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Game of the Week

Union pulls away for win over South Side Beaver

Union (40) vs. South Beaver (20)
Written: Sep 24, 2011
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By Joe Simon

New Castle News

Union High’s Drew Robinson and Joe Salmen answered at the exact same time.

“Yeah, it was personal,” they said of their game against South Side Beaver.

The Scotties illustrated how meaningful the game was with an overmatching physical style of play and relentless intensity in a 40-20 Big Seven Conference victory over the Rams last night.

The game meant more to Union (1-1 conference, 2-2 overall) not just because it was homecoming and their home opener, but also because an old friend, South Side Beaver quarterback Jon Magusiak, was on the other side.

Magusiak is a Union Township native and has plenty of family and friends still in the area, including Robinson, who said the two exchanged some friendly trash talking throughout the week.

The Scotties got the last laugh this time.

“I grew up with Jon,” said Robinson, who picked off his old buddy twice and returned one for a touchdown. “He knew that we were coming after him. He’s been talking to us about how he’s going to beat us, so we did take it personal.”

Union delivered the first blow on the opening kickoff as Carrington Bell rumbled 80 yards for a touchdown. The defense followed with a crushing blow to running back Colton Brooks on the first play from scrimmage. The Rams’ starting tailback and leading rusher left the game with a concussion and did not return.

“It was tough replacing him,” South Side Beaver coach James Winner said of Brooks. “He’s a great downhill runner. We knew we could power down inside with our size, and not having him made a huge impact for us.”

South Side Beaver (0-2, 0-4) still pieced together a scoring drive on its first possession, and Magusiak capped it with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Carlo Policastro. The teams exchanged touchdowns once more to tie the game at 14, and then the Scotties’ defense took over. It shut down the Rams’ running game (allowing only 37 first-half rushing yards) and forced them to pass. The obvious passing downs eventually led to Union picking off Magusiak four times, twice in the first half.

The Scotties first took a 21-14 lead on a 1-yard run by Salmen, the starting quarterback. The score was set up by a 44-yard screen pass from Salmen to Austin Smith on a third-and-7 play.

The defense then forced the Rams into a third-and-17, and Magusiak was picked off on an ill-advised pass toward the sideline. Robinson returned it 23 yards for a touchdown and a 27-14 lead.

“That was a big turnaround because it was still a football game at that point,” Union coach Stacy Robinson, Drew’s dad, said. “I think he helped knock ’em over the ledge a little bit with that. It was a great return. I didn’t think he was going to take it all the way in for six, but he was able to do what he does best, and that’s get in the end zone.”

Salmen put an exclamation point on the first half with a 7-yard touchdown strike to Tre Major, giving Union a 34-14 lead. Salmen finished 9-of-13 passing for 127 yards and two touchdowns and with 72 yards rushing and a TD run.

The junior said a pregame speech from a few former Scotties fired the team up. John Wojtowicz, a 1977 Union grad who played as an offensive lineman at Penn State, and Bob Carr, a ’76 graduate who served more than 20 years in the military, including stints in Afghanistan, talked to the Scotties and joined them on the sidelines for the game.

“It was emotional,” Salmen said. “I was crying. But it helped us play hard.”

Robinson scored Union’s fourth unanswered touchdown with a 20-yard jaunt in the third quarter. The score put the game out of reach and an end to the friendly battle with Magusiak, who was 13 of 25 for 152 yards and a TD.

“After the game, we were all good friends still,” Robinson said. “But on the field it’s personal, strictly business.”

S.S.BEAVER UNION

13 First downs 16

132 Yards Rushing 185

23 Yards Lost 37

109 Net Rushing 148

26 Passes Attempted 13

13 Passes Completed 9

4 Passes Intercepted 1

152 Yards Passing 127

261 Total Yards 275

1-1 Fumbles-Lost 3-3

3-29.6 Punts-Average 1-22

8-80 Penalties-Yards 10-70

S.S. BEAVER 7 7 0 6 —20

UNION 14 20 6 0 — 40

Scoring plays

UNION — Carrington Bell, 80-yard kickoff return (Joe Salmen kick).

SOUTH SIDE BEAVER — Carlo Policastro, 37-yard pass from Jon Magusiak (Lucas Collet kick).

UNION — Tyrone May, 11-yard pass from Salmen (Salmen kick).

SOUTH SIDE BEAVER — Jonathan Beal, 2-yard run (Collet kick).

UNION — Salmen, 1-yard run (Salmen kick).

UNION — Drew Robinson, 23-yard interception return (kick failed).

UNION — Tre Major, 7-yard pass from Salmen (Salmen kick).

UNION — Robinson, 20-yard run (run failed).

SOUTH SIDE BEAVER — Nathan Block, 5-yard run (kick failed).
GAME SCOREBOARD
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT SCORE
Union 14 20 6 0 0 40
South Beaver 7 7 0 6 0 20
GAME OF THE WEEK ARCHIVE
One step short 12/3/16 Neshannock season comes to end 11/27/16 The (im)perfect season 11/19/16 WPIAL championship game 11/18/16 New Castle advances to WPIAL Class 4A title game 11/11/16 Neshannock routs Serra Catholic 11/4/16 Neshannock hosts Serra Catholic 11/4/16 Thriller 10/28/16 Union at Shenango 10/28/16 'Canes stumble; playoff berth on line in finale 10/21/16 New Castle hosts Ringgold on Senior Night 10/21/16 Wilmington falls in battle of unbeatens 10/15/16 Wilmington at Hickory 10/13/16 On the defensive 10/8/16 Neshannock hosts Riverside 10/7/16 New Castle struggles in home loss to Mars 9/30/16 New Castle hosts Mars 9/30/16 'Canes hope to even score against Mars 9/30/16 Stayin' alive 9/23/16 Union hosts Western Beaver 9/23/16 Ground assault 9/17/16 Wilmington hosts Sharpsville 9/16/16 Too many mistakes for Laurel 9/10/16 Riverside travels to Laurel 9/9/16 Neshannock routs North Catholic 9/3/16 Canes quipped 8/31/16 A good mix 8/27/16 Black Friday 11/14/15 Wilmington vs. Cambridge Springs 11/13/15 Defense steps up for Lancers 11/7/15 Neshannock vs. Bentworth 11/5/15 No doubt about it 10/31/15 Neshannock vs. Union 10/30/15 Crowning effort 10/24/15 Shenango vs. Riverside 10/23/15 Playoff hopes dashed 10/17/15 Laurel vs. Beaver 10/16/15 A costly brawl 10/10/15 New Castle vs. Central Valley 10/9/15 Inching closer 10/3/15 Union vs. Shenango 10/2/15 'They had us on our heels' 9/26/15 South Side Beaver at Union 9/25/15 Shootout 9/19/15 Neshannock at Riverside 9/18/15 Pivotal 9/13/15 Neshannock, Shenango clash Saturday 9/11/15 Under the weather 9/5/15 New Brighton at Laurel 9/4/15 Heartbreaker 11/15/14 Neshannock vs. Clairton 11/14/14 Weathering the storm 11/8/14 Neshannock vs. Jeannette 11/7/14 Fast and furious 11/1/14 Springdale at Shenango 10/31/14 Opportunity lost 10/25/14 Sharpsville at Wilmington 10/24/14 One for the books 10/18/14 Ellwood City at Laurel 10/17/14 Ground war 10/11/14 Ellwood City at Mohawk 10/10/14 Drenched with happiness 10/4/14 South Side Beaver at Shenango 10/3/14 The perfect storm 9/27/14 Moon at New Castle 9/26/14 Coming up short 9/20/14 West Middlesex at Wilmington 9/19/14 Back in the saddle 9/13/14 Neshannock at Riverside 9/12/14 Tough act to follow 9/6/14 New Brighton at Ellwood City 9/5/14 'We will get better' 8/30/14 West Allegheny vs. New Castle 8/29/14 End of the road 11/16/13 Neshannnock vs. North Catholic 11/15/13 'Sharks in a frenzy' 11/9/13 Lancers advance to WPIAL semifinals 11/9/13 Neshannock vs. Monessen 11/8/13 The best defense 11/2/13 Neshannock vs. Brentwood 11/1/13 'We battled to the end' 10/26/13 New Brighton at Mohawk 10/25/13 Costly blunders 10/19/13 Sto-Rox at Laurel 10/18/13 West Allegheny rallies in fourth to defeat 'Canes 10/12/13 West Allegheny at New Castle 10/11/13 Mohawk wins thriller behind McConahy, Barber 10/5/13 Ellwood City at Mohawk 10/4/13 Spartans ride big second half to win over Union 9/28/13 Laurel at Union 9/27/13 Burkes stars as Lancers escape upset bid 9/21/13 Shenango at Neshannock 9/20/13 So close ... 9/13/13 Neshannock at Sto-Rox 9/12/13 Run to glory 9/7/13 Laurel at Neshannock 9/6/13 Dando, Spartans roll over South Side Beaver 9/5/13 South Side Beaver vs. Laurel 8/30/13 Turnovers spell doom for Wilmington in D-10 title game 11/26/12 Wilmington vs. Hickory 11/24/12 Caught in a 'Bear' trap 11/17/12 Neshannock vs. Clairton in WPIAL Class A semifinals 11/15/12 Neshannock advances 11/10/12 Neshannock vs. Monessen 11/9/12 Neshannock vs. Monessen 11/9/12 Neshannock vs. Monessen 11/8/12 Neshannock advances 11/3/12 Neshannock vs. Jefferson-Morgan 11/2/12 Down and out 10/27/12 New Castle at Hopewell 10/26/12 Pugh paces Wilmington to win over Sharon 10/22/12 Wilmington vs. Sharon 10/19/12 Mohawk falls to Beaver 10/13/12 Beaver vs. Mohawk 10/12/12 ‘We tip our hats to them’ 10/8/12 Neshannock at Rochester 10/5/12 Big-play display for Union 9/29/12 Union vs. Laurel 9/28/12 Lancers rout Shenango for fourth win 9/24/12 Blend of old, new sparks Union win 9/22/12 Union hosts Western Beaver 9/21/12 ’Hounds rise up for win over Hickory 9/15/12 Wilmington vs. Hickory 9/14/12 Milestone victory 9/10/12 New Castle at Riverside 9/7/12 699 and counting 9/1/12 New Castle vs. Central Valley 8/31/12 Turnovers lead to season-ending loss for Wilmington 11/21/11 Wilmington vs. General McLane 11/17/11 End of the dream 11/12/11 Ellwood vs. Greensburg Central 11/11/11 Ellwood advances 11/5/11 Ellwood City vs. Freeport 11/4/11 Mixed reviews 10/29/11 New Castle vs. Blackhawk 10/28/11 Wilmington rolls to Region 3 title 10/22/11 Wilmington vs. Sharon 10/21/11 It's Polka time 10/15/11 Ellwood City vs. Laurel 10/14/11 Aliquippa cruises past Ellwood City 10/8/11 Aliquippa vs. Ellwood City 10/7/11 Wilmington holds on for thrilling win over Hickory 10/1/11 Wilmington vs. Hickory 9/30/11 Union pulls away for win over South Side Beaver 9/24/11 South Side Beaver at Union 9/23/11 Big plays spell doom for New Castle 9/17/11 Central Valley vs. New Castle 9/16/11 Defense delivers for Neshannock 9/10/11 Defense delivers for Neshannock 9/10/11 Neshannock vs. Serra Catholic 9/9/11 New Castle suffers disappointing loss in opener 9/3/11 New Castle vs. Butler 9/2/11 Sharon ends Wilmington’s dominance 11/22/10 ‘Underdog’ Greyhounds move on to a rematch with Sharon 11/15/10 Wilmington vs. North East 11/12/10 Tough lesson 11/6/10 WPIAL Playoffs: Ellwood vs. South Fayette 11/5/10 Wolverines earn playoff berth 10/30/10 Riverside at Ellwood City 10/29/10 'Hounds lose heartbreaker 10/23/10 Wilmington at Sharon 10/22/10 Wolverines outlast Spartans 10/16/10 Laurel at Ellwood City 10/15/10 'Canes fall to Parkway foe Hopewell 10/9/10 New Castle to battle Hopewell 10/8/10 Lancers fall to Western Beaver 10/2/10 Western Beaver at Neshannock 10/1/10 Wolverines fall to Beaver 9/25/10 Beaver at Ellwood City 9/24/10 Shenango runs past South Side 9/20/10 Greyhounds lay hammer down on Greenville 9/11/10 Wilmington vs. Greenville 9/10/10 New Castle comes through 9/4/10 New Castle vs. Butler 9/4/10 Memorable run ends for Wilmington football team 12/14/09 Wilmington vs. Greensburg Catholic 12/11/09 Wilmington survives close call against Forest Hills 12/4/09 Wilmington vs. Forest Hills 12/4/09 Wilmington blanks Sharon 11/28/09 Wilmington vs. Sharon 11/27/09 Laurel season ends with setback 11/21/09 Laurel vs. Clairton in WPIAL semifinals 11/20/09 West Allegheny ends New Castle’s season 11/14/09 New Castle vs. West Allegheny 11/13/09 New Castle holds off Greensburg Salem 11/7/09 New Castle at Greensburg Salem 11/6/09 Wilmington routs Slippery Rock 10/30/09 Slippery Rock at Wilmington 10/30/09 Shenango blanks Union 10/24/09 Shenango at Union 10/23/09 Spartans overwhelm Monaca 10/17/09 Monaca at Laurel 10/16/09 Mohawk outlasts Ellwood City 10/10/09 Mohawk at Ellwood City 10/9/09 Rochester turns back Laurel in battle of unbeatens 10/3/09 Laurel at Rochester 10/2/09 Laurel opportunistic against Neshannock 9/26/09 Neshannock at Laurel 9/25/09 New Castle ends streak against Blackhawk 9/19/09 New Castle hosts Blackhawk 9/18/09 New Castle passes test against Indiana 9/12/09 Indiana at New Castle 9/11/09 Ellwood comes up short against Freedom 9/5/09 Freedom at Ellwood 9/4/09 Wilmington wins PIAA title! 12/15/08 'Hounds headed for Hershey 12/6/08 Wilmington vs. Aliquippa 12/5/08 Wilmington holds off Martinsburg Central 11/29/08 Wilmington edges Slippery Rock for District 10 title 11/24/08 "Down and Out" 11/19/08 New Castle outlasts Indiana in quarterfinals 11/8/08 New Castle vs. Indiana 11/7/08 New Castle vs. Indiana 11/6/08 New Castle routs Franklin Regional 11/1/08 Franklin Regional at New Castle 11/1/08 Laurel wins, but not enough 10/25/08 Shenango at Laurel 10/25/08 New Castle routs Ambridge 10/18/08 Ambridge at New Castle 10/18/08 Rochester blanks Neshannock 10/11/08 Wilmington handles Sharon 10/4/08 South Side Beaver blanks Neshannock 9/27/08 Neshannock vs. South Side Beaver 9/27/08 Neshannock holds off Laurel 9/20/08 Rochester blanks Union 9/13/08 Union-Rochester 9/12/08 Mohawk routs New Brighton 9/6/08 Butler outlasts New Castle 8/30/08
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