Sep 21, 2018 4 min read

CANONSBURG – Searching for a first win of the season and with the threat for bad weather on the way, the Canon-McMillan Big Macs wanted to get off to a good start Friday night in a WPIAL Quad County Conference matchup against visiting Hempfield.

That especially rang true for a team that has had some success throwing the football.

The Big Macs did exactly that then hung on once the weather got bad.

Quarterback Jonathan Quinque hit Drew Engel with a pair of first-half touchdown passes and Josh O’Hare broke loose with a long touchdown run as the Big Macs built a 20-6 halftime lead before the rains came, en route to a 20-14 victory over Hempfield.

“It was big early on to come out and play well and get a lead,” said Canon McMillan head coach Mike Evans. “We wanted to get the ball first and get out there and put some points on the board. We were fortunate to be able to do that. I’m just happy the kids rose up. We needed the win and we got it.”

Things didn’t start well for the Big Macs (1-3, 1-3) as Quinque was intercepted by the Spartans Nathan Roby, setting Hempfield (0-4, 1-4) up with great field position.

The Spartans opening drive didn’t go anywhere, thanks to a sack from C-M’s Colton Irwin.

On the Big Macs next play from scrimmage, O’Hare broke loose for a 69-yard touchdown run to give Canon-McMillan a 6-0 first-quarter lead.

O’Hare gained 135 yards on seven carries in the first half and 191 total on 12 carries.

“We wanted to come out throwing but then I had to take a step back and realize who we had in the backfield,” Evans said. “O’Hare had some big runs and I think his early runs helped open up the pass. We think the world of Josh.”

On the Spartans ensuing drive, Hempfield marched 19 plays and took nearly eight minutes off the clock but the drive stalled at the C-M three-yard line.

“I thought we played well on the defensive side of the ball,” said Evans. “Bend but don’t break. We gave up some plays, but when we had to, we rose up and made plays that helped us win the game. It was a battle and we haven’t won many games recently at Canon-Mac when we’ve been in a battle. It was nice to rise to the occasion tonight.”

Hempfield got on the board in the second quarter when Roby went untouched from 30 yards out to tie the game at six.

After that, the combination of Quinque and Engel took over.

Engel took a wide receiver screen on a third-and-eight play and raced 53 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

On the Big Macs next drive, the duo hooked up for a 13-yard touchdown pass late in the quarter to give Canon-Mac a 20-7 halftime lead.

Quinque finished completing 10 of 22 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Engel caught five passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half.

“We hit some plays early,” Evans said. “They ended up forcing us to do some different things, but we took advantage of what they gave us. When the rain comes down like that though, what are you going to do? I was sick to my stomach having to throw the ball in the rain as much as we did.”

Hempfield got back in the game late in the third when Roby broke off a 37-yard touchdown run to make it 20-14.

Roby finished with 137 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on 10 carries. He also hauled in five receptions for 70 yards.

Hempfield had a few chances late in the fourth quarter, getting the ball deep into Canon-McMillan territory, but couldn’t convert.

“The weather impacted both teams, so it was a wash.” said Hempfield head coach Rich Bowen. “I thought we played well in the second half but made a lot of mistakes in the first half. We played slow. But we are young, and we battled. Give Canon-Mac credit. They are a good team.”