Beaver Falls gets revenge vs. Neshannock with win on 2-point try

By: Eric Thomas
Friday, November 10, 2023 | 11:48 PM

It figures the second tussle between Beaver Falls and Neshannock this season would come down to a 2-point conversion.

In a flashback to September, when the sides met in a MAC regular-season showdown and Neshannock won on a 2-point conversion stop by Anthony Bonner, Beaver Falls returned the favor Friday night 14-13.

Michael Blackshear’s scoop of a Brixx Rawl blocked punt deep in Neshannock territory, followed by Da’Talian Beauford’s razor-thin successful 2-point conversion, sent the Tigers into the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals next weekend with a win before a packed house at Bob Bleggi Stadium. Beaver Falls is pursuing its fourth straight WPIAL title game appearance.

The 10th-seeded Tigers (7-5) will take on No. 3 seed Washington at a site and time to be released Saturday. Washington beat McGuffey, 18-7, in another quarterfinal.

The loss snapped Neshannock’s (9-2) nine-game winning streak.

Rawl’s block made up for a drive that stalled at the Lancers 5-yard line with a little more than three minutes remaining.

With the Tigers defense harassing Neshannock quarterback Jino Mozzocio all second half, and the Lancers pinned up on their own 5-yard line, Rawl blew through the protection and got to punter Pat Argiro, sending his punt to the turf, where Blackshear was on it immediately for the touchdown.

Beaver Falls coach Nick Nardone didn’t even think twice, sending out the offense to go for 2. Beauford lined up in the wildcat formation and took the direct snap up the middle. At first he appeared to be stopped short, but he just barely extended the ball across the goal line for the lead.

“We think we stopped them,” Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio said. “The official said he was in. I think we made a stop there. I’ll have to watch the film, but I think (the officials) were in error giving him the 2-point conversion.”

Neshannock had a chance to ice the game after stopping Beaver Falls at the 5, but it failed to get a first down and went backwards setting up the blocked punt.

“We had a chance to win the game,” Fred Mozzocio said. “We needed to get a first down or two, run out the clock. We didn’t do it, they blocked a second punt and won. That’s it, cost us the ball game.”

Said Nardone: “Story of our life the last few years, going for two, crucial moments.”

Nardone was then reminded of the way the first meeting this season ended.

“Oh yeah, I guess you’re right, I forgot about that,” he said with a grin. “Again, two very good teams, two evenly matched teams. Two defensive strong teams with some offenses that can do some stuff here and there. Just a shame it comes down to a 2-point conversion in a quarterfinal game.”

The Beaver Falls defense was a wrecking crew in the second half getting constant pressure on Jino Mozzocio. Eight of Mozzocio’s second-half carries resulted in negative yardage. Nardone’s defense was spearheaded by linebacker Kenny Jewel III, who was in on a series of pressures and tackles in the second half.

“We just knew we had to come out and play,” Jewel said. “We were only down a touchdown. Game’s not over. I came off the edge, made tackles, made great plays, everyone played well. We just had to execute. We did, and we won. Now we’re off to the next round.”

Another miscue in the third on an Argiro punt led to Beaver Falls’ first touchdown of the game, a 3-yard run by Beauford.

The Tigers fumbled five times in the first half, losing three, the second resulting in a 17-yard scoring toss from Mozzocio to Bobby Frasso.

After Beauford’s touchdown, Neshannock eventually converted two third-and-longs, the second a beautiful 32-yard touchdown from Mozzocio to Dom Cubellis in double coverage.

But that was the last of the Lancers offense for the night.

“They’re a mature group,” Nardone said. “They’ve been through some stuff. We’ve got seniors on this team that have been to three straight (WPIAL) championships. They’ve seen it all. They weren’t rattled. I didn’t have to do much of anything.

“They just stayed the course, trusted us, trusted each other and found a way to win.”

Tags: Beaver Falls, Neshannock