The Neshannock Superior football workforce had an explosive first 50 percent to lift it to a win around Riverside on Friday.
The Lancers breezed past Riverside, 64-20, in the WPIAL Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference absent recreation.
Neshannock (5- convention, 7-1 in general) posted a complete of 409 offensive yards to Riverside’s 127.
“We’ve been talking about placing all 3 phases of the game alongside one another and tonight we did that,” Neshannock mentor Fred Mozzocio mentioned of the win. “We played good offense, excellent protection and fantastic special groups. It was over pretty brief.”
The 1st quarter of the game was 49 minutes long. Neshannock’s offense got factors rolling with a landing on its 1st enjoy of the video game with Braden Montgomery catching a 32-garden go from Jino Mozzocio.
“Great execution by Jino, Braden and the offensive line having out in front of them,” coach Mozzocio reported of the 1st touchdown. “Everybody was on their blocks did a fantastic job. We got on the board speedily.”
Riverside’s up coming drive observed Neshannock’s Aidan Shaffer get well a fumble to obtain possession. Shaffer also manufactured a go block early in the to start with quarter to preserve the Panthers (-5, -7) at bay.
“This was a great group earn,” Shaffer reported. “We did almost everything right — special teams, offense, protection, we just clicked as a crew. We had a good 7 days of practice and it genuinely showed on the area.
“The defensive line, we just came out prepared. We arrived listed here energized and we just required to smack them in the mouth.”
On Neshannock’s next travel of the first quarter, Anthony Eakin experienced a 49-yard touchdown operate on the 2nd engage in to convey the score to 14-. Eakin went on to rating the up coming two touchdowns of the to start with quarter on an 18-garden go from Jino Mozzocio and a 60-yard carry into the conclude zone.
“It was a fantastic staff earn,” Eakin claimed. “We didn’t appear out flat like final week. We have been completely ready to go as shortly as we bought on that subject.”
Eakin recorded 152 yards on nine carries.
“You pop him into the secondary you get him in the open up subject, which is what can take place with his velocity,” coach Mozzocio said of Eakin. “He’s a harmful player for us, of system.”
Riverside ultimately responded in the 1st quarter with a 90-garden kickoff return for a landing to path at the rear of the Lancers by 22 points. Neshannock’s Patrick Argiro produced a 52-property run prior to a Riverside horse-collar tackle brought him down at the one particular-garden line.
Argiro drove the ball in on the next perform for the closing landing of the initial quarter.
“He would’ve been in and obtained horse collared there at the conclusion zone,” coach Mozzocio claimed. “We’re just happy he didn’t get injured. Terrific operate by Patrick and we punched it in just after.”
Coach Mozzocio praised his defensive linemen and their effectiveness.
“They have been just dominate up entrance,” he mentioned. “They received off the ball. We preferred to get off the ball, get into the gaps, prevent them in advance of their running backs could get started off in their energy run sport and we were able to do that.”
In the next quarter, Neshannock manufactured the snap from Riverside’s 6-property line and a fumble in the close zone saw Anthony Bonner get well it for the landing.
“Anthony’s been taking part in good soccer for us,” Mentor Mozzocio mentioned. “All year extensive, he’s been Johnny-on-the-location and earning massive plays when we require him.”
Argiro closed out the to start with 50 percent with a 20-property sprint earlier the objective line to give Neshannock a 49-6 lead about the Panthers.
With the mercy rule clock looming to start off in the next fifty percent, mentor Mozzocio stated the discuss at halftime was that, “We just needed to go in, get our JV fellas organized, get all people arranged for their positions for specific groups and just appear out and participate in solid football. We didn’t want to get into a clown exhibit out there.”
Riverside kicked off to get started the third quarter and Eakin broke away for an 80-yard kickoff return. “I scarcely even experienced to make a juke,” Eakin said of the landing, adding, “The gap was just humungous. Pat (Argiro) produced a fantastic block and no a person caught me.”
Right after Eakin’s landing, the Neshannock’s young gamers took around the motion.
“We experienced 1 of our backup running backs crack a landing run on a kickoff tonight,” mentor Mozzocio reported. “We experienced some significant hits there at the conclusion there by some of our youthful linebackers. So, they were being really excited to get on the varsity subject and contribute.”
Riverside responded in the third quarter with Brady Newman scoring a landing on a two-lawn run. In the fourth quarter, Riverside’s Austin Degarmo captured his team’s past landing of the evening on a 9-lawn run.
Neshannock’s Nico Schaible obtained the very last touchdown of the sport on a 70-property kickoff return with 5:29 still left. Neshannock’s Collin Shaffer ran the ball in for the thriving two-stage conversion.
Ellwood Metropolis Lincoln will host the Lancers on Friday for far more WPIAL Class 2A action. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“We’re wanting forward to coming back to Ellwood future 7 days to play the Wolverines,” coach Mozzocio reported. “They’re a robust opponent. We know they’re pretty scrappy and we’re just wanting ahead to the problem.”