Conwell-Egan’s Eagles claw Lions in opener
BucksLocalSports Editor
To say Conwell-Egan Catholic (CEC) is off to a rousing start might be the biggest understatement of the young 2012 varsity football season.
The Eagles, a team that won just once a year ago in beating winless Morrisville, went up to New Hope last Friday night, Aug. 31 and tossed a shutout against the host New Hope-Solebury.
CEC fullback Dan McLaughlin, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior, took on the bulk of the ball-carrying assignments, registering 104 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.
Classmate Chaz Cason, a speedy tailback at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, chipped in with 82 yards rushing on 11 carries, adding a 70-yard punt return that put ConwellEgan on top, 20-0, with 6:57 left in the second quarter.
Filling in for the injured senior Kyle Techtman, freshman quarterback Mike Alley (2-10-2, 1 TD) got the Eagles headed in the right direction when he hit senior wideout Tim Bolton with a 24-yard touchdown pass with seven-and-a-half minutes left in the first quarter.
Less than two minutes later, sophomore Marqual Beckett (2-12, 1 TD) added to CEC’s lead when he scampered for a 9-yard touchdown run that put Egan on top, 13-0.
McLaughlin capped off the Eagles’ scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds left in the half while Bolton added a twopoint conversion on a faked
extra-point attempt.
Neither team scored after the break.
Also for Conwell-Egan, junior Dustin Mascione carried the ball just once for 12 yards while sophomore goe Ruggieri rushed once for 10. Alley completed just two passes for 33 yards including two picks. Cason caught one ball for nine yards on offense and Bolton snagged an interception on defense for the Eagles.
For New Hope-Solebury, senior Tyler Nangle rushed six times for 38 yards, junior goe Dwight carried seven times for 24 yards, and junior gason Desenuto rushed seven times for 21.
NH-S junior quarterback Connor Hayden completed four of 12 passes for 12 yards with one interception. He also toted the pigskin himself 13 times for 14 yards.
Senior Tyler Nangle caught two of the Lions’ passes for 12 yards; Dwight caught two for 10 yards.
gunior gake Goodman and Dwight snagged interceptions for New Hope.
Conwell-Egan has the week off and will not get back on the playing field until 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14 at which time they will host Philadelphia Public League rival Olney at Tru- man’s Henry Morgan Stadium. The Eagles begin their Catholic League schedule Saturday, Sept 29 at Truman in a battle with Archbishop Carroll after traveling to Nativity B.s.M. in Pottsville on Sept. 21.
New Hope-Solebury travels to BAL rival Morrisville for a 7 p.m. matchup Friday night at Robert Morris Stadium then square off Sept. 14 at Bristol.