New Castle routs Franklin Regional
New Castle (53) vs. Franklin Regional (20)
Written: Nov 01, 2008
By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com
Survive and advance.
Last night, the New Castle High football team dominated and advanced.
The Red Hurricane forced five turnovers and turned them into 34 points in posting a 53-20 victory over Franklin Regional in the opening round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs at Taggart Stadium.
“The defense did a great job,” New Castle coach Frank Bongivengo Jr. said. “We let down a little bit and gave them a couple of plays there.
“When you force five turnovers in the first half, you can’t complain the way your defense is playing. The defense is the key. If we’re going to keep winning games in the playoffs, it’s going to be the defense that does it for us.”
It was the seventh straight win for New Castle (7-3).
All of the Panthers’ turnovers came in the first half as New Castle built a commanding 47-6 advantage. The second half was played under the mercy rule.
“I knew going in there were two things that we couldn’t do. We couldn’t turn it over and try and combat their speed by staying in lanes was another,” Franklin Regional coach Greg Botta said. “In the first half, we didn’t do that. I knew their speed going in was amazing; they have kids that can fly.”
It’s the first playoff victory for New Castle since 2002 when it knocked off West Mifflin, 42-14.
The ’Canes, seeded fourth, will square off against Indiana (8-2), a 21-6 victor over Trinity, at a time, date and site to be announced by the WPIAL. The Little Indians defeated New Castle in the second week, 27-18.
“The kids were excited about that chance to play Indiana,” Frank Bongivengo Jr. said. “When we went up there the last time to play them, I don’t believe we had the same team then what we do now; I think we’re much better.
“They really want to redeem themselves.”
STARTING STRONG
New Castle didn’t waste any time taking control. Franklin Regional’s Josh Rager fumbled on the game’s second play and Brandon Burley scooped up the loose ball and dashed 43 yards for a touchdown. The ’Canes held a 7-0 lead just 50 seconds into the game.
It was the first of three fumble recoveries for Burley, who later added an interception.
“The fumbles were just our linemen getting to the ball and making the plays the way they know how,” Burley said. “The first one was wide open. I just picked it up and headed for the end zone; it was a scoop and score.”
Said Bongivengo, “That ball was bouncing around and he came in and scooped and scored. That was a good job and we teach that scoop and score.”
Burley recovered his second fumble on Franklin Regional’s next play from scrimmage setting up New Castle at the Panthers’ 20, just 58 seconds in.
“What else can you ask for? Since we’ve moved him to free safety he’s become more and more comfortable back there, he’s getting better and better every week,” Bongivengo said. “He can really play that position well.”
Senior quarterback Michael Bongivengo capped that short drive off with a six-yard scamper for a 13-0 lead.
“Our offense was executing well all game,” said the coach’s son. “Our line opened up holes for us to make big plays.”
COMEBACK CENTRAL
It appeared Franklin Regional (5-5) was poised to get back in the game. The Panthers drove 55 yards on their next drive down to the ’Canes’ 10. However, E.J. Padula snared a pass at the goal line and raced 100 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown with 4:46 to play in the opening quarter.
“We didn’t take it in there and that was huge,” Botta said. “That’s a two-touchdown swing; that could have been a 13-7 game and we have a fighting chance.”
Franklin Regional ran 20 plays in the first quarter to just six for the ’Canes but trailed 27-0 after the first 12 minutes.
“Our defense gets better and better every day,” Burley said. “We work hard at it.
“The coaches stress getting to the ball and making tackles, gang tackling.”
KEENE’S DOMINANCE
Keith Keene helped New Castle put the game further out of reach in the second quarter. Keene amassed 174 yards rushing on seven carries in the first half and 181 total for the game on nine attempts.
“When I get out there I just feel that nobody is going to tackle me,” Keene said. “Every play I feel I’m going to break it.”
Most of Keene’s damage was done in the second quarter as he recorded a 55-yard touchdown run and a 45-yard scoring scamper.
“Keith has great vision,” the coach said. “When he gets out there, he can make you look bad.
“His feet never stop. People don’t realize that he runs hard. When he gets into the pile, not very often does he get knocked backwards. When he gets in that second gear he can run by a lot of folks.”
NO PASSING
The Panthers did contain New Castle’s vaunted aerial attack. Michael Bongivengo completed just 3 of 9 passes for 39 yards. He did rush for 39 yards on six attempts with three touchdowns.
“Once we put up 21 quick ones we didn’t really have to throw the ball,” the quarterback said. “They did a few different blitzes, but it wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle.”
Said the coach, “I didn’t like the way we threw the ball tonight. It was a little bit shaky and we made some bad decisions. We have to get back to throwing the ball well.”
The Panthers led in most statistical categories, but turnovers was the one that set the tone for the contest.
FRANKLIN REGIONAL NEW CASTLE
15 First downs 11
168 Yards Rushing 202
5 Yards Lost 18
163 Net Rushing 184
21 Passes Attempted 9
10 Passes Completed 3
2 Passes Intercepted 0
140 Yards Passing 39
303 Total Yards 223
3-3 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
2-33 Punts-Average 3-26
4-14 Penalties-Yards 5-50
FRANKLIN REGIONAL 0 6 0 14 — 20
NEW CASTLE 27 20 0 6 — 53
Scoring plays
NEW CASTLE — Brandon Burley, 43-yard fumble return (Jajuan Jay kick).
NEW CASTLE — Michael Bongivengo, 6-yard run (run failed).
NEW CASTLE — E.J. Padula, 100-yard interception return (Bongivengo run).
NEW CASTLE — Keith Keene, 55-yard run (kick blocked).
NEW CASTLE — Keene, 45-yard run (run failed).
NEW CASTLE — Bongivengo, 38-yard run (Jay kick).
FRANKLIN REGIONAL — D.J. Capezzuto, 34-yard pass from Anthony Vendemia (pass failed).
NEW CASTLE — Bongivengo, 2-yard run (Jay kick).
FRANKLIN REGIONAL — Ryan Mohoci, 8-yard pass from Steve Liberatore (Nathaniel Ondeck kick).
NEW CASTLE — Justin Fleo, 61-yard run (kick blocked).
FRANKLIN REGIONAL — Mohoci, 77-yard kickoff return (Ondeck kick).
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