Information for this story is courtesy of the DuBois Courier-Express/Tri-County Sunday

BROCKWAY – In a game that didn’t see much defense, Brockway’s defense stopped an Elk County Catholic two-point conversion in the second overtime to hold on for a key 42-41 over the visiting Crusaders.

Brockway (5-2) took a 42-35 lead in the second overtime when Tom Vervoort scored on a 9-yard run and Phil Esposito added the extra point.

ECC (5-2) answered right back on its possession of the second overtime when Mitchell Vallone hit Hank Cappiello with a 10-yard touchdown pass. But the two-point conversion run by Brock McCullough failed.

The game was tied at 28 at the end of regulation before ECC took a 35-28 lead on a 7-yard scoring run by Vallone in the first overtime.

Brockway, though, answered right back with a 7-yard scamper by Vervoort to knot the game at 35.

ECC led 21-14 at halftime thanks to a 2-yard Cole Gerber run as the first-half expired, but Vervoort tied the game at 21 with a 1-yard plunge late in the third quarter.

A 5-yard touchdown run by Vervoort at the start of the fourth quarter then gave the Rovers their first lead since 7-6 at 28-21, but Gerber answered back with a 2-yard run less than two minutes later to retie the game.

Brockway got the scoring started on a 3-yard Kyle Braun run before a 32-yard run by McCullough and a 1-yard run by Gerber put ECC ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter.

Braun, though, hit Levi Miller with a 26-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14 with 1:25 to play in the opening half.

Vervoort led Brockway with 106 yards rushing on 22 carries and scored the four touchdowns. Braun added 17 carries for 86 yards and the score and was 2-for-4 passing for 29 yards and the touchdown. Braun also intercepted a pass on defense.

McCullough paced ECC with 88 yards rushing on 16 carries and scored one touchdown with Gerber adding 17 carries for 68 yards and three touchdowns.

Vallone was 7 of 15 passing for 91 yards, one touchdown and one interception and ran seven times for 13 yards and the score.

With the win Brockway appears to be in the driver’s seat for the AML South tile. The Rovers are in a three-way tie for first place in the South with Curwensville (5-2) and ECC (5-2) but own wins over both of those teams.

BROCKWAY 42, ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 41, 2 OVERTIMES

Score by Quarters

ECC   0            21            0            7            7            6            —            41

Brockway            7            7            7            7            7            7            —            42

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

B – Kyle Braun 3 run (Philip Esposito kick), 10:19.

Second Quarter

E – Brock McCullough 32 run (Kick blocked), 11:51.

E – Cole Gerber 1 run (McCullough run), 9:08.

B – Levi Miller 26 pass from Braun (Esposito kick), 1:25.

E – Gerber 2 run (Scott Krellner kick), 0:00.

Third Quarter

B – Tom Vervoort 1 run (Esposito kick), 2:01.

Fourth Quarter

B – Vervoort 5 run (Esposito kick), 10:50.

E – Gerber 2 run (Krellner kick), 9:19.

First Overtime

E – Mitchell Vallone 7 run (Krellner kick).

B – Vervoort 7 run (Esposito kick).

Second Overtime

B – Vervoort 9 run (Esposito kick).

E – Hank Cappiello 10 pass from Vallone (Run failed).

            E            B

First Downs            13            17

Rushes-Yards  41-169     52-223

Passing Yards  91            29

Comp-Att-Int            7-15-1            2-4-0

Total Yardage            260            252

Punts-Average            5-41.8            3-34.3

Fumbles-lost            1-0            4-0

Penalties-Yards  2-20            5-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Elk County Catholic: Cole Gerber 17-68, Brock McCullough 16-88, Mitchell Vallone 7-13, Joe McLaughlin 1-0. Brockway: Tom Vervoort 22-106, Kyle Braun 17-86, Chad Melillo 10-69, Anthony Benson 1-3, Philip Esposito 1-(-14), Team 1-(-27).

Passing – Elk County Catholic: Mitchell Vallone 7 of 15, 91 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int. Brockway: Kyle Braun 2 of 4, 29 yards, 1 TD, 0 Int.

Receiving – Elk County Catholic: Hank Cappiello 2-24, Joe McLaughlin 2-46, Brock McCullough 1-0, Pat Brennen 1-16, Cole Gerber 1-5.

Interceptions – Elk County Catholic: None. Brockway. Kyle Braun.