First-place Warriors blank Red Raiders, 56-0
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Elizabeth Forward’s Robert Buchina (52) recovers a fumble in Uniontown territory in the first quarter of Friday’s Big East Conference game at Bill Power Stadium.
Elizabeth Forward's Nathan Homa (58) reaches for Uniontown's Ky'ron Craggette (36) during the first quarter of Friday's Big East Conference game at Bill Power Stadium.
Uniontown's Raymond Jackson (60) recovers a Elizabeth Forward fumble in the first quarter of Friday's Big East Conference game at Bill Power Stadium.
Elizabeth Forward's Evan Lewis (1) crosses the goal line before he can be tackled by Uniontown's Ky'ron Craggette (36) for a 25-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter of Friday's Big East Conference game at Bill Power Stadium.
Uniontown quarterback Dom Richter sets up for a pass early in the second quarter of Friday's Big East Conference game against Elizabeth Forward at Bill Power Stadium.
Uniontown running back Ky'ron Craggette (36) takes a handoff from quarterback Dom Richter (3) as the Red Raiders' Josh Braxton (66) attempts to block Elizabeth Forward's Robert Buchina (52) in the second quarter of Friday's Big East Conference game at Bill Power Stadium.
Elizabeth Forward's Robert Buchina (52) wraps up Uniontown running back Ky'ron Craggette (36) in the second quarter of Friday's Big East Conference game at Bill Power Stadium.
Elizabeth Forward's Christopher Makosey (24) attempts to turn the corner as Uniontown defenders Amari Tunstell (5) and Colton Witt (18) close in for the tackle during the first quarter of Friday's Big East Conference game at Bill Power Stadium.
Uniontown quarterback Dom Richter (3) scrambles for a first down early in the second quarter of Friday's Big East Conference game against Elizabeth Forward at Bill Power Stadium.
Elizabeth Forward’s offense spread the ball around in a 56-0 victory over Uniontown on Friday in Big East Conference play at Bill Power Stadium.
The Red Raiders honored their seniors prior to kickoff, but the first-place Warriors (7-1, 6-1) took an early lead and never looked back.
Elizabeth Forward quarterback Zachary Benedek connected to Nathan Alberts for a six-yard touchdown. Andrew Smith converted on the first of eight PATs that gave the Warriors a 7-0 lead.
“Zach Benedek at quarterback, it always starts with him,” Elizabeth Forward head coach Mike Collodi said. “He can run the ball, he can throw the ball — he distributed it to Nate Alberts and Nico Mrvos.”
Uniontown (0-9, 0-7) would start its first offensive possession with good field position after a return by Colton Witt gave the Red Raiders the ball at their own 37-yard line. However, three plays later, the Warriors caused a turnover when Robert Buchina recovered a strip sack.
“We played with relentless effort, where we were just having everyone constantly running to the ball,” Collodi said. “And they might make one guy miss, but we have another nine or 10 running through.”
Benedek and Christopher Makosey had runs of 20 yards and 31 yards, respectively, before Makosey would finish the four-play drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Makosey later scored on a 15-yard run in the second quarter.
Evan Lewis also had two touchdowns of his own, on runs of 25 yards and eight yards.
Collodi said he tries not to rely on one player to carry the team. However, when his players get going, he tries to keep them rolling. Lewis had the hot hand, totaling 110 yards on seven carries.
“Evan did a great job running the ball tonight,” Collodi said. “We use about three or four different guys who run the ball, so a week or two ago it was someone different and tonight Evan stepped up. And we can’t just focus on one of our players, we have a team effort where everyone contributes. Tonight, was Evan’s night, he read his blocks really well and ran hard.”
Another solid kickoff return, this time by Javon Davis, set the Red Raiders up at their own 45-yard line. The drive stalled and Uniontown was forced to punt, which resulted in a bobbled snap. The Red Raiders’ punter attempted to run for the first down, but was stopped short of the line to gain.
The Warriors took advantage of the great field position, and Benedek called his own number on a keep play that resulted in a 35-yard touchdown.
“Honestly, a lot of guys played really well on both sides of the ball,” Collodi said. “Our running game was really good with multiple guys running the ball for touchdowns. Chris Makosey, Evan Lewis ran the ball really well. I thought we played a really good game in terms of coming together as a team, from that standpoint.”
The Warriors took a 49-0 lead into halftime.
DaVontay Brownfield caped the scoring with a three-yard run in the third quarter.
While the Raiders moved the ball against the Warriors’ defense, they were unable to capitalize.
“You just have to execute what you do and that’s what we are working on, and that’s the mentality, and we are trying to build that mentality,” Uniontown head coach Cedric Lloyd said.
Benedek was 4 of 5 for 70 passing, and ran four times for 63 yards. Makosey had 85 yards on six carries.
Ky’ron Craggette totaled 73 yards on 18 carries and Dom Richter totaled 22 yards on 18 carries for the Red Raiders.
“I love him (Craggette), he’s a physical kid,” Lloyd said. “He’s going to be a very good running back, he really is. We just have to get better in front of him to give him a chance.”
Lloyd said Davis and Richter also provide sparks to the team with their athletic ability and speed.
However, he said the athletes needs to focus on executing their specific job each game for the entirety of the game.
“The focus has to be there the entire time,” Lloyd said. “There were a few plays that I was looking at on the call sheet that we had penalties on, and guys just have to zone in and focus on what needs to be done. And when we do that, we execute a little better.”
Lloyd said moving forward the team has to execute up front on both ends of the ball.
“We have to be able to execute up front,” he said. “We missed a lot of tackles, we had guys in the backfield that we let us squirt out on us (for big gains).”
The Warriors host Yough (3-6, 3-4) next week, while the Red Raiders at Mount Pleasant (1-8, 1-6). Both games are in Big East Conference play.
Big East Conference
Elizabeth Forward 28 21 7 0 — 56
Uniontown 0 0 0 0 — 0
First Quarter
EF: Nathan Alberts 6 pass from Zachary Benedek (Andrew Smith kick), 11:18
EF: Christopher Makosey 2 run (Andrew Smith kick), 8:25
EF: Evan Lewis 25 run (Andrew Smith kick), 5:26
EF: Zachary Benedek 35 run (Andrew Smith kick), 3:22
Second Quarter
EF: Nico Mrvos 20 pass from Zachary Benedek (Andrew Smith kick), 11:46
EF: Christopher Makosey 15 run (Andrew Smith kick), 7:57
EF: Evan Lewis 8 run (Andrew Smith kick), 1:39
Third Quarter
EF: DaVontay Brownfield 3 run (Smith kick), 0:57
Records: Elizabeth Forward (7-1, 6-1), Uniontown (0-9, 0-7)