(Beaver Falls, Pa)

With playoff implications on the line, the Beaver Falls Tigers played host to the Ellwood City Wolverines on Friday night. This week nine matchup came down to the very end when these AA foes met in their Midwestern Conference finale.

The Tigers wasted no time getting started, Senior Kenny Jewell scored on their first offensive play on a 50 yard dash to give Beaver Falls an early 6-0 lead. Senior running back Christian Dawkins added to that lead on their second possession when he made his way into the end zone on a 7 yard run. The home team carried a 12-0 score into the second quarter.

Ellwood City got onto the board early in the second quarter when Tyler Smiley hit Freshman Kam Hockenberry for a 27 yard strike. The Wolverines pulled within six points after failing to convert on the extra point attempt. Beaver Falls would score on another Kenny Jewell run, this time of 16 yards. 18-6 was the score at the end of the first half of play.

Down twelve points in the third quarter, Ellwood City’s Junior running back Richard Cureton found pay dirt on a 45 yard run. With the extra point conversion pulled the Wolverines back within five points, 18-13. The Tigers would score one more time in the quarter when Kenny Jewell found Junior Keyshawn Jamison on a 20 yard pass play. Putting Beaver Falls up 24-13. Tyler Smiley would also throw another touchdown in the quarter to Colton Gullo. setting the score at 24-19 entering the final frame.

It was two decisive turnovers in the fourth quarter that would ultimately decide this conference battle. The first was a fumble by Christian Dawkins, recovered by Ellwood City. The Wolverines took advantage on a 3 yard touchdown run by Cureton. Giving his team their first lead of the evening 25-24. The second turnover came with under 30 seconds to play. Beaver Falls’ Kenny Jewell trying to bring his team back for a late comeback win would throw an interception in Wolverine territory with 17 seconds left. The Wolverines would let the clock run out and earn the 25-24 victory.

Ellwood City wrapped up their regular season with a 5-2 record in the conference and 6-4 overall. While Beaver Falls finishes with a 4-3 conference record. Both teams will learn their playoff destiny on Saturday 10/25 when brackets, pairings and seedings are announced at 1pm.