Conwell's Big Second Half Completes a 41-27 Comeback Win for USC

If football's psyche was shaken from last week's , the Indians sure knew how to take advantage.

West Allegheny quarterback Dylan Bongiorni was phenomenal in the first half completing 16 of 21 passes for 167 yards and rushing for another 135 yards. The Indians went no-huddle, catching USC off guard. They raced to a 21-0 advantage.

The Panthers fought back cutting the deficit to 27-14 at the half.

Then in the second half it was 's turn as he put on a clinic with a masterful performance scoring four touchdowns rushing for 168 yards on 10 carries.

The USC defense did their part holding Bongiorni to just three of 10 passing for 13 yards in the second half and shutting out West Allegheny to win convincingly 41-27.

"We made the necessary adjustments at halftime. We've dealt with adversity before, we knew we could do it," said USC tight end Jack Schwaba, who will be suiting up for Northwestern next year.

Some teams would have folded under the pressure of West Allegheny's tremendous start. More than 300 all-purpose yards for Bongiorni in the first half would be too much for many teams to overcome. However USC regrouped at halftime and owned the second half.

"It didn't test their patience, but it tested mine," said USC head coach Jim Render.

"We've got nothing to be ashamed of. At the end of the day you tip your cap to those guys," Indians head coach Bob Palko said.

The game began with West Allegheny's Bongiorni completing his first nine attempts, and 15 of 17 passes for 164 yards in the first quarter alone. One play into the second quarter West Allegheny had a commanding 21-0 lead.

"We didn't expect to see them spread the ball," Schawba said.

It was a strategy coach Palko installed specifically for this game. The Indians had not used the no-huddle offense up to this point of the season. Coach Palko said they knew they couldn't run on USC, so he thought he would try it.

West Allegheny came out of the starting gate like the horse that sets an early pace and hopes to hold on, however it was USC's closing gallop that proved to be too much.

"They wore us down. We don't have a lineman that could start on their team," coach Palko said.

The Panthers closed the gap thanks to a pivotal two-play drive immediately following the Indians touchdown that gave them their 21-0 advantage.

Conwell hit for a 54-yard gain, one of only two completions on the day for USC's star quarterback. Zach Deitrick followed with a 20-yard touchdown run that cut the lead to 21-7.

USC's Austin Stephan returned a long interception for a touchdown on West Allegheny's next drive cutting the lead to 21-14.  A late score for the Indians stretched their lead to 27-14 at the half.

Dakota Conwell completely dominated a worn down West Allegheny defense in the second half.

He capped off a nine play, 77-yard drive to open the third quarter with a 34-yard TD run down the right sideline on 3rd and 17.

"They can't stop you, man," USC receiver Mike Wilcox told Conwell in the endzone after the score.

Wilcox was right. The Panthers tied the game at 27 when Conwell went in from two yards out on the final play of the third quarter.

After a 3 & out by West Allegheny, Conwell proved Wilcox right once again.

At midfield, he snapped the ball and ran immediately to the left sideline beating every defender in the process.  From there, he raced 50-yards untouched for the touchdown that put Upper St. Clair up for good, 34-27.

Later in the quarter, Conwell added a nine yard score for his fourth of the second half making it 41-27. That was the final.

In all, Conwell rushed for 205 yards, and threw for another 72 on just two completions.

"We tackled better," coach Render said.

With non-conference play now in their rearview mirror, coaches will begin game planning for the homecoming game against Baldwin in their Great Southern Conference opener next Friday.

and boast the same 3-1 record that USC now has.

Baldwin and USC are the only 3-1 teams in their conference so it should be a fantastic affair to open up conference play.