Wolverines stall after quarter one, lose to Panthers
The game of football has been broken into four quarters since 1910, just three years into EC Football history. For the Wolverines on Friday night, the team wished the game was just the first quarter. EC held in check with the over-powering offensive and defensive lines of the Panthers thru one quarter, but the wear and tear of big blows up front kept EC off the scoreboard in a 41-0 defeat in the 41st Riv-Ell Cup game.
Riverside capitlized early in the first quarter with the run game where Mason Holler would score the first points of the season from 18 yards out. Gage Safran would go 5/5 on PATs on the night to make the score 7-0. Just as the Wolverines seemed to have an answer mid-way through the second quarter, a 4th and Goal pass play from Tyler Amicone to Cam Mills in the corner of the endzone fell incomplete to keep EC off the board.
From there, the Panthers would drive 97 yards in just 5 plays to take a two-score lead as Aidan Gaydosz would throw a 57 yard touchdown pass to Bron Paxton. The Wolverines would falter on any consistent drive after the only opportunity near the endzone, with the offense sputtering one last time before the end of the half. Riverside would capitalize on the short field with Holler again, this time from 12 yards out. The halftime scoreboard read 21-0.
For EC, coming out of the locker room and forcing a quick 3 and out would be paramount to making a comeback. Unfortunately, the Wolverines defense wouldn’t even get a chance to force a punt as Holler would score his third touchdown on the night via the 91 kickoff return for touchdown.
With the 28-0 lead, the Panthers were in full control of the game. Riverside would add to more scores, including a nice touch pass by Gaydosz to Senior “pitcher” Matthew Santillo from 33 yards out. Alex Sprankle would tally a 2 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as both teams would sub the rest of the way.
It was fitting that the score between the two teams would tally 41 points being that it was the 41st Riv-Ell Cup game played, but many did not expect 41 from one side. The Wolverines were outmatched on offense, being outgained 266 to 109. Running plays by Nicholas Doster would set EC over the 100 yard mark late in the fourth quarter.
The lone bright side for EC was the turnover battle where EC did recover a fumbled punt return while not turning the ball over. The flip side - EC finished the game with 11 penalties, totaling 91 yards. Richard Cureton would lead the charge as the team MVP on the night for EC carrying the rock 21 times for 79 yards.
Ellwood City will have to quickly shift its focus to another foe that pitched a shutout in the Week One - the Freeport Yellow Jackets (defeated Indiana 22-0). EC and Freeport has only played once before back in 2011, when EC would mount one of the biggest comebacks in EC playoff history after being down 26-11 going into the fourth quarter. Ellwood City will have to use that mentality here just 15 years later as they host the Yellow Jackets at Helling Stadium Friday night. Game is slated for a 7:00 PM kickoff, with pregame coverag on Ellwood City Sports starting around 6:40 PM.
