Neshannock’s linebacker brother act figured in two of the Lancers’ touchdowns during a 42-14 win over West Shamokin.

Late in the fourth quarter, sophomore Alex Welker latched onto the ball in a scrum at the 15-yard line and returned it 11 yards to the 4. Backup QB David Burkes then ran it into the end zone one play later.

Earlier in the same period, Neshannock brought the heat on Wolves quarterback Tony DeVivo, and DeVivo lobbed a desperation pass to his left.

Senior Erik Welker, with his throttle set on full speed ahead, grabbed the wounded duck in stride and stormed 35 yards unmolested to paydirt.

“He wasn’t going to stop,” Lancers head coach Pat Cuba said. “If anyone got in his way, he was going to stomp on them on the way. He’s doing a great job for us this year.”

And for Welker, it apparently was a dream play in more ways than one.

“He told me he had a dream that he had a pick-six,” running back Asa Davies said, “and then he got it today.”

After less than a quarter of play, Mike Caputo’s season may be over.

The senior star running back for West Allegheny sustained what has been called a “serious ankle injury” Friday night during the Indians’ 41-0 romp over South Park.

According to various published reports, the injury is believed to be a dislocated ankle.

Caputo was carted off the field on a stretcher late in the first quarter after landing awkwardly while playing safety.

Caputo led West Allegheny to a WPIAL title last season and is widely considered to be one of the top players in the district. He has already accepted a scholarship to Wisconsin.

Last year, Caputo rushed for 294 yards and two touchdowns in leading West Allegheny to a 28-21 Parkway Conference win over New Castle. The ’Canes are scheduled to take on the Indians Oct. 15 at Taggart Stadium.

KAYLEEN CUBBAL — Hot Ticket Matchup: Butler over New Castle . Butler stunk last year, but this year they have the Jim Rankin factor. If he doesn’t make the Quad-A Golden Tornado a winner right away, he will eventually. If New Castle is looking for some blackboard material, here it is.

Neshannock over West Shamokin

Chartiers-Houston over Union

Ellwood City over Freedom

Aliquippa over Laurel

Wilmington over Slippery Rock

Avella over Shenango

Beaver Falls over Mohawk

*****

“THE DOCTOR OF STYLE,” RON PONIEWASZ JR. — Hot Ticket Matchup: New Castle over Butler. Butler’s wing-T offense will be no match for New Castle’s firepower. The Red Hurricane will get up by a couple of scores and just make passing a bit too tough for the visitors.

Neshannock over West Shamokin

Chartiers-Houston over Union

Freedom over Ellwood City

Aliquippa over Laurel

Wilmington over Slippery Rock

Avella over Shenango

Beaver Falls over Mohawk

*****

“BAZOOKA” JOE SIMON — New Castle over Butler. New Castle has plenty of weapons and experience, and while Butler won’t be as bad as years past, the Red Hurricane has too much offense for the Golden Tornado.

Neshannock over West Shamokin

Chartiers-Houston over Union

Ellwood City over Freedom

Aliquippa over Laurel

Wilmington over Slippery Rock

Shenango over Avella

Beaver Falls over Mohawk

THE MATCHUP: West Shamokin at Neshannock, 7 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: West Shamokin (0-9); Neshannock (2-7).

WHAT TO WATCH: West Shamokin competes in the WPIAL Class AA Allegheny Conference. The Wolves were outscored 422-17 last year. West Shamokin has lost 24 straight games dating back to a 20-8 verdict over Allegheny-Clarion Valley in 2007. Neshannock will open with Michael Sanfilippo at quarterback.

*****

THE MATCHUP: Chartiers-Houston at Union, 7 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: Chartiers-Houston (6-4); Union (2-7)

WHAT TO WATCH: Union is looking to open the season with a victory for the first time since 2003. That’s also the last year the Scotties advanced to the WPIAL playoffs. Union’s Andre Jones moved from wide receiver to quarterback. Danny Lis threw for 901 yards and eight touchdowns last year for Chartiers-Houston.

*****

THE MATCHUP: Chartiers-Houston at Union, 7 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: Chartiers-Houston (6-4); Union (2-7)

WHAT TO WATCH: Union is looking to open the season with a victory for the first time since 2003. That’s also the last year the Scotties advanced to the WPIAL playoffs. Union’s Andre Jones moved from wide receiver to quarterback. Danny Lis threw for 901 yards and eight touchdowns last year for Chartiers-Houston.

*****

THE MATCHUP: Ellwood City at Freedom, 7 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: Ellwood City Lincoln (1-8); Freedom (2-7)

WHAT TO WATCH: This is a Midwestern Athletic Conference matchup. Freedom hasn’t made the WPIAL playoffs since 2004. Ellwood City has dropped the last four matchups against the Bulldogs dating back to a 14-6 win in 2005. The Wolverines are just 15-69 since notching a 7-3 mark in 2000.

*****

THE MATCHUP: Aliquippa at Laurel, 7 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: Aliquippa (11-2); Laurel (10-2)

WHAT TO WATCH: Aliquippa lost in the WPIAL Class AA championship last year to Greensburg Central Catholic. The Quips are ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL in Class AA by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This is a MAC matchup. The teams last met in 2002 at Aliquippa in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. The Quips won, 36-23.

*****

THE MATCHUP: Wilmington at Slippery Rock, 7 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: Wilmington (13-2); Slippery Rock (2-8)

WHAT TO WATCH: Slippery Rock moved up to Class AAA in District 10. The teams competed in Region 3-AA last year. Wilmington is attempting to reach the District 10 championship game for a sixth straight season. The Greyhounds have won four straight district crowns. Wilmington’s Sutton Whiting led the county in rushing last year with 1,273 yards.

*****

THE MATCHUP: Butler at New Castle, 7:30 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: Butler (0-9); New Castle (8-3

WHAT TO WATCH: Butler competes in the WPIAL Class AAAA Northern Seven Conference. Former North Allegheny coach Jim Rankin, who won 144 games in 18 seasons, takes over at the helm for the Golden Tornado. Butler hasn’t made the playoffs since 1998. New Castle quarterback Johnny Matarazzo passed for a program-best 2,128 yards last year.

*****

THE MATCHUP: Shenango at Avella, 7:30 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: Shenango (5-4); Avella (2-7)

WHAT TO WATCH: The Eagles have had the worst WPIAL record the past 10 seasons. Avella was down to just 10 players two years ago when the female cheerleading captain suited up to keep the program going. Shenango is bidding for its first WPIAL playoff berth since 2006. The last time the Wildcats posted back-to-back winning seasons was 2002-2003.

*****

WHEN: Mohawk at Beaver Falls, 7:30 p.m. Friday

LAST YEAR: Mohawk (3-6); Beaver Falls (10-2).

WHAT TO WATCH: Beaver Falls is ranked No. 5 in the WPIAL in Class AA by the Post-Gazette. Trey Hall led New Brighton last year in rushing with more than 1,000 yards and transferred this year to Beaver Falls. Mohawk quarterback Johnny Beatty led the team last year in rushing with 360 yards, while throwing for 1,170 with nine touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

It's Crunch time again!

And we're about to bring you the hits in a bigger and better way than we've ever done before.

The multimedia staff at the New Castle News will be in the pressbox, on the sideline and inside the huddle to deliver the most compelling photos, video, audio and stories from high school football action in Lawrence County. Look for us at your favorite team's game from tonight's first kickoff through the PIAA championship in December.

In addition to game coverage, look for these other exciting elements on our Crunch Web site:

• Mondays — FanCam returns with fun and unique images taken in the stands by you.

• Tuesdays — Our popular Band of the Week feature will air, with photo galleries and audio clips from each high school band.

• Wednesdays — Meet the Player of the Week through stories, photos and video highlights.

• Thursdays — What would football season be without Bazooka Joe and The Doc making predictions, questioning coaches and traveling to different stadiums around the county like rock stars?

• Fridays — During the day, check out our weekly football feature stories, which will focus on issues outside the lines. At night, we'll provide real-time scores and details for those who can't make it to the games. As Friday night dissolves into Saturday morning, you'll see complete game stories and box scores, photo galleries and video highlights.

• And on a daily basis we'll have a couple of added bonuses for you — team pages, player cybercards and, as you might have presumed, this blog you are currently reading. It will be updated daily with breaking news items, videos, photos and links to other sites.

So, if you're looking for the best in Lawrence County football action presented in a very cool and exciting format, we invite you to come back daily for your fix of hard-hitting visuals and commentary.

Crunch. We deliver the hits.