ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 26, SMETHPORT 24

Oct. 27, 2007

The box score for this story was found in the Tri-County Sunday of DuBois

ST. MARYS – Eric Mastrogiacomo’s 18-yard touchdown run with 4:57 left to play lifted Elk County Catholic into the District 9 Class A Playoffs with a 26-24 win over Smethport Saturday night at Dutch Country Stadium in St. Marys.

The touchdown run capped a happy Senior Night for ECC’s senior running back. He ran 24 times for 202 yards and three touchdowns.  

ECC (5-4 overall, 5-4 AML South) found itself in an unexpected slugfest with Smethport (1-8, 1-8) thanks in large part to the running of Smethport’s Preston Birtcil. Birtcil had a monster game running 14 times for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Birtcil added one catch for 57 yards.

Birtcil’s 73-yard scoring run, his second 70-plus yard scoring run of the game, with 7:55 left in the game gave Smethport a 24-20 lead

The Hubbers then had a chance to salt the game away, but ECC’s defense stood tall holding Smethport deep in its own territory forcing a punt from the 9-yard line. Joel Kohler’s punt then traveled just nine yards setting the Crusaders up in perfect field position at the Smethport 18-yard line. It took Mastrogiacomo just one carry to give ECC the lead back.

Matt Meholic then sealed the victory when he intercepted a Kohler pass, Smethport’s fifth turnover of the game.

The game started off on a great note for ECC, as the Crusaders scored just 19 seconds into the game on a 65-yard touchdown run by Mastrogiacomo.

Smethport answered back on the last offensive play of the first quarter when Birtcil broke an 80-yard scoring run getting the Hubbers to within one at 7-6 at the end of the quarter.

Birtcil then gave Smethport a 12-7 lead on a 4-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter before Kyle Garner hit Nick Brennen with a 24-yard scoring with 5:08 left in the half giving the Crusaders a 14-12 halftime lead. Brennen finished with four catches for 108 yards and the score.

Mastrogiacomo’s 12-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter extended the ECC lead to 20-12, but Birtcil started to bring Smethport back with a 2-yard scoring run late in the quarter.

NOTES – Both teams had turnover problems. ECC added four giveaways to the five by Smethport … ECC was able to clinch the D9 Playoff berth, its first since 2005, because of Otto-Eldred’s upset win over Ridgway Friday night … With the win, ECC eliminates Ridgway from playoff contention. The eighth and final Class A playoff spot will come down to either Clarion or Curwensville. Clarion gets it if the Bobcats win at Brookville Friday night. Curwensville gets it if Clarion loses. Curwensville doesn’t play this week … ECC can be seeded anywhere from sixth to eighth.

ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 26, SMETHPORT 24

Score by Quarters

Smethport 6 6 6 6 – 24

Elk CC 7 7 6 6 – 26

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

E – Eric Mastrogiacomo 65 run (Josh Catalano kick), 11:41

S – Preston Birtcil 80 run (kick failed), 0:01

Second Quarter

S – Birtcil 4 run (run failed), 8:42

E – Nick Brennen 24 pass from Kyle Garner (Catalano kick), 5:08

Third Quarter

E – Mastrogiacomo 12 run (kick failed), 5:41

S – Birtcil 2 run (run failed), 2:18

Fourth Quarter

S – Birtcil 73 run (run failed), 7:55

E – Mastrogiacomo 17 run (kick failed)

                                           S                      E

First Down                         11                    11

Rushes-Yards                     40-353             42-281

Passing Yards                     83                    127

Passes: Comp-Att-Int         3-4-1                6-14-1

Total Yards                                    436                  408

Punts-Avg.                         4-26.3              4-46.8

Fumbles-Lost                     4-4                   4-3

Penalties-Yards                  1-15                 7-48

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Smethport: Preston Birtcil 14-252, 4 TDs; Kyle Nobles 15-83, Joel Kohler 6-30, Bill Pruett 4-8, Team 1-(-20). ECC: Eric Mastrogiacomo 24-202, 3 TDs; Tom Jovenitti 11-64, Kyle Garner 7-13, Josh Catalano 1-2.

Passing – Smethport: Joel Kohler 2-for-3, 26 yards, 1 interception. Kyle Doutt 1-for-1, 57 yards. ECC: Kyle Garner 6-for-14, 127 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.

Receiving – Smethport: Dave Cooney 2-26, Preston Birtcil 1-57. ECCL Nick Brennen 4-108, 1 TD; Matt Bauer 2-19.  

Interceptions – Smethport: Bill Pruett. ECC: Matt Meholic.