“It was no secret; they were going to run Noah Cherry left. We tried to get them to slide down, we tried to get them to move, and they didn’t. Why? That’s why us coaches go to figure out.”

Cherry started out strong on the Crusaders’ first drive, with runs of 11 and 14 yards, which led to a third-and-5 from the Wolverines’ 25, where Cherry busted loose to put the first points on the board for the Elk County Catholic with 7:25 to go in the first quarter.

The Wolverines looked to be poised to retaliate, as running back Hayden Holden went 21 yards on his first carry of the following drive, setting Sheffield up at their own 43. However, a penalty knocked Sheffield back 5 yards, and the offense was unable to make up the difference, punting to Elk County Catholic.

Alex Marfink would make his defensive presence known for the Wolverines recording two tackles for loss on Crusaders’ running back Percy Macdonald, leading to a turnover on downs. Marfink would sack Elk County Catholic quarterback Charlie Geci on the Crusaders’ next series and make three more tackles for loss in the game as well as recover a fumble. Marfink’s defensive performance resulted in 37 lost yards for the Crusaders’ offense.

Times Observer photo by Cody Elms Sheffield quarterback Colby Barr runs up the visitor’s sideline during a 46-12 loss Saturday to Elk County Catholic.

“That was our goal there, to put him there to try to disrupt their running game,” said Barr. “Somebody quick, and he did it and did it right, it was awesome.”

The Wolverines’ defense stepped up again midway through the second quarter when Colby Barr snatched a Geci pass along the Sheffield sidelines at 32, running back 68 yards for the score.

“It was just him (Colby Barr). He read it and went,” said Coach Barr.

The turnover seemed to light a fire in the Crusaders’ offense, as their next two drives would result in Cherry touchdowns, with a combined 67 yards rushing between the drives. At the half, Sheffield trailed Elk County Catholic 20-6.

With the game still in reach, the Crusaders were not about to let the Wolverines climb back, as kicker Wil Wortman showed off his leg, hitting 42- and 33-yard field goals in the second half. Cherry would score once more in the third, while Matthew Gilmore would pick off Barr in the fourth for a 44-yard touchdown and followed that up with a 14-yard receiving score two minutes later to go up 46-6.

The Wolverines’ only other touchdown came late in the fourth, when Barr hit Austin Fiscus in the middle of the field, who then took it in for the 43-yard score.

Elk County 7 13 10 16 — 46

Sheffield 6 0 0 6 — 12

First Quarter

Elk – Noah Cherry 25 run, (Wil Wortman kick), 7:35.

Second Quarter

She – Colby Barr 68 interception, (kick failed), 6:95.

Elk – Noah Cherry 12 run, (Wil Wortman kick), 3:46.

Elk – Noah Cherry 5 run, (kick failed), :39.

Third Quarter

Elk – Wil Worthman 42 field goal, 10:29.

Elk – Noah Cherry 3 run, (Wil Wortman kick), 7:51.

Fourth Quarter

Elk – Wil Wortman 33 field goal, 11:56.

Elk – Matthew Gilmore 44 interception, (Wil Wortman kick), 11:12.

Elk – Matthew Gilmore 14 pass from Charlie Geci, (kick failed), 4:02.

She – Austin Fiscus 43 pass from Colby Barr, (kick failed), 3:05.

——

E S

Offensive plays 54 44

First downs 14 9

Total Net Yards 399 175

Rushes-Yards 44-310 32-106

Passing Yards 89 69

Comp-Att-Int 4-10-1 3-12-1

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 3-1

Penalties-Yards 9-60 6-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Elk County, Noah Cherry 18-300-4TD, Wil Wortman 1-13, Matthew Gilmore 3-0, Percy MacDonald 3-(-1), Charlie Geci 3-(-2); Sheffield, Hayden Holden 21-71, Colby Barr 7-31, Alex Marfink 2-6, Christian Garcia Correa 2-(-2).

PASSING–Elk County, Charlie Geci 4-10-89-INT-TD; Sheffield, Colby Barr 3-12-69-INT-TD.

RECEIVING–Elk County, Matthew Gilmore 4-50-TD, Noah Cherry 1-4; Sheffield, Austin Fiscus 1-43-TD, Christian Garcia Correa 1-21, Dylan Hardwick 1-5.