CCHS Football Game Results

Friday, October 1, 2010

Wheeling (WV) Central Catholic 41, Steubenville Catholic Central 0

WRAP-UP from steubenvillecentralcrusaders.com, published 10/6/2010

Crusaders Face Long-Time Rival Wheeling Central

Written by Mario Saggio

The Steubenville Catholic Central Crusaders invade Wheeling Island Stadium Friday night to face long-time rival Wheeling Central Catholic. The Maroon Knights enter the game at 2-2, while the Crusaders are 1-4.

Head Coach Mike Young’s Maroon Knights have lost two straight after opening the season with wins over Bellaire (56-7) and Washington (DC) McKinley Tech (47-34), before dropping a 26-16 decision Washington (DC) Friendship Edison and falling 24-7 to Bridgeport last Saturday at Steubenville’s Harding Stadium.

Young is in his sixth year as mentor of the Maroon Knights, compiling a 59-12 record in that time. He led the Knights to West Virginia Class A titles in each of his first three seasons, and semifinal berths the past two seasons. Prior to taking over at Wheeling Central, Young led St. Clairsville’s football program for 10 seasons, compiling a 51-41 mark with the Red Devils.

The Maroon Knights return 17 lettermen from last year’s 10-3 squad. Chief among them is running back Marcus Clifford. A 5-10, 190-pound senior, Clifford is a three-year letterman and returning All-State performer. He rushed for over 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2009. So far this season, he has topped the century mark in three of the Maroon Knights’ four games, including 286 in the season opener against Bellaire.

Clifford’s running mate, senior Austin Frohnapfel (6-0, 170), was injured last week against Bridgeport, leaving junior Andrew Keane (5-8, 170) to step into his spot. Fellow junior Ian Iuliuci (5-9, 200) and sophomore Braxton Nolte (5-10, 215) provide depth in the backfield.

Calling signals for Wheeling Central is Lee Peluchette. Despite struggling last week against Bridgeport, the 6-3, 185-pound junior was impressive the previous two weeks, throwing for a combined 351 yards and seven touchdowns.

Among his favorite targets are senior cousins McKenzie (6-1, 170) and Maxx Peluchette (6-1, 150), as well as tight end Erik Gompers, a 6-1, 165-pound junior.

The offensive line returns four of five starters from 2009, led by guards Aaron Schneid (5-9, 215) and Johnny Duplaga (5-10, 250). Also returning are tackle Tyler Jacovetty (6-0, 250) and center Dustin Henry (5-9, 215), while 6-0, 220-pound John Miller takes over at the other tackle. All five are seniors.

Henry missed last week’s game and is questionable for Friday night. 5-11, 180-pound senior Tyler Harto was also injured but looks to be in action against the Crusaders.

Defensively, Schneid and Harto will be the bookends up front, with Duplaga and Jacovetty manning the interior.

Clifford and senior Logan Bartsch (5-11, 195) will be the inside linebackers in the Maroon Knights’ 4-4 set, while Gompers will patrol the outside with help from Keane and Iuliuci on the other side.

McKenzie Peluchette, along with juniors Gino Bianconi ((5-9, 180) and Ian Yahnke (5-8, 140) make up the starting secondary.

Sophomore Bradley Cottrell ((5-6, 130) handles the placekicking and punting duties for Wheeling Central.

The Crusaders suffered a 32-13 setback at Bellaire last Saturday. After falling behind early, Central battled back and was on the verge of cutting into Bellaire’s 25-13 lead early in the fourth quarter when the hosts picked off a Central pass and returned it 103 yards for a touchdown.

Despite that disappointment, the young Crusaders have shown improvement as the season has unfolded, and were able to move the ball through the air the last two weeks. Freshman Brenton Colabella threw for 110 yards last week, after a 138-yard effort the week before at Toronto.

Junior Brannt Pieniazek (5-11, 175) has been his main target, snaring six passes over the last two weeks, including a 56-yard scoring strike against Toronto. Other targets for Colabella have been senior tight end Collin Valero (5-10, 165), as well as wideouts Stephen Mihalyo (5-10, 165 junior) and Michael Carapellotti (5-10, 155 sophomore).

The running game has struggled as of late but looks to get back on track this week, led by tailback Jon Emmerling (5-9,1 75 junior) and fullback Cody Lynskey (5-10, 180 senior). Also aiding the Crusader ground game are a pair of juniors, tailback Jordan Piergallini (6-1, 205) and fullback Jimmy Panella (5-10, 180).

Although banged up at the midway point of the season, the Crusader offensive line has shown steady improvement and been instrumental in the improvement of the passing game, giving Colabella more time to throw in recent weeks.

On the other side of the ball, the Crusaders hope to stop the Maroon Knights’ big-play capabilities - something that Central has struggled with this season. The Crusaders gave up over 300 yards and four touchdowns passing last week.

Piergallini and fellow junior Alex Bednar (6-2, 205) have been solid at the defensive ends. while senior Josh Tysz (5-10, 180) and Panella have stood out defensively, as well.

Emmerling and Lysnkey have been stalwarts at linebacker while Pieniazek, Valero, Carapellotti and seniors Vince Parise (6-1, 175) and Garrett Kiedrowksi (5-11, 165) have paced the secondary.

Friday night’s meeting on the Island will be the 34th all-time in the series, with the Crusaders holding an 18-11-4 edge, although the Maroon Knights currently have a four-game winning streak, including a 45-26 win last year at Harding Stadium.

Kickoff for Friday’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Maroon Knights Shut Out Crusaders 41-0

Written by Mario Saggio

Wheeling Central Catholic used a balanced offensive attack and stingy defense in posting a 41-0 win over Steubenville Catholic Central Friday night at Wheeling Island Stadium. After suffering consecutive losses the previous two weeks, the Maroon Knights improve to 3-2 with the win, while the Crusaders drop to 1-5 with the loss.

The Knights churned out 258 yards and three scores on the ground while chalking up 215 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Not to be outdone, the Wheeling Central defense not only pitched the shutout but also returned an interception for a score.

After an exchange of punts, Wheeling Central needed only three plays to notch their first score of the night - a 16-yard run by tailback Marcus Clifford. Bradley Cottrell’s PAT gave the Maroon Knights a 7-0 lead with 6:16 left in the opening quarter.

The Crusaders were forced to punt after three plays on their ensuing possession, giving Wheeling Central great field position at the Catholic Central 46-yard line. On first down, quarterback Lee Peluchette hit his brother McKenzie behind the Crusader secondary for the hosts’ second score of the night. Cottrell’s extra point pushed the margin to 14-0 with 3:59 to play in the first quarter.

The Maroon Knights took over on their own 20 after another Crusader punt. Again, the Peluchette brothers connected through the air on first down, this time for an 80-yard scoring strike with 1:21 left in the quarter. Cottrell upped the lead to 21-0 with his third conversion of the night.

Clifford, who would finish the game with 109 yards on 15 carries, garnered his second touchdown of the night on a two-yard run with 3:20 remaining in the second quarter. Cottrell again split the uprights, giving the hosts a 28-0 lead that they took into the locker room at halftime.

Catholic Central fumbled on their initial possession of the second half, giving Wheeling Central the ball at the Crusader 35. The Maroon Knights moved inside the five-yard line before the Catholic Central defense stiffened and stopped Clifford on fourth-and-goal at the four.

Three plays later, McKenzie Peluchette added to his stellar effort by picking off a pass by Crusader quarterback Brenton Colabella at the Catholic Central 20 and returning it for a touchdown. Cottrell’s fifth PAT of the night gave the Maroon Knight’s a 35-0 lead.

The Crusader offense then mounted a lengthy drive from their own 35 to the Wheeling Central one-yard line before the Maroon Knights responded with a fourth-down stop of their own.

The hosts then moved from the shadow of their own goal line into Catholic Central territory before Peluchette was sacked at the Crusader 43 on a fourth-down play.

After a Wheeling Central interception, Parker Henry closed out the Maroon Knights’ scoring barrage with a 59-yard run 4:03 from the end of the game.

Lee Peluchette finished the evening seven of 10 passing for 178 yards, connecting four times to his brother McKenzie for 140 yards.

In addition to pacing the Maroon Knights’ ground game, Clifford snagged two passes for 23 yards.

Colabella connected on 11 of his 24 passes for 91 yards. Three of those completions were to sophomore Michael Carapellotti, while Collin Valero, Brannt Pieniazek and Jon Emmerling caught two passes each.

The Crusaders were only able to manage 73 yards on the ground. Jordan Piergallini led Catholic Central with 26 yards, while Emmerling and freshman Khalil Jones added 20 and 14 yards each.

Wheeling Central hosts Pittsburgh (Pa.) Oliver this week, while the Crusaders return home Saturday night to face 4-2 Barnesville at Harding Stadium.