(New Brighton, Pa)

Friday night when the New Brighton football team played host to Ellwood City, the Lions hoped to notch their first conference win. The Wolverines brought their unblemished 2-0 conference record to Oak Hill field for what proved to be a Midwestern Conference battle.

Both the Lions and Wolverine defenses set the tone early in this match up. New Brighton Senior Jaxson Zahn intercepted a pass by Tyler Smiley in a scoreless first quarter. While the Lions gave the ball away twice in the second quarter. Once on a fumble and another on an interception by Wolverine Senior Domenik Hogue. Ellwood City was the first to put points on the board when Hogue scampered 28 yards on a screen pass for the touchdown giving his team a 6-0 lead. On the very next drive New Brighton returned the favor when Junior quarterback Carter Jackson found Jojo Montanez for a 27 yard touchdown pass with 45 seconds left until halftime. The point after attempt was halted by Ellwood City and the score remained a tight 6-6 at the break.

New Brighton took the lead in the third quarter when Carter Jackson hit Joseph Kennedy down the sideline for a 54 yard touchdown pass. After a successful 2 point conversion the Lions held a 14-6 lead. The Wolverines would answer right back with another scoring drive of their own. This time Tyler Smiley found DaiLonn Currie for a 23 yard touchdown pass. Ellwood City would fail on their two point conversion attempt leaving the score 14-12. Both defenses held on tight the rest of the second half. Neither allowing any more scoring as New Brighton sealed their first conference win of the season by a final score of 14-12.

Ellwood City (2-1, 3-3) will return home to host Western Beaver next Friday at 7:00. While New Brighton (1-2, 4-2) will be back home to host Mohawk.