Pick and roll: Matuscin’s 98-yard interception return pushes C-M closer to playoffs
CANONSBURG – Canon-McMillan knew it was going to have a tough final three games beginning Friday night against Norwin.
The Big Macs, who were 1-6 overall and 1-4 in Class 6A action, had lost starting quarterback Jonathan Quinque for the season because of an injury, meaning they were going to lean on freshman Benjamin Urso to direct the offense in hopes of squeaking in to grab one of the six Class 6A playoff berths.
Not only were they starting a freshman quarterback, but the Big Macs were also going to have to try and contain Norwin quarterback Jack Salopek, a Western Michigan commit who is among the top passers in 6A in yards and touchdowns.
Canon-McMillan rode a potent rushing attack, led by sophomore Ryan Angott, and a strong defensive effort to contain Norwin, forcing three turnovers, including a momentum-swinging 98-yard interception and return for a touchdown by Dane Matuscin at the end of the first half, to defeat the Knights 49-14 and keep the Big Macs’ playoff hopes alive.
“For a team that was 1-6 going into this type of game, I am just proud of the way our team seemed to be focused,” said Canon-McMillan head coach Mike Evans. “I’m really happy for them, we have something to play for. The definition of ‘horror’ in football is having games left with nothing to play for, and we don’t have that right now, so we are excited.”
Angott finished the night with 27 carries for 213 yards and four touchdowns, three of which came in the third quarter, to lead a Big Mac attack that totaled 369 total yards. Urso was efficient in his first start, completing 5 of 6 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
“We weren’t able to stop the run. We knew they were going to come out and throw a couple different looks – some things that we saw from them last year,” said Norwin head coach David Brozeski. “But at the end of the day, they beat us because they were able to run the ball and we weren’t able to stop the run.”
For Norwin (1-5, 2-6), Salopek completed 19-of-43 pass attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Most of his damage came in the first half, where he threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, but a costly interception near the goal line turned what could have been a 21-21 game at halftime into a 28-14 Canon-Mac lead.
“I was really proud of how our DBs played tonight,” said Evans. “Linebackers were being tested … they had a good plan; our defensive coaches did a nice job and our kids adjusted to being able to apply some pressure and cover well enough to get this win tonight.”
The beginning of the game saw Canon-McMillan (2-4, 2-6) jump out to a 14-0 lead before Salopek threw two scores in a span of just 2:21 in the second quarter. Angott scored his first of the game with 4:33 left in the half, but then after forcing Norwin to punt, Angott fumbled right back to Norwin to set the Knights up at midfield with two minutes to go and a chance to tie the score at 21.
Salopek drove Norwin down to the Canon-Mac eight-yard line before firing a bullet right into the hands of Matuscin, who went 98 yards uncontested for the score. With that quick turn of events, it seemed to knock the life out of Norwin, as the Big Macs scored three more times in the second half and allowed only 37 total yards over the final two quarters to put the game away.
“We have a rule as a team – the 24-hour rule. No matter what, win or lose, we have 24 hours,” said Brozeski. “We’re in a situation where we’re backed in a corner, we have to make sure that we are fighting for our playoff lives.”