Elizabeth Forward overpowers Yough with balanced attack

By: Adam Brewer
Friday, October 10, 2025 | 10:44 PM

Previous Next

Efficient. A term that is often overlooked in high school football.

Elizabeth Forward was efficient in all three phases of the game Friday night, as they dominated play from the get-go and jumped all over hosting Yough, 55-7, in Class 3A Interstate Conference play.

“I love the execution and focus tonight,” EF coach John DeMarco said. “We know Yough is down this year and playing on the road is always tough. But other than the first drive, we came out with a lot of energy the rest of the way and got those big chunk plays on offense.”

Senior quarterback Ryan Messina was at the forefront of the balanced attack by the Warriors (7-1, 3-0) with 145 yards on 6-of-8 passing with four touchdowns.

The dual-threat quarterback did not run the ball on the night and only played in the first half.

Coming into the contest, EF had the sixth highest scoring offense in the WPIAL averaging 44 points per game.

“With our offense, it starts up front,” DeMarco said. “Our line is tenacious. They are going to get after you and we just have tough kids up front that play hard. When they are opening holes in the run game and giving Ryan a clean pocket, everything clicks for our offense. We are definitely on a roll right now.”

But make no mistake, the Warriors are more than just a quick-strike offense.

After both squads punted on their opening drive, the visitors made the first splash play on defense when Aiden Hicks made a jumping interception near the sideline.

Three plays later, Messina found Brandon Honick for a 22-yard flanker screen that hit pay dirt with 3:25 left in the opening quarter.

After a Yough punt, Messina once again connected with Honick for a score, but this one was an 80-yard bomb as Messina hit Honick in stride, resulting in a 14-0 lead.

Honick recorded an interception to end the next drive for the Cougars (2-6, 0-3). Then, on the first play of the second quarter, Rocco Thompson rumbled in for a 9-yard scoring run.

The Warriors’ special teams got into the scoring next, as Aaron Ulmer garnered a 51-yard punt return touchdown to give EF a commanding 28-0 advantage.

Messina added two more scores through the air on the next two drives with a 12-yard toss to Anthony St. Angelo and then a 10-yard strike to Brendan Stroschein. Kaden Spochacz-Allen capped the scoring for the visitors in the first half with a 25-yard TD run.

EF held a 49-0 lead at halftime and outgained the Cougars, 291-34, in the opening 24 minutes.

Yough’s only significant play on offense in the first half was an 18-yard screen pass to Ryan Sarver from Aidan Shaffer on their first possession. The home team had no rushing attack, as EF was dominant up front.

“EF is the top dog, and they control the conference until someone can beat them,” Yough coach Ben Hoffer said. “Those kids are well-coached, and I am very happy for their coaching staff. They are a class act. We got behind the sticks early and could not sustain any drives.”

One secret weapon for the Warriors on the night was kicker Luke Holdren, who consistently booted kickoffs inside the 10-yard line and was 7-for-7 on extra points in the first half.

“Luke is a great kid and is probably one of the best kickers in the WPIAL,” DeMarco said. “We are lucky to have him, and he is another hard worker. He puts in a ton of work over the summer. He flips the field for us on every kickoff and will be a solid weapon for us down the road.”

Spochacz-Allen tallied a 2-yard keeper in the third quarter for EF. Travis Dusi (68 yards), Spochacz-Allen (65), Noah Curran (60) and Thompson (53) led a potent Warriors’ run game.

Yough avoided the shutout a couple of plays into the fourth quarter when Shaffer found Sarver for a 70-yard touchdown pass. Sarver grabbed five balls for 94 yards in the loss.

“It was cool to see Ryan get that score in his last home game,” Hoffer said. “He is such a strong leader and works his butt off every Friday night. We are hoping to finish strong. We have to keep building this program and try to get some positives out of this group.”

EF travels to Southmoreland next Friday, as the winner will hold an inside track to the conference championship.

“With Southmoreland, it’s all about who can eliminate mistakes and hit the big plays,” DeMarco said. “They are a good football team. I have a bit of a history with them because I coached there a couple of years ago. I know some of the seniors, and they are really good players.”

Yough visits Greensburg Salem to continue Interstate Conference play.

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, Yough