Shenango backs crash Neshannock party
Neshannock (14) vs. Shenango (36)
Written: Sep 21, 2009
  By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com
The Shenango High football team roared through Neshannock on Saturday night.
On a night that was meant for Bob Bleggi and the dedication of the stadium that now will bear his name, the Wildcats spoiled the party atmosphere, unleashing their explosive running tandem of Ricky Mathews and Anthony Kosciuszko to haul away a 36-14 victory.
Mathews and Kosciuszko combined for more than 300 yards in offense and four touchdowns.
“There’s a lot of things to be happy about,” said Ryan Mayo, whose Shenango squad produced 398 yards in total offense. “(We) exploded off the ball pretty well.”
With a 3-0 record, Shenango equaled its win total from the 2008 campaign.
The Wildcats (1-0 Big Seven Conference) established their dominance early. After Neshannock (0-1 conference 1-2 overall) sputtered in its opening series, Shenango required only 51 seconds and two plays for its first score. Facing a second and 6 from its own 46, Kosciuszko raced 54 yards for the first of the team’s five touchdowns.
Mathews ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
The junior took quarterback Joe Colavecchia’s handoff and scampered to the outside of the Lancers’ defensive line. Mayo’s strategy to avoid Neshannock’s interior proved successful throughout the contest.
“They bit the corner on us and got the outside edge,” Neshannock coach Pat Cuba said. “We were in trouble.
“Sometimes the kids are so worried about running the ball inside. We pack it up, and we give up the outside.”
Neshannock responded to its rival’s score in the ensuing series. The Lancers’ Chris Kirkwood carried the ball six times for 35 yards as part of an 11-play drive. His 7-yard carry into Shenango’s end zone and Michael Molinaro’s extra point narrowed Shenango’s lead to 8-7.
Kirkwood, who finished with 85 yards on 16 carries, later scored on a 14-yard run in the third quarter.
After Kirkwood’s first TD, Shenango scored three times with Kosciuszko, Mathews and Scott McBride carrying the ball. Kosciuszko notched his second six-pointer on a 2-yard run with 41.7 seconds left in the opening period.
He finished the game with 114 yards on 21 carries and one reception for three yards.
“I don’t think we were really ready for the speed,” Cuba said. “That’s where the problem was.
“It was a rough night.”
Midway through the second quarter, Mathews capped a 68-yard drive with his score from the Neshannock 2.
Shenango extended its advantage to 30-7 at the start of third quarter. Kosciuszko returned the Lancers’ opening kickoff 73 yards to the Neshannock 2. Taking the kick on the Shenango 25, he raced along the left sideline. McBride punched it in on the next play.
Neshannock attempted to rally when Kirkwood scored on the next series. However, Mathews ended the Lancers’ hope for a comeback when he converted a second-and-12 on the Shenango 8 into a 92-yard touchdown sprint with 5:13 left in the third period.
Mathews collected 209 yards with 165 yards rushing on 20 carries and 44 yards receiving yards.
Despite the win, Mayo saw areas for improvement.
“We won the ball game, but it was sloppy. You can’t do that,” he said.
The Wildcats were flagged eight times for 85 yards. They also lost a pair of fumbles.
“We got to be able to throw the football,” he added. “We didn’t get to do that very much.
“We had the lead and wanted to be conservative. We have to prove we can throw it down the field just as well.”
The teams return to conference play this week. Neshannock heads to Laurel (1-0, 3-0) on Friday. Shenango hosts Monaca (0-1, 1-2) Saturday.
SHENANGO — NESHANNOCK
15 First downs 11
355 Yards Rushing 165
33 Yards Lost 18
322 Net Rushing 147
6 Passes Attempted 15
5 Passes Completed 6
0 Passes Intercepted 0
76 Yards Passing 50
398 Total Yards 197
2-2 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
1-31 Punts-Average 4-37
8-85 Penalties-Yards 2-20
SHENANGO 14 8 14 0 — 36
NESHANNOCK 7 0 7 0 — 14
Scoring plays
SHENANGO: Anthony Kosciuszko, 54-yard run (Ricky Mathews run).
NESHANNOCK: Chris Kirkwood, 7-yard run (Michael Molinaro kick).
SHENANGO: Kosciuszko, 2-yard run (Run failed).
SHENANGO: Mathews, 2-yard run (Mathews run).
SHENANGO: Scott McBride, 2-yard run (Mathews run).
NESHANNOCK: Kirkwood, 14-yard run (Molinaro kick).
SHENANGO: Mathews, 92-yard run (Run failed).
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