North Catholic slips past Derry
Zack Rocco threw two touchdown passes to Nick Maher to lead North Catholic to a 13-3 win over Derry Friday night in a Big East Conference showdown played at Mars Stadium.
The Trojans (3-1, 3-0) are ranked No. 3 in WPIAL Class 3A by the PostGazette, while Derry (3-2, 2-1) is ranked No. 4.
Rocco connected with Maher on a 9-yard scoring pass in the first quarter to open the scoring. The duo connected again in the third quarter on a 5-yard scoring pass. Rocco completed 15 of 24 passes for 134 yards, while Maher caught five passes for 44 yards.
Derry’s only points came on a 40yard field goal by Chance White in the third quarter. The Trojans’ Paul Koontz completed 13 of 22 passes for 147 yards, including six passes to Matt McDowell that covered 68 yards.
More Class 3A
Central Valley 56, Keystone Oaks 6: Ameer Dudley threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the No. 2-ranked Warriors (5-0, 3-0) to a convincing victory over the visiting Golden Eagles (3-2, 1-2) in the TriCounty West Conference. Dudley connected with Jawon Hall on a 16-yard scoring pass and with Myles Walker on a 37-yard scoring pass. Dudley also ran 47 yards for a score. Jaylen Guy added 122 yards on eight carries and scored on runs of 44 and 27 yards.
Elizabeth Forward 42, Quaker Valley 6: Evan Lewis and Nick Hunnell each scored two touchdowns, as the No. 5-ranked Warriors (4-0) remained unbeaten with a non-conference win over the visiting Quakers (0-4). Lewis rushed for 125 yards on 16 carries and scored on runs of 29 and 4 yards. Hunnell scored on runs of 5 and 1 yards.
South Park 22, Waynesburg 9: Stephen Kmonk completed 5 of 8 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Eagles (2-2, 2-1) to a road victory over the Raiders (2-3, 03) in the Tri-County West Conference. Kmonk threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Thomas and a 52yard scoring pass to Seth Jones.
Freeport 56, Uniontown 14: The Yellow Jackets (1-3, 1-3) returned three punts for touchdowns to record their first victory over the visiting Red Raiders (0-5, 0-4) in the Big East Conference. Ricky Hunter returned two punts, 58 yards each, for scores. Luke Miller returned another 56 yards for a score.
Class 4A
Thomas Jefferson 40, Trinity 0: Shane Stump threw three touchdown passes, as the top-ranked Jaguars (50, 4-0) recorded their second consecutive shutout with a blanking of the visiting Hillers (1-3, 1-3) in the Big Eight Conference. Stump completed 7 of 8 passes for 186 yards and connected with Preston Zandier, Ian Hansen and Dan Deabner on touchdown passes.
South Fayette 49, Hopewell 14: Naman Alemada threw four touchdown passes to lead the No. 2-ranked Lions (4-1) to a convincing non-league win over the visiting Vikings (1-4). Alemada completed 8 of 10 passes for 167 yards and connected with Luke Pschirer on two touchdown passes and with Ryan McGuire and Andrew Franklin on his other two scoring passes. Franklin also scored on a 6-yard run. The Lions led, 49-0, at halftime.
Belle Vernon 61, Indiana 7: The No. 3-ranked Leopards (3-1, 2-1) scored 48 points in the first quarter in its convincing victory over the visiting Little Indians (1-4, 1-3) in the Big Eight Conference. Belle Vernon scored three touchdowns on returns — a 26yard interception return by Andrew Pacek, an 18-yard fumble return by Max Bryer, and a 15-yard fumble return by Cole Weightman. Jared Hartman completed 8 of 9 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
Blackhawk 29, Montour 21: Marques Watson-Trent rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries, as the Cougars (3-2, 3-1) edged the visiting Spartans (1-4, 0-2) in the Northwest Eight Conference. Watson-Trent scored on runs of 56, 1 and 36 yards. Luke Persinger scored twice for the Spartans on runs of 2 and 1 yards. Persinger also completed 13 of 27 passes for 233 yards and connected with Jaiden Hill on a 51-yard scoring pass.