Wolverines cruise in RivEll Cup
Rivalries between two teams separated by just 3 miles usually have several storylines that generate buzz and news during the week. Friday night did not disappoint in the 40th edition of the RivEll Cup as both teams had many goals on the list to check off. With a win, Riverside could “clinch” back-to-back playoff tickets with two games remaining; Ellwood City could “return” back to playoff contention, including a possible second place spot still up for grabs. Either way in the game of football, one team must win and prove worthy of the victory. One team would continue their prowess while the other would have to regroup for the remaining two game sprint. Ellwood City would be that team on the night to go above and beyond and they did not disappoint the home sideline fans during the game.
To add to the list of storylines on the night, it was Senior Night for the Wolverines who got to witness 47 Senior individuals walk across the field who participates in Fall Sports at Ellwood City. After the pregame festivities, EC would kick the ball off and defer to the second half after wining the first battle of the night with the coin toss. Riverside would take the ball first and manage to go about five yards on the opening drive and was forced to punt.
Ellwood City would get their first try on offense and decided to make the most of it - a drive full of big plays by the Wolverines would help set the tone the rest of the night. The very first play of the drive would have a huge 44 yard pass to Dom Dinucci over the middle to get into Riverside territory. A couple plays later, Tyler Smiley, would make what many thought would be his best play of the night, a great decision to run the ball up the right sideline on a 4th and 18 to get the first down. EC would continue to battle, finally breaking through with a great step up scramble-and-pass by Smiley to find an open Colton Gullo in the endzone for the touchdown. The PAT was blocked to keep the score 6-0.
Riverside would get the ball back and yet again be turned away on three downs. The punt attempt was partially blocked by Drake Davis which gave EC field position on the Panther side of the field. EC would get back to business via the run play that included the combo of Richard Cureton and Guilian Frisk in the backfield. The drive would continue to the endzone while it battled several penalties along the way. EC would cap off the drive with a run up the middle by Cureton to make the score 12-0 in the late portion of the first quarter. The 2-point conversion attempt was failed, but was a good attempt via the pass trickery.
Riverside would get their third attempt on offense, going just one yard through the first two drives. It would take the very last play of the fist quarter till the Panthers had their first first down. Riverside would drive to the Wolverines side of the field, but could not get the first down on the fourth down run play with Mason Holler. Smiley would help aid the play on defense, who had a monster night even on defense.
Ellwood City would drive the ball down the field, but for the first time would be stop before scoring on fourth down. Riverside would get the ball back knowing they had a shot to get back into the game. Just 24 hours prior, senior Drake Davis posted the great play he had last year at Riverside in the RivEll Cup where he recovered the big fumble at the end of the game to seal the deal for EC. History repeats itself - Drake Davis would pick up another fumble recovery in the RivEll Cup, this time in the first half of the game where it seemed like Riverside could be on its way back into the game.
Ellwood City would take the turnover and march down the field, but would be held in check via the holding penalty. Senior DaiLonn Currie would make up for the holds, taking the pass from Smiley and running into the endzone after a good cutback for the touchdown. The 2-point conversion was no good to keep the score 18-0 late in the first half.
Currie would also help his cause on the kickoff play as EC held the Panthers on the return back inside their own 10 yardline. Riverside and Ellwood would trade posessions while Currie would then punt the ball back into the redzone area, giving Currie some great confidence in the special teams department.
Riverside would try and push one more time hoping to move the ball instead of taking it to the half and it would backfire. The pass over the middle was deflected by Cureton and picked off by Dinucci who would bring the ball back closely to the redzone area of Riverside. The very next play went to Kam Hockenberry who is slowly becoming a tall target for the Wolverines passing game as Smiley’s pass fell right into Hockenberry’s arms on the right sideline area. Hockenberry was left one-on-one and he did not disappoint. The touchdown reception made the score 24-0 EC. The 2-point conversion was good via the pass from Smiley to Currie to make the halftime score 26-0 in favor of Ellwood City.
Not to go unnoticed, right before halftime the air completely went out of the Riverside sideline as the kickoff fumble would be recovered by Cameron Mills for EC to give them one more shot at points. Even though the result was zero points, EC made it interesting by making all the way down to the redzone. The Wolverines fans recognized what truly happened though at halftime - the momentum and game was in-hand for the Wolverines.
Ellwood City would open up the second half just continuing their dominance of Riverside, adding another score to the board. This time the 4th passing touchdown of the night as Smiley found Dinucci open running into the endzone to make the score quickly 32-0. The PAT attempt was blocked to keep the score 32-0.
Riverside would finally get their best drive on the night nearly halfway through the third quarter while doubling up their yardage in the game that was held under 100 at half. Mason Holler would cap off the drive with a 14 yard rushing touchdown up the middle. The PAT kick was good by Gage Safran to make the score 32-7.
After a couple of defensive penalties and a couple great scramble plays by Smiley, the Wolverines would add to the scoreboard yet again as Currie would continue to put a statement on this game, going one-on-one up the right sideline for the 35 yard touchdown reception. The 2-point conversion pass was good from Smiley to Dom Hogue to make the score read 40-7 in favor of EC.
Riverside would take the ball from the EC side of things after the kickoff and the touchdown celebration penalty. The Panthers would not waste time putting up points to make the scoreboard a little more respectful, this time from 6 yards out by Holler to make the score 40-13. The PAT kick was good by Safran as Riverside put up seven points on just two plays. Tyler Amicone would record an interception right before the end of the third quarter for the Wolverines as both teams would trade off possesions as the game started to wind down to the last 12 minutes.
Ellwood City would add one more senior score on the night - in fact a combination of two seniors scored. After a big play to Anthony Barberio who almost made it into the endzone via the pass, Barberio would dash into the endzone from the one yardline for the touchdown rushing play. The 2-point conversion run was also good by senior Jacob Edinger, capping off the amazing Senior Night for the Wolverines 48-14. A BIG shoutout to Coach Dan Bradley to make the last score of the game an emotional ending to an amazing night of football for the Wolverines.
Ellwood City would dominate the entire RivEll Cup game from start to finish including all three phases of the game. EC would outgain the Panthers 498 yards to just 234 while finishing the game with 26 first downs. EC would also finish their best night of third down and fourth down conversions, going 9 for 18 combined. EC’s Tyler Smiley had one of the best passing games in EC football history as well, going 14 of 22 passes for 297 yards. More importantly Smiley finished with 5 passing touchdowns and…zero interceptions. The Wolverines finished another game with NO turnovers while turning Riverside over 4 times. some big names and big plays were made on the night, including the defense that reached great status on the night helping a balanced attack on offense.
The Wolverines (4-4, 3-2) will now turn to the road to finish the season, taking on Union followed by Beaver Falls. EC now knows that they will need to win at least one of the two remaining games, but will look for wins in both as second place - in fact first place - is still open in the MAC conference. Riverside (4-4, 3-2) will have to quickly bounce back in the upcoming week as they host second place Beaver Falls in a big showdown of above .500 record teams.
With the victory, the RivEll Cup now goes to 22-18 in favor of Riverside, but the trophy remains at Lincoln High School for the third consecutive year. ECS will have the exclusive coverage of the game on Friday night as they travel to Union. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 PM with pregame starting at 6:45 PM on ECS YouTube page.
2A-2 MAC RESULTS - WEEK SEVEN
Mohawk 40-20 Western Beaver
Beaver Falls 39-24 New Brighton
Ellwood City 48-14 Riverside
Freedom 20-14 Union
