Victory slips from Panthers' grasp in final minutes

HANCOCK — Landon Decisio scored from 2 yards out with 7 seconds left in the game, and Allegheny-Clarion got its first win of the season in stunning fashion Saturday night against Hancock, beating the Panthers 28-24.

The win snapped the Falcons’ eight-game losing streak dating back to last season.

Allegheny-Clarion’s last win also came against Hancock, a 13-8 triumph.

The 28 points scored by the Falcons (1-6) was more than they had scored in their first six games (26).

“Hancock is a small school like us and they were gracious enough to do a home-and-home with us,” Allegheny-Clarion coach Chris McNany said. “My hat’s off to Hancock, though, they played a heck of a game.”

Allegheny-Clarion committed seven turnovers — six in the first half — but made up for them as the clock wound down.

With four minutes left, the Falcons were trailing 24-14, but a 49-yard touchdown run by Colton Cunningham, followed by a successful two-point conversion pass from Cunningham to Kevin Kaufman, cut Hancock’s lead to two.

The Falcons recovered the ensuing onside kick with 2:19 left and drove 49 yards to take a 28-24 lead when Decisio scored his second touchdown of the day.

“The kids kept their composure,” McNany said. “It was spectacular to watch those guys battle back like they did.”

Allegheny-Clarion’s first win of the season didn’t come without controversy, however.

A borderline pass interference call against Hancock — that caused a quarrel on the Panthers’ sideline — put the Falcons inside Hancock’s 5-yard line before Decisio’s go-ahead score.

“It was a frustrating game,” Hancock coach Dave Mahaffey said. “This one hurts a great deal.”

Hancock (3-5) led 12-6 at the half after two long first-half scores.

Garrett Wiles hooked up with Logan Manning for an 80-yard touchdown pass, and Wiles picked up an Allegheny-Clarion fumble and returned it 83 yards for the Panthers’ second touchdown.

A 12-yard pass from Wiles to Hunter McKinley in the third quarter, and a 5-yard touchdown run by Jesse Wolford later in the period, had Hancock up 24-14 heading into the fourth.

Allegheny-Clarion 28, Hancock 24
A-Clarion     0    6    8    14    —    28
Hancock     0    12    12    0    —    24
Second Quarter
H — Wiles 80 pass to Manning (run failed)
H — Wiles 83 fumbel return (pass failed)
AC — Suto 3 run (kick blocked)
Third Quarter
AC — Rose 1 run (pass converted)
H — Wiles 18 pass to McKinley (pass failed)
H — Wolford 5 run (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
AC — Decisio 49 run (pass converted)
AC — Decisio 2 run (kick missed)