Laurel Defeates Shenango 28-14 on Special Night

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Garrett Dollin | October 12, 2024

NEW CASTLE, PA – It was a special night at Laurel High School.

Prior to the game, Laurel head coach Brian Cooper celebrated his 100th career head coaching win. Laurel football boosters presented Cooper with a signed team photo from last weeks win signed by players and coaches. His son then presented him the game ball, hand painted by his daughter. During his time at Shenango from 1999-2006, Cooper totaled 37 wins, including section championships in 2002 and 2003. Cooper became Laurel head coach in 2014, totaling now 64 wins and counting with Spartans. This includes an undefeated regular season in 2021, 2022 Big 7 champions, 2018 WPXI Coach of the Year, 2020 and 2021 MAC Coach of the Year, and 2022 Big 7 Coach of the Year.

Heading into the game, an uneventful first quarter showed no points on the board for either team. Midway through the 2nd quarter, Shenango quarterback Sam Patton found Michael Egetoe streaking over the middle of the field for the touchdown. The 38-yard connection on 4th and 6 gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead. The Spartans would respond with an 8-play, 56-yard drive capped off by a 6-yard rushing score from Laurel quarterback Luca Santini.

On the first possession of the second half, a strip sack by Tyler Fuchs put the ball on the ground for Caden Narlee to recover, setting up Laurel on the Shenango 45-yard line. The Spartans would capitalize on the turnover, getting their first lead of the game following a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Jackson Sauders.

However, the Wildcats weren’t going away that easy. Shenango quarterback Sam Patton would again get the Wildcats back on the board with a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 44 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. Despite this, the quarterback dual would continue when Luca Santini connected with Kolton Carlson down to the 1-yard line on the first play of the 4th quarter. Santini would power the ball into the endzone, giving Laurel the lead back. Later in the 4th, Carlson took the direct snap 2-yards into the endzone, sealing the win for Laurel.

Laurel improves to 4-4 overall and 3-0 in Big 7 conference play. Shenango falls to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in conference. Laurel will head to South Side next week to take on the 5-2 Rams. South Side is coming off a 19-21 loss against Neshannock. Shenango will face their toughest opponent of the year next week when they head to Fort Cherry to take on Matt Sieg and the Rangers.

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