West Branch’s Beau Alazaus throws as Blackhawk’s Thomas Price Jr. pursues on Thursday during the Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic at Geneva College’s Reeves Field.
BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – Not only was the weather hot Thursday night for the 45th annual Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic football game at Geneva College’s Reeves Field, but the Ohio offense was as well with a 28-10 victory over the Pennsylvania all-stars.
The Ohio offense, led by South Range running back Blake Ewert’s 114 rushing yards and West Branch’s Beau Alazaus’ 164 passing yards, helped keep the Ohio team clicking most of the night. The team rushed for 170 yards as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. They scored twice in the second half to pull away from the Pennsylvania team.
With his performance on the night, Ewert was honored with the Ohio Offensive Most Valuable Player award.
“This feels good, but I’m happy that we won the game,” Ewert said. “I couldn’t have done it without my offensive line. The offensive line was amazing tonight. They were opening holes everywhere. Whenever I touched the ball, I was able to run.”
While the offense could control the game most of the night, the defense also provided a gutsy performance in trying to slow down Pennsylvania’s bruising big running backs. The defense held the Pennsylvania team to 135 yards rushing and 159 in the air.
For his efforts, Columbiana’s linebacker Kian Hartley was selected as the Ohio Defensive MVP. He intercepted a Pennsylvania pass with 1:15 left in the game that sealed the game for Ohio.
“This means the world to me. I really couldn’t have done it without the 10 other guys around me,” Hartley remarked. “I really have to give credit to my other inside linebackers, safeties and D-line. The big boys up front really opened it up. I could see where the running backs were. I was able to do my thing.”
Ohio took the lead in the contest following a missed 33-yard field goal by Ohio on its opening possession and a short punt by Pennsylvania gave Ohio the ball at the 35. Ohio wasted little time as they scored three plays later on a 6-yard pass from Alazaus to Boardman’s Thomas Andujar at the 5:04 mark of the first quarter.
They doubled their advantage early in the second frame with a 60-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard run by Austintown Fitch quarterback DeShawn Vaughn with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter. That provided Ohio with a 14-7 lead in the game.
But Pennsylvania responded with a quick score of their own when Western Beaver’s Tyson Florence scored on a 4-yard run just a minute and a half later. That cut the Ohio lead to 14-7 as the two went to the halftime locker rooms.
Pennsylvania cut the deficit down to just 3 points with a field goal on their opening possession of the second half. Mohawk’s Josh Wilkins booted a 30-yard kick that made it 14-10 in favor of Ohio.
Ohio responded by making a statement on their opening possession of the second half as they marched 80 yards on 11 plays with Boardman’s Willie Torres scoring on a 2-yard run to make it 21-7. That score came at the 2:33 mark of the third quarter.
“We were able to show them what Ohio football is all about,” Ewert remarked. “We haven’t played football for six or seven months, but we showed everyone what we can do.”
Ewert capped off his outstanding night with a 2-yard run with only 8:33 remaining in the contest to essentially put the final dagger in the Pennsylvania team. The score came at the conclusion of a 67-yard drive that took eight plays to reach the 28-10 final margin.
“I’m really thankful I got to be around a great group of guys and enjoyed the experience with everyone,” Hartley said.
OHIO: 7-7-7-7–28
PENN: 0-7-3-0–10
SCORING
OH – Thomas Andujar 6 pass from Beau Alazaus (Luke Courtney Kick)
OH – DeShawn Vaughn 1 run (Courtney Kick)
PA – Tyson Florence 4 run (Josh Wilkins Kick)
PA – Wilkins 30 field goal
OH – Willie Torres 2 run (Courtney Kick)
OH – Blake Ewert 2 run (Courtney Kick)
——
OP
First downs1918
Total Yards334294
Rushes-yards31-17029-135
Passing164159
Comp-Att-Int16-24-015-33-1
Punts3-45.673-31.67
Fumbles-Lost0-02-0
——
INDIVIDUAL OHIO LEADERS
RUSHING–OHIO, Blake Ewert 16-114, Beau Alazaus 5-23, Willie Torres 5-21
PASSING– OHIO, Beau Alazaus 16-24-164-1-0
RECEIVING– OHIO, Dylan Sheely 5-67, Dorian Burchett 4-47
INTERCEPTIONS – OHIO, Kian Hartley
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