Not many people outside the Elizabeth Forward football program expected much from the Warriors this season.
At the midway point of the season, Elizabeth Forward continues to thrive. The Warriors thrilled its home crowd Friday with a 36-33 victory over Yough.
“The old EF would have folded,” coach Mike Collodi told his team after the game. “Last year, we don't get that last stop. This year, you believed.”
Collodi was referring to stopping Yough (1-5, 1-5 Big Ten) on a fourth-and-15 play from the EF 16 with under a minute left in the game that sealed the deal.
The Warriors (3-3, 3-3) were paced by Conor Hinchey's 200 yards on 32 carries.
Yough quarterback Ryan Everly nearly brought the Cougars back for the win. He carried the ball 13 times for 186 yards and passed for 246 yards.
Elizabeth Forward took a 6-0 lead on Tyler Ocilka's 7-yard touchdown pass from Steve Mayernik.
Yough responded with a four-play, 61-yard drive capped by Ryan Everly's 10-yard scamper, tying the score 6-6.
Ocilka 14-yard touchdown run, followed by Mayernik's 2-point toss to Hunter Safran, gave Elizabeth Forward a 14-6 lead late in the first period.
Employing the hurry-up offense, Yough moved the ball to the EF 6. However, on fourth down, Everly's pass intended for Jordan Bryan was high and incomplete.
The Cougars defense stepped up. Bryan intercepted Mayernik's pass. On the next play. Bryan hauled in Everly's pass and strolled into the end zone.
Bryan caught the 2-point conversion pass, tying the score 14-14 early in the second quarter.
Yough forced a punt and struck again. Everly took the snap, followed his blockers and raced into the end zone for 77-yard score and a 20-14 lead. Elizabeth Forward took a 21-20 lead on Hinchey's 4-yard run with two minutes remaining in the half.
“He's a workout warrior, for sure,” Collodi said, referring to Hinchey.
“Our offensive line was huge tonight as well.”
Bryan gave Yough a 26-21 lead with a diving 10-yard touchdown catch.
Seth Andres caught a 27-yard touchdown pass to give EF a 29-26 lead.
Two Yough defensive backs deflected the ball into Andres' hands.
Hinchey's 20-yard touchdown run pushed the Warriors lead to 36-26 early in the fourth.
“He's the toughest kid we got. He's not the biggest kid, but he has the biggest heart,” Collodi said.
Yough cut into the lead when Borkovich plowed in from the 1 to trim the Warriors' lead to 36-33 with nine minutes remaining.
“We just believed in ourselves,” Collodi said. “EF for the longest time has been the doormat. We're trying to change that.”
David Whipkey is a freelance writer.
