Shenango ground game clicks in opener
Shenango (27) vs. Riverview (6)
Written: Sep 06, 2009
  By DAN IRWIN
d_irwin@ncnewsonline.com
It took three guys to yank Ricky Mathews’ jersey and pads off over his head Saturday night.
“These new uniforms are tough,” the Shenango High running back admitted.
By that time, though, Mathews was used to drawing a crowd. Generally, it took at least as many defenders to bring down the 6-foot-1, 205 pound fullback each time he touched the ball in the Wildcats’ 27-6 season-opening win over Riverview on Saturday night .
By game’s end, both he and tailback Anthony Kosciuszko had accumulated more than 100 yards rushing for a team that continues to re-establish a ground game, three seasons after former quarterback Rocco Colavecchia led the WPIAL in passing.
Kosciuszko rambled for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, while Mathews bulled his way for 121 yards and one score on 16 totes.
Blessed with a gifted passer and standout receivers, former head coach Brian Cooper converted the ’Cats in 2006 from their traditional wing-T set to a spread offense. But for a team whose name once was synonymous with running the ball, Saturday’s game — even though it was played at Wilmington High to give Shenango’s newly resodded field extra time to settle in — felt like home.
“We’re excited about that,” Mathews said. “We want to get it back when we can go and run all over people. We’re trying to bring that back to Shenango, good runners, good defense.”
For Shenango, the rushing yards sometimes have been hard to come by over the last two seasons, with the ’Cats averaging about 140 per game. A big reason for Saturday night’s 291-yard output was an offensive line anchored by senior center Andrew Welsh, senior right guard Jordan Razo and senior left tackle Jordan Hasson. Sophomore Avery Pears (left guard) and 6-foot-3, 275 pound junior right tackle Sam Herb rounded out the interior line, flanked by tight ends Eric Moscipan (a junior) and David Carbone (a senior).
“I think everybody knows that Ricky and Anthony are good football players,” Shenango head coach Ryan Mayo said, “but we need the line with that. Hopefully, this year, the line is doing a better job. They definitely did a better job tonight.”
Senior quarterback Joe Colavecchia — Rocco’s brother — opened the scoring by hitting wide receiver Scott McBride on a 55-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter.
Mathews followed with a 1-yard TD run on Shenango’s next series, and Kosciuszko added scoring scampers of 26 and 2 yards in the second half as the Wildcats built a 27-0 lead.
Riverview scored with 3:24 remaining on a 1-yard run by quarterback Terrel Craighead, notched against Shenango’s reserves.
Kosciuszko’s two scores provided some emotional balm for having twice fumbled the ball away, once just before halftime and again on the second play of the third quarter.
“I was kind of battling fumble-itis, I guess,” he said, “but the touchdowns kind of turned it around. The line helped me out, and Ricky blocking, Hopefully, we can keep progressing and getting better.”
Mayo couldn’t agree more.
“They ran the ball really well,” he said, “but unfortunately, they also put it on the turf, and good football teams don’t do that. I was disappointed in that.”
Still, Mayo couldn’t help but like the way things turned out.
“It’s early, obviously, but hopefully, it’s an indication of things to come,” he said. “I said numerous times last year (during a 3-7 campaign) that I thought we were on the right track. People thought I was strange, but I still believe it, and I think we’re going to keep making strides.”
RIVERVIEW SHENANGO
7 First downs 13
161 Yards Rushing 301
30 Yards Lost 10
131 Net Rushing 291
14 Passes Attempted 7
4 Passes Completed 3
1 Passes Intercepted 1
40 Yards Passing 88
171 Total Yards 379
6-3 Fumbles-Lost 2-2
4-31.3 Punts-Average 2-30
0-0 Penalties-Yards 6-35
RIVERVIEW 0 0 0 6 — 6
SHENANGO 0 14 6 7 — 27
Scoring plays
SHENANGO — Scott McBride, 55-yard pass from Joe Colavecchia (Ricky Mathews run)
SHENANGO — Mathews, 1-yard run (Run failed)
SHENANGO — Anthony Kosciuszko, 26-yard run (Kick failed)
SHENANGO — Kosciuszko, 2-yard run (McBride kick)
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