When feature running back Connor Scott got knocked out of the game with an injury late in the first quarter of his team's season opener, Upper St. Clair coach Jim Render questioned his team's ability to keep pounding the ball on the ground.

"I had doubts," Render said. "We have some good tailbacks and runners, but a lot of them don't have a lot of reps."

That changed in a big way last night.

Upper St. Clair used a running-back-by-committee approach to amass 286 yards on 52 carries and parlayed that with an airtight defense to run over host Shaler, 24-6, in a non-conference game last night.

Matt Doman was "Da man" for the Panthers, spurring the rushing attack with 103 yards on 21 carries.

"I knew I'd be carrying the ball a little bit, but I didn't expect to carry the ball that much," said Doman.

Dakota Conwell, making his first varsity start at quarterback, added 65 yards and a touchdown. Also chipping in with big contributions were D.J. Scarton (two touchdowns) and Zach Dietrick (44 yards). Before leaving, Scott had rushed for 53 yards. He was on crutches in the second half.

Conwell's touchdown was gigantic. Despite dominating the yardage and time of possession in the first half, the Panthers led just, 3-0, in the closing seconds of the second quarter. But Conwell quickly changed that when he followed a devastating block from lineman Ian Park to score from 4 yards out on a fourth-and-1 with 17 seconds left.

"That hurt pretty bad," said Shaler coach Neil Gordon. "I think that put the kids in a hole. We were getting the ball in the second half. If it was 3-0, it's a totally different game for young kids."

But as workmanlike as the ground game was, the Panthers' defense was just as good, if not better. Shaler gained 112 yards, including just 62 yards rushing on 23 carries. The Titans moved inside the Upper St. Clair 47-yard line just once.

The final score should have been more lopsided, but the Panthers made more than enough errors for Render's liking. The Panthers had three turnovers -- one coming on a fumble at the goal line -- and also had two long touchdowns called back because of penalties.

"If you think I'm not happy, you're right," the veteran coach said.

"I can say, well, it was the first night. I could say that stuff, but I'm not going to. I'm going to say that we have to focus better and take care of the ball better, get lined up better and we have to improve in a lot of areas overall."

The win was the 336th of Render's career, the most in WPIAL history. The Panthers have not dropped a season opener since 1998.

As for Scott's injury, Doman gave a prognosis.

"He has a hangnail or something," joked Doman.

"He's fine. He'll be back next week."

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