Connellsville stands tall against Penn Hills
CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville lost to visiting Penn Hills Friday, 37-13, but, according to both coaches, picked up a measure of respect that the Falcons can build on as the remainder of the Quad-East Conference schedule unfolds. “We sent a message tonight. We belong in this league,” said first-year Connellsville head coach Tommy Dolde. “We gained a little respect.”
“I’m always glad to see a team improve that much and we get by them,” praised Penn Hills head coach Neil Gordon. “Give them credit. They played real tough. The forced us into mistakes we haven’t made all year.”
The night also added to the Terrence McCrae’s rising star. The senior wide receiver had six receptions for 138 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown pass on a fade pattern and a remarkable one-handed grab between a couple of defenders.
Both coaches agreed the turning point of the game occurred midway in the third quarter with Penn Hills leading, 15-13, and Connellsville charging down field after holding the Indians on a fourth-and-6 at the Falcons’ 16-yard line when the defense forced Ricardo Clark to fumble.
Quarterback Clay Hurley played pitch-and-catch with McCrae, tossing the ball skyward, often times into double- and triple-coverage, only to have McCrae make the grab. McCrae’s first catch of the drive covered 29 yards with his acrobatic one-hand grab setting up a first-and-10 at the Indians’ 16.
The Penn Hills defense stiffened, forcing a fourth-and-11 at the 17. Dolde opted to go instead of the field goal, but Hurley was thrown for a 13-yard loss to stop the drive. Penn Hills used the reversed momentum for a spirit-crushing 70-yard touchdown drive capped on a 3-yard scoring pass to Derek Drummond from Chad Parker.
“We were driving the ball, McCrae made two one-handed catches, and we couldn’t convert. That was the turning point,” said Dolde. “They drove the ball down the field for a touchdown. That was the point they overtook us.”
The Falcons (0-1, 1-2) used a defensive stand to set up the first touchdown of the game. Scott Jones did the bulk of the work with eight carries for 37, and McCrae capped the drive with his touchdown reception.
Jones led the ground attack with 73 yards while Hurley threw for 146 more.
Penn Hills tied the game as time expired in the quarter when Aaron Williams bulled over from a yard. The Indians extended their lead at 3:14 of the second quarter when Chad Parker powered in from one yard and they successfully ran a fake for a two-point conversion.
Completions of 23 and 34 yards to McCrae drove the Falcons into Penn Hills territory after Jones forced a Penn Hills fumble on the opening drive of the second half, and Jones finished the job with a dive into the end zone at 10:02. The two-point conversion failed, making it 15-13.
The Falcons started to lose steam in the fourth quarter, and Penn Hills took advantage with touchdowns by Williams and Clark. Clark finished with 161 yards rushing on 22 carries while Parker threw for 96 yards.
“It was anybody’s ball game in the third quarter, but their depth hurt us. Their depth overwhelmed us. Kids are going to get tired,” said Dolde, whose Falcons take to the road next week to play Central Catholic. “They played their hearts out. I haven’t seen that on this field in a long time.”
“I think our kids were flat,” said Gordon, whose squad has Hempfield next on the schedule. “I don’t understand who that happens. Connellsville has a strong football tradition. They play hard-nosed football.”