Neshannock vs. Laurel a big early season matchup
Written: Sep 05, 2013
By Joe Sager
New Castle News
The Laurel-Neshannock showdown could be one of the WPIAL Class A Big Seven Conference’s most-entertaining — and most-important — battles this season.
Conference championship contention and playoff positioning are huge factors in the contest. Add in a backyard rivalry and the game should take on a playoff-like atmosphere at 7 p.m. Friday at the Lancers’ Bob Bleggi Stadium.
“It’s game number two, but it’s a big one,” Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio said. “Laurel is definitely a rivalry game, that’s no secret there. The kids are looking forward to it as are both communities and school districts. It should be a fun atmosphere.”
Even though both teams are coming off big opening-night wins — the Lancers beat Western Beaver, 56-7, and the Spartans topped South Side Beaver, 40-6 — such a big game so early in the season is a tough task.
“It’s a real good measuring stick. The thing is, I was measuring in about three or four games from now instead of right now, so we could have a little time to build some momentum,” Laurel coach Pat Cuba said. “This game has become a big rivalry. The kids are excited at Laurel and Neshannock for this one.”
The game has another element — Cuba’s return to Neshannock. He coached the Lancers from 2007 to 2011 before taking over at Laurel this season.
“Neshannock is very good. I saw them Saturday night,” he said. “Fred does a great job there. It’s good to see how hard the players have worked. It’s amazing how some of the kids have changed physically. They just have an excellent football team.
“I respect Neshannock and those kids. I hope they feel the same about me.”
Mozzocio explains they do.
“Some of the players who are seniors played for coach Cuba and still have a great deal of respect for him. He is on the opposite sideline now and they want to show him what they can do and that they have grown up and I am sure he wants to show them he has his team prepared. That adds a little more intrigue to the game,” he said. “We have a great deal of respect for Pat and his staff and everything they are doing there.”
Both teams feature contrasting styles. Neshannock has a fast-paced spread offense with an emphasis on passing, while Laurel uses a read option offense in which the Spartans grind out the yards on the ground, primarily.
“They do some things really well. They have some nice schemes they run. We’ve been preparing for what they do,” Mozzocio said. “We did scrimmage Slippery Rock, who ran the same type of offense. We feel we got a good look at it that game and got a good look on film of what Laurel does. We just have to go out and play our game.”
Senior quarterback Josh Dando directs the Spartans’ offense. Last week, he rushed for 139 yards and two scores. He had a touchdown pass as well. Running backs Dalton Rosta (111 yards), Matty Conway (40) and Clayton Sharek (40) had success, too.
“Dando and Rosta are both fine football players. They looked really good against South Side,” Mozzocio said. “They are two really standout players in our conference. That’ll be a challenge to go against them and then to block them when we’re on offense.”
Laurel started off slowly last week, but found cohesion as the game progressed.
“We started slow and we can’t do that this week; I know that for a fact. If you start slow against Neshannock, you’ll be down 21 points,” Cuba said. “The kids came together; they started to understand the system and the things we needed them to do. They got better as the game went on. The tackling was atrocious at the beginning, but it got better as the game went on. Win or lose, if you’re making progress, you’re moving in the right direction. I think we’re making progress. I am happy with what I see right now from the kids.”
The Lancers blitzed Western Beaver for 27 points in the first quarter en route to the 49-point win.
“We do what we do. We’re going to continue to build on what we’ve been doing and try to play with tempo and speed and try to force other teams to play at our speed,” Mozzocio said. “We’ll continue to try to do that no matter who we play.”
Neshannock features speed and quickness all over the field. The Lancers try to distribute the ball among all of their weapons. Tailback Eli Owens had a 35-yard run in the win, while Gianni Oliva rushed for a pair and Jimmy Medure and Rocco Fazio both hauled in TD passes. Quarterback Ernie Burkes is a threat with his arm and legs as well.
“Eli, I knew he was going to be a great player when he was a freshman. Ernie has gotten better and better. He’s smart and very athletic. They have an excellent football team,” Cuba said. “They have a lot of weapons. They are very fast on defense. That’s what impressed me the most when I saw them — how fast they get after you on defense. They are very quick. Offensively, they try to spread you out and create the one-on-one matchups. They have big-play potential. They spread you out into that open space and they can make big plays. That’s what they’re looking for.
“They try to find the weakness and that’s where they’re going to attack. They do it very well.”
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