Conference champion Elizabeth Forward rallies past playoff-bound Mt. Pleasant

By: Paul Brittain
Friday, October 25, 2024 | 11:19 PM

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Interstate Conference leader Elizabeth Forward seemed on the way to another dominating victory at Mt. Pleasant on Friday when an unexpected delay led to a change of momentum that created a first-half barnburner.

Elizabeth Forward used its potent offense and eventually fought off the Vikings’ challenge to pull away to a 56-26 victory to clinch the conference championship.

Mt. Pleasant clinched a playoff spot despite the loss. Greensburg Salem’s 28-21 victory over Southmoreland created a three-way tie for second place at 3-2 in the Class 3A Interstate Conference, and the Scotties and Vikings held the edge in tiebreakers. The Golden Lions could still receive a wild card bid Saturday.

Mt. Pleasant was challenged from the outset with senior quarterback Cole Chatfield sitting out the game with an injury while junior Dane Firmstone stepped in as signal caller.

Elizabeth Forward (5-0, 7-3) dominated Mt. Pleasant (3-2, 5-5) on the opening possession, driving 77 yards in 14 plays with Charlie Nigut going the final yard to the end zone. Luke Holdren’s conversion kick made it 7-0 with 6:25 left in the opening quarter.

After a three-and-out by the Vikings, the Warriors took over after a punt to the EF 37.

The Warriors drove 63 yards in five plays with Ryan Messina completing a 36-yard touchdown pass to Connor Stokes for a 14-0 lead.

Moments later, the game was delayed for nearly a half-hour with 1:14 left in the opening quarter when one of the chain gang members was injured during a play along the sideline and a replacement had to be found.

At that point, the Warriors had an unofficial yardage advantage of 100-7.

The delay worked in favor of the Vikings, who turned the tide and scored two touchdowns in less than one minute.

On the first play after the delay, Firmstone passed to Jacob Kitz on the run for a 65-yard touchdown. The conversion was blocked to leave the score at 14-6.

On the second play after the kickoff, the Vikings’ Jarett Garn intercepted a tipped pass and returned it to the EF 6-yard line.

Two plays later, Garn swept right and into the end zone. The 2-point conversion try was stopped, but the Warriors’ lead had been trimmed to 14-12.

Elizabeth Forward responded with a 13-play drive over 86 yards. Big plays were Messina’s passes of 29 yards and 16 yards, both to Andrew Grese. Nigut capped the drive from the 5-yard line to increase the lead to 21-12.

That lasted only seconds as Garn returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards down the right sideline to the end zone, and he added the conversion kick to cut the lead to 21-19.

But the Warriors answered again with a nine-play drive covering 80 yards, with Nigut scoring from the 7-yard line with under 25 seconds left for a 28-19 lead after the conversion.

A roughing the passer infraction on the Warriors gave the Vikings a chance at a 46-yard field goal, but Garn’s kick was wide left as the half ended.

On the third play of the second half, Firmstone hit Garn on the run down the left sideline for a 72-yard scoring play, cutting the lead to 28-26 with the conversion kick.

Elizabeth Forward drove 68 yards to the Vikings’ 2, and on fourth down, Christian Brodak stopped Nigut at the 1 to end the drive.

But a fumble in the end zone three plays later was recovered by the Warriors’ Andrew Dziadyk to give the visitors a 35-26 lead with the conversion.

Following an interception by the Warriors’ Stokes, Nigut rambled 61 yards to the Mt. Pleasant 17.

Nigut scored from 5 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter and Holdren’s kick built the lead to 42-26.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Messina and Stokes hooked up again on a touchdown pass from 12 yards away.

The Warriors then added a 28-yard touchdown run by Travis Dusi to build the lead to 56-26.

Elizabeth Forward dominated in unofficial total yardage, 472-207.

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, Mt. Pleasant