The running back broke the school’s career rushing mark against Mohawk.

By CALEB PARDICK

SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. — Entering Friday night’s WPIAL Class AA Tri-County North Conference matchup with Mohawk, Riverside’s Jake Wickline needed 172 yards to become the school’s all-time leading rusher.

By halftime, the senior running back had both the record and game in tow.

Wickline rushed for 273 yards and four touchdowns on just 12 carries to lead the Panthers past the Warriors, 43-14, at Riverside Memorial Stadium. The win clinched a playoff berth for the Panthers.

With a 19-yard run late in the second quarter, Wickline surpassed Jimmy Bates, who ran for 3,592 yards from 2000 to 2003.

“[Breaking the record] was never my goal,” the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Wickline said. “I just wanted to come out and have a good senior year. But just breaking it, in a big game, a game against Mohawk, it’s just the best feeling in my life.”

Riverside (6-1, 6-1) set the tone early, jumping out to a 7-0 lead on a 44-yard touchdown strike from Codi Jackson to Mike Vucelich on the fourth play from scrimmage.

After Mohawk turned the ball over on downs on its first series, Riverside took control of the game on the next play. Wickline broke free off left tackle for a 66-yard touchdown run, his first of the night.

The Panthers’ quick-strike offense extended the lead to 21-0 two possessions later, when Wickline ran away from several defenders on his way to a 68-yard score.

“Jake runs with power and breaks tackles, but there were a couple times tonight when they didn’t lay a hand on him,” Riverside coach Jesse Rosenberger said. “He’s a big-time player. Whatever college gets him next year is going to get a true warrior.”

Rosenberger also said that while he didn’t anticipate a blowout win, he was more than happy to take it.

“I was hoping for a game like this, but I wasn’t counting on it,” he said. “Mohawk has always been a tough test for us, and I knew they were a physical team, but the ball just bounced our way tonight.”

Wickline, who added touchdown runs of 9 and 3 yards in the third quarter, said the win and his performance were satisfying because of the team effort that contributed to both.

“It feels real good,” Wickline said, “because I think on two of those long runs, I didn’t even get touched. Our O-line did a great job. Tonight was one of those games when you have a big run to start, and you just get that feeling like the next play they’re not going to tackle you.”

While Wickline was the star, Jackson was also effective. The senior quarterback completed 3-of-5 passing for 87 yards and scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter. He also found Vucelich in the corner of the end zone for a two-point conversion on a botched snap.

Wickline’s performance earned the respect of the Warriors (4-3, 3-3) as well.

“The kid’s a stud, I don’t know how else to say it. He’s a stud,” Mohawk coach Jason Long said of Wickline. “He’s fast, powerful, makes great cuts, and has the vision. He’s the real deal. We knew he was good, and that was about what we expected.”

Senior running back D.J. Woleslagle was the lone bright spot for the Mohawk offense. Woleslagle gained 74 yards on 20 carries and broke several tackles on a 14-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.

Mohawk added its other touchdown on a 25-yard fumble return by Joe Lagala with just less than six minutes to play.