It's a great day to be a Lancer

These aren't your Lancers of old.

The Neshannock (New Castle, PA) Lancers football team is usually only known as holding the record (or at least claiming to hold) for most consecutive losses in WPIAL history.

Today, they just pulled off one of the biggest upsets in WPIAL history, defeating the WPIAL #2 ranked Sto Rox Vikings 35-34 in an instant classic.


In a word: wow. Neshannock came into tonight's game against the Vikings with a 2-0 record under first year coach Frank Mazzocio. Expectations were just high enough that the Lancers could pull off a great season this year! But then, Sto Rox came to town, and Lancer fans would find out just how good their team was this year.

The game started how many Lancer fans feared it would. At halftime, the Vikings led 28-7. Honestly, it could have been worse. On the first play of the game, a deep pass was dropped, a walk-in touchdown. On their next drive, a 55 yard Viking completion was fumbled away at the Lancer 4-yard line. Sto Rox also was driving at the end of the first half but failed to put points on the board.

The Vikings pummeled the Lancers through the air in the first half. Junior QB Lenny Williams threw for 389 yards and 4 TDs in the first half by my count. Let me say that again, he threw for just under 400 yards IN THE FIRST HALF!

But it's a game of two halves. The Lancer seniors led their team out onto the field fired up for the second half. John Conglose made a passionate speech right before the kickoff. Another player yelled "it starts right now!" as the ball was about to be kicked. Kienen Owens returned that kick 50 yards, which led to an Elijah Owens 5 yard touchdown run.

On Sto Rox's next play, they fumbled it away. The Lancers pounced with an Ernie Burkes QB keeper for a touchdown. Suddenly it was 28-21.

After Lenny Williams's fifth touchdown (this one on the ground) made it 34-21, the Lancers immediately answered with a steady drive, ending with a 64 yard TD pass from Burkes to Alex Welker early in the 4th quarter. On their next drive, Neshannock drove to the Sto Rox 12, but could not convert on fourth down with 5:16 remaining.

With 3:37 left, the Lancers regained possession after a three-and-out at their own 49. Two key third- and fourth-down conversions (a 17 yard completion to Conglose with 2:12 left, a QB sneak with :55 left).

Then, it was 4th and 1 on the Sto Rox 8. 0:22 left. As our friends at theCalfMuscle.com called it, the Lancers ran a "veer option reverse." Kienen Owens in motion faked the jet sweep right, Elijah Owens took a fake toss outside from the backfield to the right, and QB Burkes pitched it to Welker, who was split out, going left. WHEW! The result: Touchdown Lancers.  Connor Richards converted on his fifth extra point of the evening, and that's all she wrote.

The fans stormed the field, and everybody looked on, many in shock at what this team had just done. Neshannock has never been known for their football. Their best year in recent memory was a 6-4 team in 2004, their last playoff appearance. The Lancers won't be remembered as a team who did nothing but lose for six straight years. They have something much more impressive and memorable now.

From myself and the rest of the 360 Sports Network, congratulations to the Lancer football team. But even more, congratulations to everyone out there who calls him- or herself a Lancer.

IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A LANCER!