KITTANNING -- With running back Derek Taylor out with an injury, Kittanning coach Sam Panchik wanted a spark plug coming out of the backfield against West Shamokin.
Boy, did he get one. Or rather two.
Lee Sasala and Bob Keys each rushed for more than 100 yards as the Wildcats ran away with a 49-6 win over visiting West Shamokin Friday night in an Allegheny Conference matchup.
"We got together, we played, and I tell you what, we played old-fashioned Kittanning Wildcat football -- run the ball, play defense," Panchik said. "That's exactly what we are getting back to."
Kittanning (3-2, 4-3) got back to it in a big way rushing for more than 339 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Sasala gained 187 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns, and Keys ran for 112 on eight carries, including a 65 yard jaunt to the end zone on the second play of the game.
"He just waited his turn. We had Derek (Taylor) out tonight and he stepped it up," Panchik said of Keys. "We have all these people we have out and we have these younger kids coming up, and they are starting to play good for us."
But Sasala, a mainstay in the Wildcats backfield, was the workhorse for the game. He had an uncanny knack for bouncing off tackles, which he used to his advantage since his shortest run on the night was a 3-yard gain.
"Lee has been steady every game of the year -- offensively and defensively," Panchik said. "You can always count on Lee."
The running game overshadowed the play of the Wildcats defense, which turned in one of its most complete performances of the year. The unit held West Shamokin's (0-5, 1-6) offense to 22 yards rushing and 122 yards of total offense. Its one fault was when West Shamokin receiver Pete Wyotowish made a good move back to the inside on a sideline out-route and caught a Luke Wilson pass eight yards down field and raced 62 yards to the Kittanning 11-yard line. Wolves Josh Morales scored with two seconds left in the first quarter to pull his team within eight, but the Wolves would have little luck moving the ball again.
"We came back and shut them out in the second half, which I was happy about," Panchik said.
Still, Panchik could find little to complain about in the win. He was hoping to see his younger players to play well as many of his players recover from injuries.
Right now, he feels confident his players can step it up.
"We just have another person coming up," Panchik said when asked how he is replacing injured players. "We have a lot of young kids, and when it's their turn to step up, they have to make the play."
Kittanning's Toby Bowser tied a school record with seven extra points. Sasala also had 69 yards receiving for a total of 256 yards from scrimmage. He also finished with three touchdowns -- two rushing and one receiving. Colin McKelvey passed for 121 yards and two touchdowns, a 55-yard pass to Lee Sasala and a 26-yard pass to Lucas Sasala. Lance Crawford scored on a 2-yard run.
Kittanning travels to Deer Lakes next week for another Allegheny Conference matchup.
