Lancers give Avonworth a battle in defeat
Neshannock (19) vs. Avonworth (34)
Written: Sep 12, 2009
 Despite the loss, it might be considered a victory of sorts for Neshannock.
The Lancers hung tough with favored visiting Avonworth before settling for a 34-19 nonconference defeat last night.
Avonworth (2-0) reached the WPIAL Class A semifinals last year. Although they lost six first-team all-stars, the Antelopes’ talent still is evident.
Despite six turnovers, Neshannock (1-1) never was out of the game until the final minutes. The Lancers trailed 20-13 at the half and pulled to within 20-19 midway through the third quarter.
Avonworth scored twice in the opening period, first after an interception and, minutes later, following a Neshannock fumble.
The Lancers scored their first TD on a 28-yard pass from John Sansone to Ken Haney Jr. on the first play of the second quarter.
The teams traded scores to end the second period and then traded turnovers to start the third.
Neshannock pulled to within 20-19 on a 48-yard pass from Sansone to Asa Davies with 6:59 remaining in the third.
The Lancers appeared to be in good shape when the Antelopes fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Chris Kirkwood knocked the ball loose and Dylan Micco alertly dove on it.
But the turnover went for naught when Neshannock went three-and-out.
Avonworth scored on its next two possessions to gain some breathing room.
Three straight turnovers made any chance of a comeback by the Lancers out of the question.
Sansone finished as the game’s leading rusher with 109 yards on 13 carries. Kirkwood was next with 75 yards on 16 attempts.
AVONWORTH NESHANNOCK
13 First downs 14
101........Yards Rushing 209
39 Yards Lost 11
62 Net Rushing 198
14 Passes Attempted 11
10 Passes Completed 4
1 Passes Intercepted 3
149 .........Yards Passing........102
211 Total Yards 300
2-1 Fumbles-Lost 4-3
4-32.5......Punts-Average 2-42
3-12.5 Penalties-Yards 6-33
AVONWORTH 6 14 7 7 — 34
NESHANNOCK 0 13 6 0 — 19
Scoring plays
AVONWORTH — Jim Zubic, 3-yard run (kick blocked).
AVONWORTH — Edward Kurtz, 52-yard fumble return (Houston Hunt kick).
NESHANNOCK — Ken Haney Jr., 28-yard pass from John Sansone (kick blocked).
AVONWORTH — Zubic, 11-yard run (Hunt kick).
NESHANNOCK — Sansone, 18-yard run (Michael Molinaro kick).
NESHANNOCK — Asa Davies, 48-yard pass from Sansone (kick failed).
AVONWORTH — Thomas Turnbull, 7-yard run (Hunt kick).
AVONWORTH — Turnbull, 23-yard pass from Zubic (Hunt kick)
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