Story by Ryan Gerazounis – Beaver County Radio

(Wexford, Pa)

Only one game stood between the Ellwood City Wolverines football team and a trip to Acrisure Stadium next Saturday for a chance at AA WPIAL Gold. On Friday night the Wolverines faced their toughest challenge of the season when they faced off against the South Park Eagles. Ellwood City came into the game with a perfect record. While South Park only lost one game back in week 1 of the season.

The Wolverines started the game red hot, when Chris Smiley hit Dailonn Currie for an 18 yard touchdown pass. Giving them a 7-0 lead only forty five seconds into the game. On Ellwood City’s second drive Chris Smiley threw an interception to Nathan Walz that was returned all the way down to the Wolverines two yard line. Two plays later Colsen Heynes found the end zone, tying the game at 7-7. Later in the first half South Park’s Eric Doerue found pay dirt scoring on a long run and that gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead at halftime.

South Park’s Sophomore running back Colsen Heynes added to their lead early in the third quarter by taking a handoff and going 28 yards for another Eagles touchdown. Putting his team up 21-7. Ellwood City who haven’t played from behind all season was having no success on offense. The Eagles would add on again later in the third quarter when Eric Doerue found the end zone for his second touchdown of the evening, increasing their lead to 28-7. The clock was no longer on the Wolverines side and desperation started to set in. In the fourth quarter while attempting to comeback Chris Smiley threw another interception, this time to Kenyan Brown. South Park was able to run the clock out and they would take the victory over Ellwood City 28-7.

The South Park Eagles will advance to Acrisure Stadium next weekend for a chance at WPIAL Gold. They will face off with Seton LaSalle for the WPIAL AA Championship. The Ellwood City Wolverines have been eliminated from playoff contention.