Solanco beats Ephrata 25-17 in a hard fought win

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Pat Weider | September 16, 2022

                 Solanco Head Coach Anthony Cox addresses his team after a 25-17 win against Ephrata

          Solanco improved to 4-0 on the year with a 25-17 win over Ephrata in week 1 of section play. In a close game that wasn’t decided until the final drive by Solanco when they drove the distance to run out the clock. Solanco a Senior laden team never panicked in the game and ultimately came away with the victory in the hard-fought win. Anthony Cox Solanco Head Coach on his team “Our guys fought through adversity and got the win”. Cole Harris Senior fullback said, “It just shows we are a hard-nosed team”. 

         Quarterback Brody Mellinger opened the night with a 2-yard touchdown run after they took the opening drive down the field to take a 6-0 lead. Ephrata responded with a field goal. Solanco then responded again, which was the theme of the night when Mellinger rushed it in again from 2 yards out for a 12-3 lead.  Ephrata once again responded when Andre Weidman rushed it in from 2 yards out to make it 12-10 Solanco. Then Cole Harris rushed it in from 12 yards out for a touchdown. The halftime score was Solanco 19-Ephrata 12. 

               The second half was largely Solanco running the ball and the clock out. Cole Thomas on their mindset “I felt really good about the entire game, our lineman did a great job creating holes”. Quarterback Sam McCracken of Ephrata made a huge play of the game when he hit Evan Boley for touchdown pass on 4th and 12 to get Ephrata close to 19-17, but Solanco responded later in the game with another touchdown drive when Cole Harris rushed it in again for his 2nd touchdown of the night. Solanco then was able to run the clock out on the last drive of the game and complete the hard fought victory 25-17 win. 

             Solanco is 4-0 on the year and is led by their 24 Seniors. Nick Defrancesco Senior linebacker on this team “We knew from the start it would be a special year. We have the chemistry as a senior class”. Coach Cox on his team “”They do everything together. Every Friday morning they go to breakfast together”. Solanco runs an option heavy offense. On the evening they ran for 302 yards. Fullback Harris rushed for 107 yards, Quarterback Brody Mellinger rushed for 71, Josiah Forren rushed for 29 yards, and Elijah Cunningham rushed for 85 yards. The rushing attack is balanced and tough to defeat. Cox simply said this about his team “We have hard nosed kids”. Yes they do and in section 3 Solanco is one of the favorites to compete and win it. 

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