Wolverines outlast Spartans
Ellwood City (14) vs. Laurel (13)
Written: Oct 16, 2010
By JOE SAGER
ncsports@ncnewsonline.com
Thanks for coming, now see you later.
It was 20 years since Ellwood City Lincoln High last played Laurel on the gridiron. The Wolverines might like to wait another couple of decades before another encounter after escaping Helling Stadium with a crucial 14-13 Midwestern Athletic Conference triumph.
The victory keeps Ellwood City’s playoff hopes alive. The Wolverines (4-2 conference, 5-2 overall) — a season removed from snapping their 31-game losing streak — are fourth in the MAC standings.
“Anytime you win, it’s good. It was very ugly and very lethargic on our part, but there was no doubt it was going to come that way. We felt all week that our kids were not preparing mentally the way they should and, to be honest with you, we stole one,” Ellwood City coach Don Phillips said.
“I don’t care if we steal it or win it outright, it’s a good win. In this conference, you have to get a win if you’re going to stay alive. Right now, every time you beat somebody, they move behind you two games. Now, we have the next biggest game of our season next week down at Beaver Falls.”
The Spartans (2-4, 3-4) saw their hopes of earning one of four postseason spots take a big hit with the defeat.
“Given all the adversity we’ve gone through, I think our kids are coming together. I don’t care when it happens just as long as it happens. I think it did happen (last night),” Laurel coach Jerry Holzhauser said. “They were definitely disappointed, but they realized they left it all out on the field — more than any game this season. I am proud of them.”
A steady rain in the first quarter made Helling Stadium’s chewed-up natural surface even more treacherous. Neither team managed much offense and both squads punted twice.
The hosts broke through in the second quarter. Kyle Crawford pilfered Brandon Ritchie’s errant aerial and returned it 13 yards to the Laurel 30 with 6:30 left on the clock. Four plays later, Crawford went airborne into the end zone to cover the final two yards. Scott Lewis booted the PAT kick for a 7-0 lead.
Silenced in the first half, the Spartans got their running game going in the final two quarters. They embarked on a 51-yard voyage in 10 plays to reach paydirt. Dylan Jones broke into the end zone from the 4. Jonathan Johnson added the PAT kick to knot the score at 7 with 3:19 remaining in the third.
Laurel’s defense stuffed the Wolverines on their next drive. The visitors turned to their ground game once again to take their first lead. Seven rushes resulted in Tyler Fennick’s 12-yard TD tote early in the final stanza.
“We made some adjustments at halftime. We’re not big about screaming at our kids and that sort of thing. We knew our kids were playing hard. It was just a matter of making some adjustments at halftime in blocking schemes and formations,” Holzhauser said. “I thought, up front, we did a nice job in the second half. In the first half, Ellwood played great defense. There were 11 guys up on that line. I should have known better. As a coach, I should have done something earlier.”
However, Johnson’s PAT kick appeared to be partially blocked and sailed wide left. That gave the Spartans just a 13-7 edge.
“I think it might have been the whole idea that the pressure was coming because we were coming. I think maybe that caused them to rush the whole thing,” Phillips said.
The hosts appeared poised to retaliate with a touchdown on the ensuing drive. On the first play, Gino Ceriani found Crawford for a 38-yard, over-the-shoulder catch that gave Ellwood the ball at the Laurel 26. Yet, the Wolverines couldn’t generate a first down and turned the ball over to the Spartans.
Laurel was unable to find much offensive room and punted the ball back to Ellwood. Once again, Ceriani lofted another pigskin dart to Crawford on the march’s first play. This lightning strike went for 40 yards and gave the hosts the pigskin at the Spartans’ 4. Two plays later, Ceriani scrambled into the end zone for the tally.
“I give a ton of credit to Laurel. They fought and battled and played hard. They did things that created some problems for us,” Phillips said. “We knew what they were doing and we talked about it at halftime. It was just a question of us getting after it like we know how. Second half, we came out and did some things. Gino made some great passes and Kyle had some great catches and we were able to get that second touchdown on the board. Fortunately for us, they missed an extra point and that opened the door.”
Lewis drilled the all-important PAT kick to give the Wolverines the 14-13 lead.
“I have emphasized to our kids ever since I have been here — and everywhere I have been — extra points are critical. We work extra points and field goals every day because those are points and it paid off for us,” Phillips said. “Scott Lewis is one of the premiere kickers in the conference, and he put two through and that was the difference, especially the second one.”
Laurel drove to the Ellwood 34 in the final two minutes, but turned the ball over on downs and the hosts held on for the victory.
LAUREL ELLWOOD
10 First downs 8
164 Yards Rushing 78
18 Yards Lost 34
146 Net Rushing 44
5 Passes Attempted 11
0 Passes Completed 4
1 Passes Intercepted 0
0 Yards Passing 95
146 Total Yards 139
2-0 Fumbles-Lost 3-1
5-29.2 Punts-Average 5-33.6
5-47 Penalties-Yards 6-80
LAUREL 0 0 7 6 —13
ELLWOOD 0 7 0 7 — 14
Scoring plays
ELLWOOD CITY — Kyle Crawford, 2-yard run (Scott Lewis kick)
LAUREL — Dylan Jones, 4-yard run (Joseph Johnson kick)
LAUREL — Tyler Fennick, 12-yard run (kick failed)
ELLWOOD CITY — Gino Ceriani, 4-yard run (Lewis kick)
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