MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Junior running back Nico Flati (Aliquippa, Pa./West Allegheny) ran for a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns while the Grove City College defense held host Allegheny to 16 net rushing yards Saturday evening as the visiting Wolverines rolled to a 31-7 win in Presidents' Athletic Conference action at rain-soaked Frank B. Fuhrer Field.
Senior running back Clayton Parrish (Mercer, Pa./West Middlesex) added a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Wolverines, who improved to 7-0 overall and in conference play.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Ben Bladel (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) recorded three sacks and a forced fumble while graduate student linebacker Ryan Fleming (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) and sophomore defensive end Joseph Semelka (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) shared a sack. Fleming also recovered a fumble in the first quarter at the Allegheny 37 to set up Grove City's second touchdown.
Grove City opened the game with a six-play, 71-yard drive that Flati capped with a nine-yard touchdown run 2:59 into the game.
Allegheny drove to Grove City's 24 on its first drive. Bladel sacked and stripped quarterback Jack Johnson at the 34. Several players had an opportunity to recover the fumble. Fleming eventually secured the ball at the Allegheny 37, resulting in a 39-yard loss for Allegheny and excellent field position for the Wolverines.
Six plays later, Parrish charged into the end zone from six yards out. Sophomore kicker Caleb Kuechly (West Chester, Ohio/Mars) drilled the second of his four extra points to give Grove City a 14-0 lead with 5:22 left.
Kuechly capped a 16-play drive in the second quarter as he kicked a 23-yard field goal with 8:55 left in the half.
The Wolverines then pushed the lead to 24-0 with 35 seconds left in the second quarter on Parrish's one-yard touchdown plunge. Junior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) fired a 39-yard strike to senior wide receiver Ryan Heckathorn (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) on the touchdown drive, giving Grove City goal to go at the 2.
Allegheny opened the second half with a 17-play, 65-yard drive that used 8:56. Semelka and Fleming combined for a sack on third down, however, and Allegheny's Garrett Paxton missed a 35-yard field goal attempt.
Two plays later, Flati charged through the Allegheny defense for a career-best 68-yard touchdown run.
Parrish finished with 40 rushing yards. Grove City finished with 280 rushing yards. Pfeuffer went 5 of 10 for 111 yards. Senior wide receiver Scott Fraser (Butler, Pa./Knoch) caught four passes for 72 yards.
Fleming, junior nose tackle Kobe Bonanno (New Bethlehem, Pa./Redbank Valley), sophomore cornerback Boden Davidson (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian) and junior safety Jason Muench (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) all had six tackles. Muench also forced a fumble and broke up three passes.
Johnson completed 25 of 41 passes for 247 yards. Grove City outgained Allegheny, 391-263.
Grove City opens a two-game homestand next Saturday when the Wolverines host conference foe Saint Vincent at Thorn Field. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
No. 23 Grove City Thunders Past Gators, 31-7
/seasons/2023/boxscores/20231014_2sdy.xml
2023
Grove City
31
Allegheny
7
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 18 Grove City (7-0) | 14 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
| Allegheny (2-5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Oct 14, 2023