Clairton puts end to Laurel’s shutout run
Before Friday, Laurel had not allowed a point this season, outscoring its four opponents by a margin of 135-0. Clairton, a program that knows a little something about streaks, put the Spartans on the other side of a rout.
The Class 1A No. 3-ranked Bears (3-2, 20) handled the top-ranked Spartans (4-1, 20) with ease and picked up a 33-7 non-conference win. Brandon Parsons went 11 for 19 for 230 yards and hooked up with Kenlein Ogletree on a 37-yard touchdown. Parsons also ran for a 3-yard score. Clairton holds the PIAA record with a 66-game win streak that lasted from 2009-13.
Laurel quarterback Will Shaffer was held to a 2-for-18 performance. He managed only 24 yards and was intercepted once.
More Class 1A
West Greene 49, Monessen 24: Another game, another huge performance by the WPIAL’s leading rusher, Ben Jackson. He ran for 429 yards on 22 carries and scored on runs of 71, 20, 40 and 85 yards in the Tri-County South victory against the Greyhounds (1-4, 1-2). Jackson broke loose in the second half when he scored three of the Pioneers’ final four touchdowns. No. 5 West Greene (5-0, 4-0) has outscored opponents, 284-76. Jackson’s eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in the game and now has 1,419. He is averaging 21 yards per carry.
Greensburg Central Catholic 41, Imani Christian 0: The Centurions (41-, 3-1) raced to a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and continued to pour it on the Saints (0-5, 0-3) in the Eastern Conference. Ben LaCarte caught two short touchdown passes. Luke Mazowiecki returned an interception 51 yards for another score.
Jeannette 43, Springdale 0: It was total domination for the No. 2 Jayhawks (5-0, 3-0 Eastern Conference), who held a 397-36 advantage in total yards. James Sanders completed 11 of 18 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson Pruitt hauled in seven of those passes for 111 yards and a score. Imani Sanders ran for 127 yards and scored once.
Sto-Rox 46, Chartiers-Houston 7: Eric Wilson, the second-leading passer in the district entering Friday night, continued to pile up the yards in the Big Seven Conference triumph for the fourth-ranked Vikings (5-0, 3-0). Wilson completed 23 of 38 passes for 371 yards and three scores. He now has 1,591 passing yards for the season.
Cornell 57, Northgate 14: Cornell (3-1, 21) held leads of 28-8 after the first quarter and 50-14 by halftime in the Big Seven Conference rout of the Flames (0-4, 0-3). Zaier Harrison threw for 177 yards and three scores for Cornell.
Class 2A
Burgettstown 42, South Side Beaver 9: Jake Lounder needed just 10 carries to rack up 114 yards to lead Burgettstown (4-0, 30) to the Three Rivers Conference triumph. Lounder scored on an 18-yard run in the second quarter to help the Blue Devils build a 35-7 halftime lead.
Steel Valley 19, Valley 7: NiJhay Burt got his kicks with a couple of returns for scores for Steel Valley (1-3, 1-3) in its Allegheny Conference triumph against Valley (1-4, 03). The first was a 95-yard kickoff return to begin the game. In the fourth quarter, Burt returned a punt 90 yards for his second touchdown. The Ironmen fumbled four times and lost each one.
Freedom 40, Ellwood City 0: The Bulldogs (5-0, 4-0) became the third consecutive team and fourth overall to shutout the Wolverines (0-5, 0-3). Brett Boyd of Freedom rushed for 105 yards and scored on runs of 21 and 48 yards in the Midwestern Conference matchup.
Charleroi 57, Carmichaels 7: Brayden Milhalcin ran for 129 yards and Nikko Pellegrino rushed for 113 as Charleroi (3-1, 2-1) won the Interstate Conference game in a rout.
McGuffey 46, Beth-Center 14: The No. 4 Highlanders (5-0, 3-0) continued their streak of scoring at least 40 points with an easy win against the Bulldogs (0-5, 0-4) in the Interstate Conference. Marshall Whipkey tossed three touchdown passes for McGuffey.
Brentwood 34, Frazier 0: The Spartans (4-1) rolled to their fourth consecutive win with a shutout of the Commodores (0-5) in non-conference play. Brentwood held big advantages in total yards (344-100) and first downs (17-5).
Riverside 17, Shenango 7: Hunter Nulph’s 178 yards rushing helped the Panthers (2-2, 2-2) secure a victory in the Midwestern Conference. Santino Campoli of Shenango (3-2, 1-2) threw for 133 yards.
Washington 46, California 20: Zack Swartz ran for 191 yards and scored on runs of 12, 31 and 9 yards to lead topranked Washington (5-0) past the Trojans (3-2) in a non-conference clash.