Sep 25, 2004 By Kevin Harrison For The 3 min read

REPUBLIC – The Brownsville Falcons celebrated Homecoming Friday night, hosting the East Allegheny Wildcats in an Interstate Conference match-up. By the end of a penalty-filled contest, the Wildcats were able to pull away for a 48-6 win over the Falcons.

Brownsville started well, playing the Wildcats to a 0-0 tie at the end of the first quarter.

However East Allegheny (2-1, 4-1) exploded for 21 points in the second quarter to take control of the game and never looked back.

East Allegheny took advantage of a Brownsville mistake, when Josh Brown was stripped of the ball at his 11-yard line, and the Wildcats recovered.

Three plays later, quarterback Frank McElroy recovered a bobbled snap and scored on a one-yard plunge. Cory Estes added the extra-point to make the score 7-0.

Brownsville (1-2, 1-4) charged right back, starting at its 35 and driving to the Wildcats’ 18, where the drive stalled.

The Wildcats then moved back to their 15 on a penalty.

Running back Javon Moody gained four yards on the next carry back to the 17.

Vondre Griffin was then inserted as the Wildcats’ quarterback on the series. Running the option to his right, Griffin decided to keep the ball and sprinted 83 yards for the score. The kick failed to leave the score at 13-0.

East Allegheny added a third score with 17 seconds left in the half when James King intercepted a Jacob Davis pass, returning it 70 yards for the score. McElroy then connected with Jay Cherok on a pass for the two-point conversion to give the Wildcats a 21-0 lead at the half.

“Brownsville has some good tough kids and pulled us out of our game plan a little bit,” EA head coach Tim Cortazzo said. “We made too many penalties in the first half. Once we got that straightened out we got things going.”

The Wildcats continued to pull away in the third quarter. McElroy had a 35-yard scoring toss to Adam Elcher. Estes’ kick made the score 28-0. Moody then added a 34-yard scoring run. The kick failed to leave the score at 34-0.

Running back Anthony Bailey scored on a 16 yard run, and Wade Brown added the kick to give East Allegheny a 41-0 lead after three quarters.

Brownsville avoided the shutout in the fourth quarter when sophomore running back Trenton Groomes ripped off a 56-yard scoring run. The kick failed, leaving the score 41-6.

With most of the reserves playing late in the game, EA running back Brian Evans scored on a 70-yard run.

Todd Hunter added the extra point to close out the scoring.

Brownsville will try to regroup for next Friday’s contest against another playoff contender when the Falcons visit, Jeanette.