Running interference
Warriors thwart ground attack to grab signature win in Class AAAA
Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane used the word efficient to describe his team’s overall play Saturday afternoon. But he pulled out a superlative to describe his defense. Remarkable is the word Ruane used. Historical might also fit. Penn-Trafford held the WPIAL’s leading rusher to 53 yards and blanked McKeesport, 28-0, in front of a homecoming crowd at McKeesport’s Weigle-Shaffer Stadium. The historical part of the game had to do with McKeesport’s side of the scoreboard. George Smith is in his second year of his second stint as McKeesport’s coach. He also coached the team from 1982-2009. The last time a Smith team was shut out was 1999 by Woodland Hills, 21-0. This McKeesport team was 2-0 and featured junior Khaleke Hudson, who had rushed for 572 yards and averaged 16.3 yards per carry. But Penn-Trafford’s hard-hitting, physical defense limited Hudson to 53 yards on 16 carries. Penn-Trafford kept McKeesport’s runners from getting to the perimeter, and the Warriors defensive line kept Hudson from getting through the middle untouched. Penn-Trafford’s defensive backs of Zach Queen, Tim Vecchio, Jonah Lisbon and Joe Peduzzi gave great run support. “To shut down that kid over here, which is a tough place to play, and to shut them out is remarkable,” Ruane said. “Our secondary tackled really well, which was critical.” The Foothills Conference win should firmly establish Penn-Trafford (3-0, 3-0) as a top-five team in WPIAL Class AAAA. McKeesport (2-1, 2-1) had only 121 yards of offense. “I don’t want to say this was a statement game because I don’t want to sound cocky, but maybe we opened some eyes,” Ruane said. Smith said: “There was a lack of execution on our part, but a tremendous defensive effort by them. … Things weren’t open for Khaleke so he started ad-libbing and he made mistakes.” Penn-Trafford’s offense was impressive, especially Vecchio. A junior receiver, Vecchio had two 31-yard touchdown receptions from junior quarterback Brett Laffoon in the first half and set up another score later with a 65-yard catch. Vecchio finished with five receptions for 141 yards. Laffoon was a model of efficiency, completing 10 of 11 for 197 yards. “[Vecchio] was the difference on offense,” Ruane said. Penn-Trafford running back Devin Austin also rushed for 108 yards on 25 carries. Penn-Trafford led, 14-0, at halftime and after three quarters. Laffoon scored on a 3-yard run and Austin on an 8-yarder in the fourth quarter. “We did really well on offense, but with our defense, we could have scored three points and won this game,” Ruane said.
For more on high school sports, go to “Varsity Blog” at www.post-gazette.com/varsityblog. Mike White: mwhite@ post-gazette.com, 412-263-1975 and Twitter @mwhiteburgh.