Wolverines battle but fall to Thomas, Union

The Wolverines fresh off a one point victory against the Brentwood Spartans in Week Zero were looking to do something that the team hadn’t done since 2011 - start the season 2011. Unfortunately Friday night’s result against the Union Scotties in Week One kept the streak alive until next year as the Wolverines lost 34-21.

But not all was lost in the game as the Wolverines showed a potential Week One upset several times throughout the evening as they led multiple times up till the end of the first half.

Quick starts to football games have come as a premium for the Wolverines in recent years, but tonight was different. The Wolverines’ faithful had something to cheer about early…and often. The first drive went to Ellwood City, where the offense didn’t take long to score, driving 58 yards all the way into the endzone via a 2 yard rushing TD by QB #12 Chris Smiley. The PAT kick was good by K #19 Caitlin Kreitzer, meanwhile the drive took a solid 6 minutes off the clock limiting the chances for the Scotties in the first quarter.

The Scotties got their first attempt on offense, but had a three-and-out to give the ball back to the Wolverines after a partially-blocked and off the side of the foot rugby punt by QB #2 Braylon Thomas only went for 2 yards. With the short field, the Wolverines capitalized, scoring another first quarter TD, this time via the pass from QB Smiley to WR #8 Michael Walters. The PAT attempt by Kreitzer was good and all of a sudden just 2:06 remaining in the first quarter Ellwood City led 14-0.

All things looked great for Ellwood City, but as advertised, Braylon Thomas was activiated - scoring a twelve second, 70 yard run up the left sideline to cut into the Wolverines’ lead. The PAT kick by QB #20 Lucas Stanley was good. Heading to the second quarter, the score read 14-7 Wolverines.

Second quarter action got under way, with the first scoring opportunity going to the Scotties after the Wolverines had to punt on a short drive. Thomas and company marched down the field, and reached the 10 yardline where the Wolverines defense stiffend. On 3rd and goal, Thomas was backed to pass, but a bull rush from DL #73 Evan Twedell knocked the ball out of the throwing hand of Thomas. LB #39 Deklan O’Brien quickly picked up the ball at the 15 yardline and scampered 85 yards to the enzone for a fumble recovery TD. All of a sudden the Wolverines were up 21-7 after the PAT kick was good by Kreitzer.

With the 14 point swing in the books, it looked as though the Wolverines were going to possibly head into the lockers at halftime with a lead. But once again as advertised, the Scotties were ready to make a comeback like the previous week.

On the ensuing posession, the Scotties QB #20 took the snap and threw into double coverage a pass that should have been caught by two Wolverine defenders. Instead, both missed timed their jump allowing WR #21 to stand and receive the pass while trotting into the endzone scoring the 54 yard pass TD. The PAT attempt by Stanley was good and just like that, 49 seconds later the Scotties only trailed by 7.

With the barn-burner back into the hands of the Wolverines, most fans thought that this one could possibly end with whoever had the ball last. But after the first 18 minutes of the game, both teams defenses began to stiffen up. The Wolverines were stopped on their drive, giving the Scotties defense a breather while the offense started to click.

The passing game for the Scotties started to take over, as just four plays later a pass from Thomas to WR #24 Mike Gunn was caught wide open, with just one defender to shed off. Gunn was able to do so, and walked in from 34 yards out. The PAT kick by Stanley was good, and all of a sudden the game that was in favor of the Wovleriens, was tied.

As it seemed, all of the air was taken out by the Scotties resilience in the second quarter. But good field position off of the kickoff gave the Wolverines a little hope to have a lead going into the lockers. A drive close to the 40 somehow with penalties and good rushes up the middle by RB #2 Elijah Palmer-McCaine made it all the way down to the one yard line.

Plays leading up to this mark was that of insanity - penalty after a quick rush, then timeout, then rush, then no timeout, it seemed as though the Wolverines were going to score with no timeouts remaining and no time on the clock, and with everything that happened, with a little luck as well.

However, a pitchout to Palmer-McCaine put him about 5 yards to the goalline, and a great play by DL #Jamall Mitchell to read the play going to the outside edge, was just enough to take Palmer-McCaine down to the turf as the clock striked zero. At halftime, the ballgame was tied at 21.

As good as the Wolverines should have felt being tied with the number one ranked 1A team in the Scotties, it seemed as though luck striked midnight as the entire second half was in favor of Uion.

The Scotties were able to hold the Wolverines to just 52 yards on offense in the second half, while limiting Palmer-McCaine to under 100 yards on the night. Although the Scotties were not able to strike quickly out of the second half whistle, the Wolverines offense sputtered giving short fields to the Scotties. Finally at the 2:02 mark of the third quarter, a 12 yard TD pass from Thomas to #25 Grayson Blakley gave the Scotties their first lead of the game. The PAT was good by Stanley as the Scotties took the 28-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines started with the ball in the fourth quarter, but could not convert a 4th and 5 yard play, so the Scotties were able to take over…and they did on the scoreboard. The very next play, Thomas took the snap and scrambled out to the left side of the field and ran 63 yards to the endzone without a single Wolverine defender touching him. The PAT kick was partially blocked by Twedell to keep the score 34-21.

The Wolverines had two more opportunities with the ball, but could not complete a drive down the field, giving the ball back to the Scotties for most of the fourth quarter. Finally with just over a minute remaining, the Wolverines set up to punt on 4th down as the crowd and teams knew this game was officially over.

In a game where the Wolverines had a 14 point lead twice, led three times, and looked to have a lead going into the second half but was held out of the endzone, the Wolverines definitely put up a good fight, but just could not have luck on their side.

The Wolverines in the end were outgained in the second half, as the Scotties racked up 313 yards to just 183 on the night for Ellwood. Elijah Palmer-McCaine was held to 85 yards on 24 carries while Smiley was 9-15 for 92 yards throwing, but did have 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) on the night.

The Wolverines (1-1) will look to bounce back in Week 2 as they will take on the Carlynton Cougars (1-1) for the second time in their history. Last year, Ellwood City versus Carlynton may have been one of their biggest highlights of the year, as the Wolverines not only won 46-6 in a mercy-rule game, but the victory also ended their long losing streak. Coverage of Week 2 will be presented by ECS, starting at 6:45 PM on Friday.