McDowell Overwhelms Erie, 63-6

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Shane Lux | September 18, 2026

Millcreek Township – McDowell scored 49 first-half points and routed Erie High 63-6 Thursday night at James Connor Field.

The first three weeks of the season saw McDowell go from one heart-pounding finish to the next. Thursday night saw no such drama as they took over the Royals early and often.

The Trojans were coming off consecutive thrilling victories as quarterback Evan Kuhn scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime to beat Garfield Heights 21-20, while his touchdown run in the final minute defeated Chardon 38-31.

McDowell dropped their season opener to Mentor 31-30 on a failed 2-point conversation in the closing seconds, 31-30.

Completely bucking the trend, the Trojans scored three touchdowns in less than six minutes Thursday and took a 21-0 lead after a quarter.

Just over a minute in the contest, Domenic Bonyai blocked and recovered a punt in the end zone for the opening score. One of two blocked punts on the night for their special teams unit.

“We spend a lot of time on special teams; it’s a point of emphasis for us, Slocum said. ” We spent a lot of practice and film time on it. And our guys executed the crap out of special teams and changed the momentum early.”

Immediately on the next possession, Emory Moffett intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown, doubling the lead.

Emory Moffett 26 yd interception return, McDowell 14 Erie 0, 9:50 1st, @EmoryMoffett_14 pic.twitter.com/AXnzyOqRhv

— Shane Lux (@PFN_Luxy) September 17, 2026

Following a quick punt, the Trojans drove 39 yards, scoring on Evan Kuhn’s 11-yard touchdown pass to James Feronti.

“We’ve continued to get better and better, and it’s a credit to these guys,” said McDowell head coach Aaron Slocum. “Not only are they talented, but they have a different gear to them. We played three really good teams leading up to this game. We came out tonight, played four quarters, and executed.”

Kuhn would add a 40-yard touchdown to Taylor Lincoln on the opening play of the second stanza. Lincoln finished the night with six receptions for game-high 107 yards.

Chase Carrick and Andrew Tarasovitch added touchdown runs of 5 and 4 yards, with Carrick’s touchdown capping a68-yard drive, while Tarasovitch scored immediately following the Trojans’ second blocked punt.

The game featured a big-man touchdown as Braylon Murel scooped up a fumble and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

“This feels great, and means a lot,” Murel said. “The hard work we put in every day in practice, just overall working to be great. On that play, I saw the ball, and it was just an open field. I was like, yeah, I’m going to score. Just like the drills we do every day.”

McDowell opened the second half with a 9-play, 76-yard touchdown drive with Kuhn’s third touchdown pass of the night, a 26-yard pass to Deonte Flemings.

Kuhn completed 9 of 14 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.

The Royals were able to get on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter following a 61-yard pass from Anthony Metzler to Kieshaun Richmond. Marquise Leggett scored on a 3-yard run.

Erie scores on a 3-yard run by Marquise Leggett, 11:17 to play, 56-6 @royals_erie pic.twitter.com/EjBiacex4s

— Shane Lux (@PFN_Luxy) September 18, 2026

Erie was limited to only 44 yards of offense.

McDowell will look to keep rolling when they travel to Boardman next Friday night.

Game Highlights

McDowell 63 Erie 6

Score by Quarters

Erie – 0 0 0 6 – 6

McDowell – 21 28 7 7 – 63

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

M – Domenic Bonyai blocked punt returned for touchdown, (Joseph Clark pat), 10:38

M – Emory Moffett 26 yd interception return, (Clark pat), 9:50

M – James Feronti 11 yd pass from Evan Kuhn, (Clark pat), 6:34 – 3-39

Second Quarter

M – Taylor Lincoln 40 yd pass from Kuhn, (Clark pat), 11:50 – 7-68

M – Chase Carrick 5 yd run, (Clark pat), 5:28 – 10-70

M – Andrew Tarasovitch 4 yd run, (Clark pat), 2:41 – 1-4

M – Braylon Murel 17 yd fumble return, (Clark pat), 2:33

Third Quarter

M – Deonte Flemings 26 yd pass from Kuhn, (Clark pat), 6:30 – 9-76

Fourth Quarter

E – Marquise Leggett 3 yd run, (pass failed), 11:17 – 4-60

M – Robbie Grygier 71 yd run, (Torin Snippert pat), 10:02 – 2-78

Individual Stats

Rushing: E – Juliane Leone 7-25, Jack Musone 8-(-23), Marquise Leggett 6-(-8), Anthony Metzler 11-(-12), Team 1-(-5). Totals: 33-(-23). M – Kuhn 7-16, Carrick 4-22, Juel Heidelberg 8-22, Grygier 1-71, Marquis Knight 2-9, Clayton Coe 2-0, Tarasovitch 1-4, David Ritchie 1-(6), Owen Westmoreland 1-(-5), Team 3-(-9). Totals: 30-124.

Receiving: E – Leggett 2-(4), Kieshaun Richmond 2-71. M – Lincoln 6-107, Feronti 2-6, Flemings 1-26.

Passing: E – Musone 3-for-12, 6 yards, 1 INT, Metzler 1-for-2, 61 yards, 1 INT. M – Kuhn 9-for-14, 139 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT.

Interceptions: E – Micheal Henry. M – Flemings, Moffett.