back LeMarcus Cleckley rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offensive attack that scored twice in the second quarter and twice in the second half to soundly defeat the Commodores . Riverside running back Noah Harris joined Cleckley in the 100-yard club, finishing the contest with 107 yards rushing including the games opening score. Rounding out the offensive playmakers, senior Austin Dambach caught three passes for 76 yards…

October 8, 2017

PHOTOS: Passing Games Flourish, But Bobcats Spoil Homecoming

Passing has become a focal point for the Wolverines in the past two weeks as Ellwood has had much success in the quick-strike, quick-score type of plays. Friday’s game was no pushover as well in the passing game; however, the Beaver Bobcats had their own “ace” at the quarterback position, Brodie List, who helped the Bobcats spoil the evening 57-14 on Homecoming night. The first quarter set the tone for the Bobcats as Beaver scored only one minute into the game when QB Brodie List threw a strike of 37 yards to Harrison Pontoli, starting plenty of the scoring on…