USC Escapes Last-Second Hail Mary, Beats Erie McDowell 21-14

football defeated Erie McDowell in a thrilling 21-14 victory on Friday night.

"They were better than I thought they were," USC head coach Jim Render said.

"I'm a little tired right now," USC defensive stalwart Jake Radziukinas said.

In a game that featured a 21-play drive for Erie McDowell and an amazing seven of eight fourth down conversions in the game, the Panther defense was on the field for 64 plays compared to just 42 for the Trojans defense.

Erie McDowell took the ball in the first quarter and drove the ball from their 15 yard line to their own 35 yard line in seven plays. Knowing they would need to control the ball to have a chance of victory they went for it on fourth and one. They didn't make it. It would be the only fourth down conversion they would not make.

USC meticuloulsy used their running game for seven straight plays until Zach Deitrick fumbled the football on the six yard line keeping the game scoreless.

USC would not see the ball again on offense until nearly mid-way through the second quarter as the Trojans took an unbelievable 20 plays to move the ball from their own six yard line all the way to the USC eight yard line. They converted three fourth down plays on the drive.

Senior Bobby Tuttle made one of the biggest plays of the game when he intercepted the ball on the 21st play of the drive and returned it to the 20 yard line.

It took USC just four plays to get the ball all the way to the Erie McDowell eight yard line with Dakota Conwell completing his first pass of the game for 51 yards to his favorite receiver Mike Wilcox. On the very next play after the pass Conwell rushed it in from eight yards out and USC had a 6-0 lead with 5:32 left in the half after missing the extra point.

On the Trojans next drive Greg Garman—who had trouble holding onto the ball all night—cost his team by fumbling the ball away with 2:34 remaining in the half.

The Panthers took full advantage driving 55 yards in six plays. Conwell found Wilcox in the back corner of the endzone for a 22-yard score as Wilcox barely got the required one foot down in the endzone before going out of bounds.

USC led 14-0 and Conwell hit Deitrick with a pass for the two-point conversion with 43 seconds left in the half.

USC took the opening kick of the second half and drove to the Trojan 39 yard line before they stopped Conwell on 4th and 2.

Erie McDowell took six plays to get to the USC 28 yard line setting up fourth and nine yards to go. Greg Garman took a screen pass and got past the defense virtually untouched and the Trojans had their first score of the game. They were right back in this one trailing 14-7.

A.J. McGuire returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Erie McDowell 47 yard line. With the short field, the Panthers drove the ball quickly. Conwell hit Alex Garwig for 24 yards and later Rori Blair for another 13 yards before taking it in on a keeper from two yards out with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter. USC was back in control leading 21-7.

When Jake Radziukinas recovered a Trojan fumble in the waning moments of the third quarter it appeared the Panthers had this game in their control.

However, Erie McDowell showed great determination forcing USC to punt after just three plays.

From there it appeared the USC defense tired a bit. They had been on the field for 35 plays in the first half compared to just 18 for Erie McDowell. In the game, USC's defense was on the field for 64 plays, compared to just 32 for the Trojans.

Erie McDowell continued to be a fourth down converting machine. They successfully managed two more on a 10-play drive ending in a 15-yard touchdown run by Khlique Harris.

"Some of them they were lucky, some were earned," Render said..

Either way it was 21-14 USC with 5:35 remaining in the game.

The Panthers starting pounding the ball to try to run out the clock. After giving up one first down, the Trojan defense stiffened. USC was called for a key holding penalty 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage which amounted to a 20-yard penalty. They were forced to punt with just over a minute left.

Steve Gannon made one of the biggest plays of the game booming a punt 45 yards forcing Erie McDowell to go 69 yards for the tying touchdown in just over a minute.

"Both of Gannon's punts were huge," Render said.

Time was running out but the USC defense was gassed. Erie McDowell completed a 16-yard pass to the USC 31 yard line but the clock was nearing double zeros. Trojan quarterback Anthony Lecce raced to intentionally clock the ball before time ran out. As he spiked the ball into the ground, the time appeared to run out and USC began celebrating.

But, wait! The refs called both teams back to their sideline and proclaimed one second remaining in the game allowing for one more final hail mary.  It was another correct call by the refs as the ball was spiked right before the clock ran out.

On the final play Lecce was able to get the pass off before the USC rush could get to him. He threw the ball high into the air into the front right corner of the endzone where his receiver Chris Miller and USC defensive back Ryan Boyd were jockeying for position. Boyd was able to knock the pass down and Miller threw his helmet in frustration.

USC had held out for a thrilling 21-14 victory sending them to the WPIAL semifinals next Friday.

They will be playing second seeded Central Catholic who beat Mt. Lebanon 31-14 on Friday night. USC beat the same Mt. Lebanon team .

"Tuttle's interception was huge, the fumbles were big and Gannon punts were huge," Render said. "We haven't been in a tough game in awhile."

Odds are it's going to be another tough one next week.

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