Big first half eases Newark Catholic to a 34-16 playoff win over Danville @NewarkCatholic @mountvernonnews@SchoolsDanville @Buckeyedrew33

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David Burnworth | October 31, 2021

Saturday night I rushed home from my day game to change cameras then headed to White Field in Newark to watch the Newark Catholic Greenwave battle the Danville Blue Devils. Way back in 2012, these two hooked up in one of the best high school playoff games I have been to. The Greenwave outlasted the Blue Devils 48-46. The game last night was very one-sided and almost boring at times in the second half. It seemed in that second half Newark Catholic was content with their large lead and playing for the most part not to lose, while Danville was playing to make this a game. To Newark Catholic’s credit when the Blue Devils scored they responded in a fast, we have nothing to fear style.

The Greenwave got the scoring started when Cole Canter threw a nice 25-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Dry at 10:34 of 1st. Warren Knowlton nailed the point-after kick to make this a 7-0 game. Newark Catholic would later get a pick by their stud Elijah Wallace that set up a sweet lighting quick 74-yard touchdown run from Mason Hackett. Knowlton made this a 14-0 game with his point-after kick.

The Greenwave had a disastrous drive the next time they had the ball. A nice touchdown run was called back and then later on the drive, Knowlton missed a 41-yard field goal. Early in the game on their second drive, when they were driving deep inside Danville territory they fumbled the ball away.

The Greenwave defense would continue to dominate the Danville offense then when they got the ball back Canter threw a nice 6-yard touchdown pass to Wallace making this a 20-0 game, with 5:39 left in the half.

Wallace had a nice game on defense also making him the PAFOOTBALLNEWS PLAYER OF THE GAME.

Newark Catholic was able to convert a fourth and six with a 33-yard completion to Grant Moore. Canter would bully his way n from a yard out to close out the drive. Knowlton nailed the point-after kick to give the Greenwave a 27-0 lead which also was our halftime score. Not to forget Matt Kirk had a nice pick for Newark Catholic.

In the first half Newark Catholic over 300 yards of offense while holding Danville to under one hundred. To the credit of the Danville players they never quit or hung their heads down low. They would continue this effort in the final half and twice it paid off with points.

Max Payne, who looked very comfortable running the ball from his quarterback slot when his number was called looked even better throwing the ball at the 6:16 mark of the third quarter, with the result being a 26-yard touchdown pass to Kaiden Colopy. Payne would run the two-point conversion in to make this a 27-7 game.

The Newark Catholic offense seemed to sleep through most of the quarter but after the Daville score, they quickly worked the ball to the Blue Devils 22-yard line. From there Canter was able to scramble in for the score, with the point after kick good the scoreboard read 34-8 Greenwave.

Danville needed to score fast and often in the final frame if they hoped to make the improbable comeback. They would score once but that drive took nineteen plays to go the 79-yards needed for the score. Payne would score on a three-yard run then convert the two-point run to give us our final score of 34-16 Newark Catholic.

Newark Catholic will move on to round two of the playoffs next Saturday at home against Caldwell.

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