Information for this story is courtesy of Ryan Pugh of the Clarion News

RIMERSBURG – Brock McCullough ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns to lead fifth-seeded Elk County Catholic to a 30-6 win over fourth-seeded Union in the opening round of the District 9 Class A playoffs Friday night in Rimersburg.

McCullough scored on first-half runs of 1 and 11 yards, as ECC (8-2) broke out to a 17-0 halftime lead.

The Crusaders, who won a playoff game for the first time since a 27-24 win over Curwensville in double overtime in the 2008 first round, then went ahead 23-0 on the first play of the fourth quarter when Devon Constable caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Vallone.

Union (9-2), which was playing its first-ever home District 9 playoff game and just its second-ever District 9 postseason contest, got a 10-yard touchdown run from Cody Kline midway through the fourth quarter before ECC answered on a 1-yard Joey McLaughlin scoring run.

The Crusaders also saw Ryan Seelye hit a 27-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

The running game was big for ECC, as the Crusaders ran for 213 yards on 43 carries while limiting Union to 45 yards rushing and 122 total yards.

Vallone was solid as well going 5 of 12 for 112 yards the touchdown and the interception.

Union struggled throwing the ball with Brody Shick connecting on just four of 15 passes for 26 yards while tossing an interception before leaving the game with a hand injury in the fourth quarter. Lane Cicciarelli came in and went 4 of 7 for 51 yards.

ECC faces top-seeded Port Allegany in the semifinals next week. The Gators had a bye into the semifinals. ECC is the last District 9 team to beat Port Allegany doing so last year in the regular season.

NOTES - It is ECC's first playoff win over a KSAC since 1995 when it won at C-L. It had been 0-6 against  KSAC teams since then including 0-5 in Clarion County.

ELK  COUNTY CATHOLIC 30, UNION 6

Score by Quarters

ECC 7 10 0 13 – 30

Union 0 0 0 6 – 0

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

E – Brock McCullough 1 run (Ryan Seelye kick), 2;21

Second Quarter

E – McCullough 11 run (Seelye kick), 10:11

E – Seelye 27 field goal, 0:00

Fourth Quarter

E – Devon Constable 16 pass from Mitchell Vallone (kick failed), 11:55

U – Cody Kline 10 run (pass failed), 7:07

E – Joey McLaughlin 1 run (Seelye kick), 4:17

                                                ECC                Union

First Downs                            13                    8

Rushes-Yards                          43-212             25-45

Passing Yards                         112                  77

Passing: Comp-Att-Int            5-12-1              8-22-1

Total Yardage                         329                  122

Fumbles-Lost                          2-0                   3-1

Penalties-Yards                       2-10                 3-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Elk County Catholic: Brock McCullough 22-129, Hank Cappiello 13-75, Joey McLaughlin 4-22, Dan Singer 2-5, Team 3-minus 3, Mitchell Vallone, 1-minus 15. Union: Kaden McGregor 11-35, Cody Kline 4-16, Keenan Rankin 3-2, Brody Shick 5-minus 4, Lane Cicciarelli 2-minus 4.

Passing – Elk County Catholic: Mitchell Vallone 5 of 12, 112 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception. Union: Brody Shick 4 of 15, 26 yards, 1 interception. Lane Cicciarelli 4 of 7, 51 yards.

Receiving – Elk County Catholic: Ryan Childs 3-54, Clayton Housler 1-42, Devon Constable 1-16. Union: Aaron Graham 4-26, Kaden McGregor 2-22, Cody Kline 1-14, Shane Murphy 1-15.