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Kiski Area makes most of Norwin’s miscues
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By Thomas Zuck
Published: Friday, October 5, 2012, 11:28 p.m.
Updated: Saturday, October 6, 2012
Kiski Area took advantage of just about every opportunity Norwin presented on its way to a 36-14 Quad East victory Friday at Davis Field.
Freshman Lincoln Clayton rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries to lead the Cavaliers (3-2, 3-3) to the victory.
“I told the team all week that we don't need to be great, we need to be consistent in all three phases of the game,” Kiski Area coach Dave Heavner said. “I would not say this was our best game of the season, rather it was our most consistent. We did a nice job tonight and put some points on the board.”
Clayton put an exclamation point on the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter. He carried on all three plays for 58 yards on the drive, which culminated with a 25-yard touchdown run to put Kiski Area up, 36-8.
Norwin (1-5, 1-5) had trouble moving the ball most of the night. Freshman quarterback Nick Amendola completed just two passes for 39 yards with an interception before giving way to Sean Bowen in the fourth quarter. Bowen completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jake Kjucaric with 15 seconds left to play in the game.
“I am proud of the kids and the way that they battled all game,” Norwin coach Art Tragesser said. “I don't think the scoreboard showed just how hard our kids played. We had some injuries that put us in a rough situation out there, but we have a lot of young kids playing, kids who in two years will be back here as seniors.”
Neither team did a good job of taking care of the ball in the first half. Kiski drove to the Norwin 20 on its first possession, but a reception by Shane Kuhn was fumbled on contact and Norwin recovered.
On the first play after the fumble recovery, the snap went over Amendola's head. The Cavaliers' Alex Polka recovered in the end zone for the game's first score.
Norwin turned the ball over again on its next possession when a halfback-pass attempt by Dylan Zgurich was intercepted by Pat Turner at the Kiski 17. The Cavaliers gave the ball right back to Norwin when the handoff exchange was fumbled and recovered by Norwin at the 19. Three plays later, Amendola scored on a 21-yard run. He also added the two-point conversion, and Norwin had an 8-7 lead just before the end of the first quarter.
The lead was short-lived. Kiski Area's ensuing possession extended through the change in quarters, and on the first play of the second quarter, Adam Mitcheson hit a 25-yard field goal. But Mitcheson was run into, and Heavner elected to take the points off the board and go with the first down.
It was a good decision, because Clayton scored on the next play, a 4-yard run.
Thomas Zuck is a freelance writer.
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