C-M holds off PT
Canon-McMillan’s Bryan Milligan runs past Peters Township’s Angelo Quarture Friday night.
Canon-McMillan’s Cuyler Rancher breaks up a pass intended for Peters Township’s Alan Snydergets during Friday night’s game.
Peters Township quarterback Jake Cortes hands the ball off to TJ Kpan Friday night against Canon-McMillan.
Peters Township’s Seth Luksik carries the ball Friday night against Canon-McMillan.
Canon-McMillan’s Bryan Milligan is tackled by Peters Township’s Albert Calfo (2) and Nathaniel Hymson (32) during Friday night’s game.
McMURRAY – Although the playoffs were out of reach for both Canon-McMillan and Peters Township, a chance of a .500 season was still in play for each.
For the young Big Macs, a large step forward was taken towards respectability as they hung on for a 13-10 win over the rival Indians in McMurray Friday night.
Bryan Milligan lugged the ball 29 times for 127 yards as the Big Macs moved to 4-5 overall, 2-4 in Southeastern Conference play, while Peters Township fell to 3-5 overall and 1-5 in conference.
The game was played in a steady rain that hampered the ability of both teams to throw the ball. But it didn’t diminish the drama of a game that was, at times, sloppily played.
Peters Township had a shot at victory in the fourth quarter as it drove from its 18 to the Big Macs 10. But Jake Cortes’ fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Cortes finished with nine completions in 39 attempts for 137 yards.
“We had some things go against us, a lot of calls didn’t go our way, I just thought that we played a good enough game and that it would work out,” Big Macs coach Mike Evans said. “Our defense played well all year and came through in the end.”
Evans said now his team’s number one goal is to reach that elusive fifth win of the season.
“It will be a big building block for us for sure,” Evans said.
A Jordan Castelli 47-yard pass to Rahmiere Knight early in the fourth quarter provided the winning points for the Big Macs.
Canon McMillan had drives that reached the 27, 10 and 33 yard lines of the Indians in the third quarter. But each time, the Big Macs were stopped on downs and held out of the end zone.
It would be costly.
Two plays after holding the Big Macs at the 33 on downs, Cortes found Alan Snyder for a 66-yard scoring strike, giving the hosts a 10-6 lead midway through the third quarter.
Peters Township struck first with Tanner Scott’s 21-yard field goal late in the first quarter. The field goal drive was highlighted by Seth Luksik’s 29-yard run.
The Big Macs then took control for the remainder of the half.
Drew Engel’s seventh interception of the season gave Canon-McMillan life. However, after driving to the Indians 21, the Big Macs were stopped on downs after Milligan was tackled short of the first down on fourth-and-3.
Canon-McMillan found the end zone midway through the second quarter. The Big Macs’ short scoring drive was set up when PT’s Angelo Quarture mishandled the snap in the rain and punted the ball short out of bounds at the Indians 26.
Three plays later, Milligan plowed in from the seven. The Big Macs’ lead was held to three after Josh Byers’ point after attempt was blocked.
Peters Township had a chance to retake the lead when Knight muffed a punt. Josh Casilli recovered for the Indians at the Big Macs’ 37.
The Indians moved to the 25, but TJ Kpan fumbled a pitch and recovered back at the 37 on third down, forcing an Indians punt late in the half.