Neshannock too strong for Farrell
Neshannock (42) vs. Farrell (14)
Written: Aug 31, 2016
By Joe Sager
New Castle News
It was a chance to make a statement against the PIAA Class A runner-up.
Neshannock welcomed the challenge.
The Lancers rolled past Farrell, 42-14, on Saturday at the Kickoff Classic at Taggart Stadium.
“We just wanted to come out and do well. Everyone thought we couldn’t compete with this team,” Neshannock’s Sean Doran said. “But, we came out, competed and dominated. We’re excited.”
Neshannock (1-0) hoped to meet the Steelers (0-1) in last year’s PIAA playoffs. However, Jeannette ended the Lancers’ season with a 25-15 victory in the WPIAL quarterfinals.
“It was a very satisfying win,” Neshannock’s Frank Antuono said. “We were in the weight room one week after we lost to Jeannette. We knew we had a good team coming back. Coming into the game, there was a lot of talk about people questioning whether we could compete with Farrell since they played in the state championship last year. We wanted to make a statement. My teammates played great. I am so happy with them.”
Farrell struck first when Braxton Chapman broke loose for a 54-yard TD run with 2:29 left in the first quarter for an 8-0 edge.
“We knew we missed a couple tackles on that and, if we stuck to what we were doing, we’d be fine,” Antuono said.
He was right. Neshannock dominated from the second quarter-on.
Doran scored on a 2-yard run to tie the game at 8-all early in the second stanza. On the Lancers’ next possession, Antuono hit Danny Welker for a 75-yard TD pass. Antuono added a 1-yard TD run just before halftime to give Neshannock a 22-8 edge.
“We just kept our composure and kept rolling and wearing them out,” Doran said. “Once our whole team gets momentum, we just keep building on it throughout the game. We kept wearing them out and building our momentum.”
Three plays after the Lancers stuffed the Steelers on a fourth-and-short in the third quarter, Antuono broke loose for a 40-yard TD run with 6:40 left in the frame.
Neshannock’s defense came up huge again on Farrell’s next possession. On the first play, Doran swatted at a Kyi Wright pass and hauled it in with one hand all in one motion. Two plays later, Antuono scampered in from the 9 for a 35-8 lead with 6:04 left in the frame.
“I was surprised I got a hand on the ball,” Doran said. “I was shocked myself I got it. I just tried to run with it.”
Chris Scott closed the Lancers’ scoring when he took a reverse and ran 25 yards into the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Farrell added a late TD.
“We figured if we keep pounding and pounding, they wouldn’t want to hit us,” said Antuono, who finished with 162 yards through the air and 123 on the ground. “We just wanted to keep running and play hard.”
Neshannock faces a big test Friday at home when it battles conference foe Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.
“We’re looking forward to it,” said Doran, who had 79 yards rushing and a sack to go with his interception. “We’re going to prepare all week and hopefully come out just like we did.”
FARRELL NESHANNOCK
9 First downs 18
171 Yards Rushing 286
30 Yards Lost 8
141 Net Rushing 278
9 Passes Attempted 17
4 Passes Completed 8
2 Passes Intercepted 0
29 Yards Passing 162
170 Total Yards 440
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-0
3-41 Punts-Average 2-33
2-10 Penalties-Yards 4-37
FARRELL 8 0 0 6 — 14
NESHANNOCK 0 22 13 7 — 42
Scoring plays
FARRELL — Braxton Chapman, 54-yard run (Tymir Green pass from Kyi Wright)
NESHANNOCK — Sean Doran, 2-yard run (Frank Antuono run).
NESHANNOCK — Danny Welker, 75-yard pass from Frank Antuono (run failed).
NESHANNOCK — Antuono, 1-yard run (Doran run).
NESHANNOCK — Antuono, 40-yard run (Tristan Tuck kick).
NESHANNOCK — Antuono, 9-yard run (kick blocked).
NESHANNOCK — Chris Scott, 25-yard run (Tuck kick).
FARRELL — Roy Timmons, 15-yard pass from Kyi Wright (run failed).
|