‘We tip our hats to them’
Neshannock (21) vs. Rochester (28)
Written: Oct 08, 2012
  By Joe Sager
New Castle News
ROCHESTER — Neshannock got a good taste of Rochester football last night.
It certainly was bitter for the Lancers, as the Rams posted a 28-21 home victory in a key WPIAL Class A Big Seven Conference battle.
Rochester (5-0 conference, 6-0 overall) erased a 14-13 halftime deficit with a strong second-half performance to take the victory.
Historically, the Rams, perennial powers, have been known for a formidable offensive line and a powerful running game. They used both to topple the Lancers (5-1, 5-1).
“We played Rochester football. That’s all,” said Rochester coach Gene Matsook of his team’s performance in the second half. “People doubted us and they were talking about Neshannock and how good they are, and they are good and a well-coached team, but, you know what, my kids’ play in the second half — we just knocked them off the football. We just played Rochester football like we know how to play. I am proud of my kids.”
The Rams’ imposing offensive line helped pave the way for Dante Marsick, a punishing running back. The senior racked up 207 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries.
“He’s doing a great job for us. Dante has been carrying us. It’s a tribute to our offensive line and Dante will be the first one to tell you that our offensive line doesn’t get the recognition it should. I thought our defense did a heck of a job tonight as well,” said Matsook, a 1981 Shenango graduate who has collected four WPIAL titles, two state crowns and a pair of PIAA runner-up finishes at Rochester. “I thought we wore them down a bit. You could see they were getting a little tired and fatigued; they were getting beat on a little bit and we came off the ball a bit. We made some adjustments at halftime. We had a couple turnovers when we could have put the game away. They are a dangerous team. You have to play the whole game with them. They have nothing to be down about. I thought their kids played hard all game.”
Neshannock was looking to go 6-0 for the first time since 1962.
“It was a close game, but that isn’t what we came down here for. We’re not in this thing for moral victories. Our kids know that. But, at the same time, we lost a football game and it’s not the end of the world. Like I told them, they are 15-, 16- and 17-year-old kids and there are a lot of other things that could be going on right now than them losing a football game,” Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio said. “We’ll turn the page next week, just like we have been doing all year. That’s a pretty good football team over there and they got the best of us. We have no excuses. We tip our hats to them.”
The Lancers struck first 1:42 into the game. Using its spread, no-huddle offense, Ernie Burkes lofted a 25-yard touchdown pass to Alex Welker for a quick 7-0 lead.
Rochester tied it early in the second on Marsick’s first TD run of the game.
Neshannock retaliated when Burkes fired a strike to Conglose on a post pattern and he outraced the Rams’ defense for a 60-yard TD.
However, the hosts grabbed some momentum heading into halftime as Marsick escaped around the right end and rumbled 69 yards for a score with 1:10 left on the clock. Burkes blocked the extra point to keep the Lancers ahead, 14-13.
“The one right before halftime really hurt. That was a killer,” Mozzocio said. “If we could have gone into halftime 14-7, it could have been different. He is a great back and they have a great football team and we came up short.”
Rochester’s punishing running game kept the ball out of Neshannock’s hands for most of the second half. The Rams went ahead, 21-14, in the third on Ben Richko’s 2-yard quarterback keeper. He ran in the 2-point conversion.
The hosts appeared poised to seal the game late in the fourth, but Marsick was stripped of the ball at the Neshannock 2 and the Lancers recovered. Three plays into the potential game-tying drive, Richko picked off Burkes, who lofted the ball deep before being smothered by a strong rush, and returned it to the Lancers’ 8.
Again, Neshannock’s defense held and forced Rochester to turn the ball over on the Lancers’ 13 with 4:07 to play. Once again, another Neshannock drive ended in a turnover as Burkes was stripped of the ball and the Rams recovered at the Lancers’ 33. Six plays later, Marsick punched in for a 1-yard TD run.
Neshannock’s furious comeback produced a 1-yard Eli Owens TD run with 17.9 seconds to play. However, the ensuing onside kick bounced out of bounds before the Lancers could smother it.
“We had some opportunities where we had some plays dialed up and we didn’t catch the ball or make a good pass at a certain time,” Mozzocio said. “But, that’s part of football. We can’t wait to come play next Friday. We’re ready to go.”
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
NESHANNOCK ROCHESTER
14 First downs 22
114 Yards Rushing 282
6 Yards Lost 17
108 Net Rushing 265
28 Passes Attempted 15
13 Passes Completed 6
1 Passes Intercepted 1
180 Yards Passing 98
288 Total Yards 363
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 3-2
3-28.3 Punts-Average 1-28.0
4-42 Penalties-Yards 8-57
NESHANNOCK 7 7 0 7 — 21
ROCHESTER 0 13 8 7 — 28
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — Alex Welker, 25-yard pass from Ernie Burkes (Connor Richards kick).
ROCHESTER — Dante Marsick, 3-yard run (Ben Richko kick).
NESHANNOCK —John Conglose, 60-yard pass from Burkes (Richards kick).
ROCHESTER — Marsick, 69-yard run (kick blocked).
ROCHESTER — Richko, 2-yard run (Richko run).
ROCHESTER — Marsick, 1-yard run (Jay Ratti kick).
NESHANNOCK —Eli Owens, 1-yard run (Richards kick).
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