Fennick helps Neshannock give South Side the boot
Neshannock (9) vs. South Beaver (6)
Written: Oct 17, 2011
By Joe Sager
News Correspondent
HOOKSTOWN — John Fennick just wanted another chance to kick.
He got it and lifted the Neshannock High football team to a 9-6 win at South Side Beaver in a Big Seven Conference clash Saturday.
The Lancers (2-3 conference, 4-3 overall) seemed to take control early. An interception helped set up their first touchdown on their second possession. Neshannock marched 28 yards on 10 plays as John Conglose barreled in from the 1 with 2:58 left in the first quarter.
However, Fennick slipped on the muddy field on the PAT kick attempt and it hooked wide left to leave it a 6-0 ballgame.
It may have seemed like a minor miss at the time, but became more important as the game transpired as the Lancers struggled offensively.
Undaunted, the Rams (0-5, 0-7) chipped away at the deficit.
The hosts settled for Jon Magusiak’s 20-yard field goal with 4:12 left in the first half for their first points.
South Side drove deep into Neshannock territory early in the fourth, but settled for Magusiak’s 26-yard field goal and a 6-6 tie.
Once again, the Lancers failed to move the ball and punted. The Rams embarked on yet another drive. They marched to the Neshannock 14, but the Lancers’ defense held strong. South Side turned to Magusiak again, but his 30-yard field goal attempt squibbed wide to the far right to preserve the tie.
On its next possession, Neshannock had Conglose’s long run wiped out because of a penalty and settled for a punt.
South Side took over on its own 19 with 2:57 to play. Surprisingly, Magusiak lofted a high pass on first down and Ernie Burkes was able to pick it off easily for his second interception of the game. He weaved his way to the Rams’ 20 with 2:43 to go.
“I stayed in my zone and read the quarterback’s eyes and I figured wherever he was looking is where he would throw and that’s where I stood,” he said. “That pass, not sure if that should have been thrown. When I see an opportunity, I try to maintain my cool and, if I make the play, that’s great.
“It was a really big boost for us. Whenever we make plays defensively, that pumps us more on offense. It gets us going.”
The Lancers were able to churn the ball down to the 2 with 2.8 seconds to play. That’s when they turned to Fennick. He blasted a 19-yard field goal through the middle of the uprights to give Neshannock the win.
“It just feels great because I love to help this team win. I was a little nervous because I missed the extra point earlier,” Fennick said. “I was just trying to make sure I kept my traction because I slipped on the extra point. I was thinking about it — if I didn’t slip, we wouldn’t have had to worry about it.”
Lancers coach Pat Cuba had no doubt Fennick would convert.
“He drilled it and it went right down the middle. It was a great kick. He’s a great kid,” he said. “To win this game the way we did makes it 10 times better because they could have quit many times. They had their backs against the wall and they responded. I am very proud of them.”
Neshannock returns to action at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Rochester.
*****
NESHANNOCK-SOUTH SIDE BEAVER
BOX SCORE
NESH SSB
8 First downs 11
128 Yards Rushing 77
7 Yards Lost 13
121 Net Rushing 64
10 Passes Attempted 24
2 Passes Completed 12
0 Passes Intercepted 3
5 Yards Passing 122
126 Total Yards 186
3-1 Fumbles-Lost 3-1
7-30.9 Punts-Average 3-26.7
4-45 Penalties-Yards 6-45
NESHANNOCK 6 0 0 3 —9
SS BEAVER 0 3 0 3 —6
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — John Conglose, 1-yard run (kick failed).
SOUTH SIDE — Jon Magusiak, 20-yard field goal.
SOUTH SIDE — Magusiak, 26-yard field goal.
NESHANNOCK — John Fennick, 19-yard field goal.
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