Crunch Personal Injury
Hot Ticket

Neshannock primed for showdown with Riverside

Written: Oct 06, 2016
Article Image Gallery
By Clay Sauertieg

New Castle News

Conference supremacy is on the line Friday as the Neshannock High football team plays host to Riverside.

The Lancers, led by an offense averaging 37.8 points-per-game, are coming off a convincing, 30-13 victory over WPIAL Class AA Midwestern Conference foe Laurel.

The opponent for Neshannock (3-0 conference, 5-1 overall) is a 4-0, 5-1 Panthers team that has been equally impressive, winning four straight games after falling to Steel Valley in Week 1 and allowing just 5.7 points-per-game in the process.

“Both teams are undefeated, so it’s shaping up to be the game of the year in the MAC,” Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio said.

Mozzocio’s team is led by senior quarterback Frank Antuono, who has proven to be a dual threat in every sense of the word/ Antuono has thrown for 917 yards on the year while racking up an additional 456 yards on the ground.

“He’s done it to everybody,” said Riverside coach Ron Sciarro of Antuono’s play making ability. “We want our kids to be sound, aggressive and confident in what they’re doing when they go up against him.”

Sciarro added that his team has been excited all week for the chance to take on their “toughest test since week one.”

“Yeah, they’re excited. I told them that they did what they had to do to get to this point, but now they have to step it up,” he said.

Antuono has been a leader for a Neshannock program that has won at least nine games in every season in which Mozzocio has been at the helm.

“Frank’s a leader on our team, he can both run and pass and is a leader both on and off the field for our guys,” Mozzocio said.

He added that his team’s ability to beat opponents in a number of ways has been vital part of its ascent to the top of the conference.

“We have speed all around the field and a lot of different weapons,” he said. “It’s hard to key on one guy and that really opens some things up for everybody else.”

Neshannock has used that speed to top 40 points in half of their games this season, including a 50 point performance two weeks ago in a victory over East Allegheny. Mozzocio said that the work his team puts in each week in practice allows it to be successful when game time rolls around.

“These guys have been with me a long time, they know the program and what we expect day in and day out,” he said. “They come with their lunch pail and they’re out there working each and every day and it shows in the games.”

Should the Lancers come out victorious, they would see just sub-.500 South Side Beaver, Freedom and Mohawk standing in the way of an undefeated conference season. But Mozzocio says his team isn’t looking ahead.

“We’re concerned with getting better day in and day out,” he said. “So we’re taking it one game at a time and if we can handle our business each week, we should be in a good position at the end of the season.

(Email: csauertieg@ncnewsonline.com)



HOT TICKET ARCHIVE
New Castle looks to defend home field on Senior Night 10/20/16 'Hounds, Hickory put identical 7-0 records on the line Friday night 10/13/16 Neshannock primed for showdown with Riverside 10/6/16 Scotties face key game with Western Beaver 9/22/16 Unbeaten 'Hounds, Sharpsville set for early-season district showdown 9/15/16 Laurel will try to stay unbeaten against Riverside 9/8/16 Neshannock gridders set for clash with Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic 9/1/16 WPIAL Class A quarterfinals: 'Cats try to realize semifinal dream 11/12/15 PIAA District 10 Class A Playoffs: 'Hounds looking to be tested in opener 11/12/15 WPIAL Class A quarterfinals: Lancers on doorstep of another semifinal appearance 11/12/15 WPIAL Class AAA Playoffs 2015: 'Canes ready to take their best shot at Mars 11/5/15 WPIAL Class A Playoffs 2015: Wildcats set for first-round test with Springdale 11/5/15 WPIAL Class A Playoffs 2015: Fireworks expected as Lancers entertain Bentworth 11/5/15 WPIAL Class A Playoffs 2015: Union will have hands full against North Catholic 11/5/15 Lancers, Scotties playing for pride, postseason positioning 10/30/15 Big Seven crown in sight for Shenango 10/22/15 It's now or never for Laurel against Beaver 10/15/15 'Canes positioning for WPIAL playoffs, program history 10/8/15 Union , Shenango to lock horns 10/1/15 Scotties to test their mettle against South Side Beaver 9/24/15 Game on: Neshannock read to move forward with Riverside clash looming Friday 9/17/15 Wildcats, Lancers ready for early-season showdown 9/10/15 Laurel knows importance of opening 2015 season strong 9/4/15 WPIAL Playoffs: Unbeaten Neshannock ready for Clairton 11/13/14 District 10 Playoffs: Wilmington to face Cambridge Springs 11/7/14 'Cats ready for big challenge from Clairton 11/6/14 ’Hounds look to take region crown with win over Sharpsville 10/23/14 Laurel, Ellwood ready to rock 10/16/14 More than pride at stake for Ellwood, Mohawk 10/9/14 Shenango, South Side have playoffs in mind 10/4/14 ’Canes looking for cure against Moon 9/25/14 Wilmington ready for West Middlesex matchup 9/18/14 Neshannock, Riverside share similar traits 9/11/14 Shenango, Neshannock set for Saturday night clash 9/4/14 Heading to Heinz? Lancers must get by North Catholic 11/14/13 It’s Neshannock vs. Monessen for Round 2 11/7/13 WPIAL Playoffs: New Castle vs. Highlands 10/31/13 WPIAL Playoffs: Neshannock vs. Brentwood 10/31/13 WPIAL Playoffs: Laurel vs. Avonworth 10/31/13 Laurel, Sto-Rox battle for Big Seven supremacy 10/17/13 Mohawk vs. Ellwood can boost playoff hopes 10/3/13 Union, Laurel to battle in key Big Seven matchup 9/26/13 Neshannock, Shenango have something to prove 9/19/13 Neshannock vs. Sto-Rox a huge early season showdown 9/12/13 Neshannock vs. Laurel a big early season matchup 9/5/13 Game of the Week: Laurel vs. South Side Beaver 8/30/13 District 10 Playoffs: Wilmington and Greenville set for Round 2 11/16/12 WPIAL Semifinals: Neshannock vs. powerhouse Clairton 11/15/12 WPIAL Football Playoffs: Neshannock vs. Jefferson-Morgan could be a shootout 11/2/12 WPIAL Football Playoffs: Union ready to battle Beth-Center 11/2/12 New Castle vs. Hopewell: A ’Canes win and they’re in — and maybe more 10/25/12 Wilmington, Sharon ready to renew annual rivalry 10/18/12 Union, Shenango to battle for inside track at playoffs 10/11/12 Unbeaten Neshannock, Rochester battle for Big Seven lead 10/4/12 Union-Laurel battle could have playoff implications 9/27/12 Game of the Week: Bongivengo returning to Shenango — as opponent 9/20/12 Wilmington set for yet another tough matchup 9/13/12 Chasing History: ’Canes seek 700 against Riverside 9/6/12 District 10 Playoffs: Wilmington must defend General McLane ground attack 11/18/11 WPIAL Playoffs: Ellwood set to battle Greensburg Central 11/11/11 Ellwood to battle Freeport on playoff matchup 11/3/11 ’Canes, Blackhawk to battle for potential playoff spot 10/27/11 Forget records when Wilmington and Sharon clash 10/20/11 Laurel, Ellwood to battle with playoffs on the line 10/13/11 Ellwood to battle mighty Quips with title hopes on line 10/6/11 Mirror images: Unbeaten Wilmington, Hickory to meet 9/29/11 Union celebrating Homecoming, and so will South Side quarterback 9/22/11 Lights, cameras and action: ’Canes to battle Central Valley 9/15/11 Neshannock, Serra ready to grind it out on ground 9/8/11 Wilmington, Sharon set for Round 2 11/19/10 With fresh start, Wilmington looks to squash Grape Pickers 11/12/10 Ellwood to have hands full with unbeaten South Fayette 11/4/10 Ellwood’s WPIAL playoff hopes depend on win in ‘Backyard Brawl’ 10/28/10 Wilmington vs. Sharon: It’s ‘always the game of the year’ 10/21/10 Ellwood vs. Laurel a long time coming — and the stakes are high 10/14/10 New Castle looks to win Shell game against Hopewell 10/7/10 Banged-up Neshannock to battle Western Beaver 9/30/10 Unbeaten Ellwood look to join MAC elite 9/23/10 Shenango matchup with South Side homecoming in more ways than one 9/16/10 Young Wilmington set to battle Greenville 9/9/10 New Castle, Butler renewal rivalry to open season 9/3/10 PIAA Semifinal: Wilmington to battle Greensburg Central Catholic 12/11/09 PIAA PLAYOFFS: Wilmington to meet unbeaten Forest Hills 12/4/09 Wilmington to battle Sharon for District 10 title 11/27/09 WPIAL SEMIFINALS: Laurel and Clairton to battle again 11/20/09 DISTRICT 10 PLAYOFFS: Wilmington to take on North East 11/20/09 WPIAL PLAYOFFS: Laurel to battle Beth-Center 11/13/09 DISTRICT 10 PLAYOFFS: Wilmington to meet Fort LeBoeuf 11/13/09 WPIAL PLAYOFFS: New Castle to battle West Allegheny 11/12/09 WPIAL PLAYOFFS: New Castle set to take on Greensburg Salem 11/5/09 WPIAL PLAYOFFS: Laurel set to take on Burgettstown 11/5/09 With heay hearts, Rockets look to soar against Wilmington 10/29/09 Shenango looking to keep playoff hopes alive at Union 10/22/09 Laurel ready for another conference test in Monaca 10/15/09 Mohawk hopes to keep Ellwood down 10/8/09 Laurel, Rochester to collide for conference lead 10/1/09 Unbeaten Spartans can’t afford to take rival Neshannock lightly 9/24/09 ’Canes look to turn back clock on Blackhawk Friday 9/17/09 ’Canes, Indiana ready to go at it again 9/10/09 Ellwood looking to snap long losing streak 9/4/09 'Canes look to avenge early season loss to Indiana 9/4/09 High-octane West Catholic ready for battle 12/11/08 Wilmington to battle Aliquippa in PIAA semifinal 12/5/08 Wilmington goes ‘back to work’ for PIAA playoffs 11/28/08 Wilmington, Slippery Rock to battle for District 10 title 11/21/08 Wilmington set to clash with General McLane 11/14/08 New Castle ready to take on powerhouse Thomas Jefferson 11/13/08 After rare loss, Wilmington ready for playoffs 11/7/08 ‘Canes look forward to home-field advantage 10/30/08 Numbers irrelevant as Laurel, Shenango prepare for battle 10/23/08 ’Canes control own destiny as Ambridge comes to town 10/16/08 Powerful Rochester next hurdle on Neshannock’s playoff path 10/9/08 Wilmington, Sharon teams match perfect marks as rivalry resumes 10/2/08 Neshannock back in spotlight as South Side Beaver comes calling 9/25/08 Neshannock to initiate field against conference rival Laurel 9/18/08 Union, Rochester ready to rekindle old rivalry 9/11/08 Mohawk looks to learn from loss, bounce back 9/4/08
Copyright © 2024 CrunchOnline
All Rights Reserved