Falcons beat Uniontown in McDonald’s debut
Connellsville's Seth Kozak (44) is hauled down by several Uniontown tacklers Friday night. Kozak scored two touchdowns, as Connellsville defeated Uniontown, 40-7.
Uniontown's Warare Wilkerson (3) is wrapped up by Connellsville's Christofer Greenlee (82).
CONNELLSVILLE — Uniontown visited Connellsville and new head coach Dave McDonald Friday night with the “Coal Bucket” in hand. However, early mistakes by the Red Raiders allowed to Falcons to get off to a fast start for a 40-7 win in the season opener for both teams.
Uniontown was hurt by an interception and a fumble in its first three possessions that led to Connellsville scores.
“We can’t turn over the ball like we did tonight,” Uniontown head coach John Fortugna said. “Connellsville is much improved over last year. I felt the game should have been much closer, but when you make mistakes and turn the ball over this is what happens.”
Uniontown took the opening kickoff and started at its 20. On the second play from scrimmage, Joe Superick was intercepted by Connellsville’s Grant Witt, who returned the ball to the Uniontown two-yard line, giving the Falcons a first and goal. Zachary Cooper punched in the score two plays later. Josh Fremd’s extra-point was no good leaving the score at 6-0 in favor of the Falcons.
After Uniontown punted on its next possession Connellsville took over at its own 46 and drove to the Red Raiders’ 36, where Nico Comsa took a handoff around the left end to cover the distance for the score. Fremd’s kick made the score 13-0.
On the ensuing kickoff Uniontown fumbled and the Falcons’ Jimmy Dimarco scooped up the loose ball, taking it in for the score from 10 yards out, increasing the Falcons’ lead to 19-0 in the first quarter.
“We got some breaks early and the good thing was we took advantage of the situation,” Connellsville’s Dave McDonald said. “It was just a great start for our kids and our program; they played hard tonight.”
The Falcons added another score in the second quarter when Cooper scored his second touchdown of the game on a six-yard run. Fremd’s kick increased the Falcons’ lead to 26-0.
Uniontown took the next kickoff at the 18 and drove to the Falcons two-yard line before fumbling the ball away, missing a big scoring opportunity before the half.
The Red Raiders got a break in the third quarter. They held Connellsville to a three-and-out, forcing the Falcons to punt. The kick was bad giving the Red Raiders the ball at the Falcons’ 33.
Doug Lewis was tackled for a loss back to the Connellsville 36. On the next play Superick found tight end Kerick Morris alone in the Falcons’ secondary for a 35-yard gain to the one, setting up a first and goal. Superick punched in the score with Flyzell Williams adding the extra-point.
Later in the quarter Uniontown was forced to punt with Connellsville taking over at their two. The Falcons put together a 98-yard drive highlighted by a 61-yard run from fullback Seth Kozak who finished the night with 152-yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns. The first score came on a two yard run to end the drive.
On the ensuing kickoff, Uniontown fumbled again with Connellsville taking over at the Red Raiders’ 35. Kozak ended the five-play drive with a 15-yard run at the start of the fourth quarter to help the Falcons keep the “Coal Bucket”.
Scoring:
First Quarter
C-Cooper 1 run (kick failed)(0-6)10:50
C-Comsa 32 run (Fremd kick) (0-13) 6:31
C-Dimarco 10 fum ret. (kick failed) (0-19) 6:22
Second Quarter
C-Cooper 6 run (Fremd kick)(0-26) 9:22
Third Quarter
U-Superick 1 run (Williams kick)(7-26) 7:45
C-Kozak 2 run (Fremd kick)(7-33) 1:20
Fourth Quarter
C-Kozak 15 run (Fremd kick)(7-40) 10:53