Thomas Jefferson QB Lekse puts on show with arm, feet
Joe Lekse set the tone at Thomas Jefferson’s Big Eight Conference showdown at Laurel Highlands with a 73yard touchdown pass to Sean Sullivan on the first play from scrimmage.
It was the first of two touchdown passes for Lekse, who also ran for three scores, as the Jaguars (4-1, 2-1), ranked No. 2 in WPIAL Class 4A, dominated the Mustangs (5-2, 2-2).
Lekse, who completed 9 of 13 passes for 205 yards, also connected with Jordan Mayer on a 8-yard scoring pass. Lekse also rushed for 102 yards on 12 carries and scored on runs of 1, 3, and 3 yards to give him 10 rushing touchdowns for the season.
Elias Lippincott came off the bench, when tailback Conner Murga suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter, and led the Jaguars with 106 yards on 15 carries and scored on a 6-yard run.
Mustangs quarterback Rodney Gallagher threw for 129 yards and was held to 19 yards on 16 rushing attempts. More Class 4A • Hampton 35, Plum 7:
Brock Borgo rushed for 139 yards on only nine carries and scored on a 53-yard touchdown run to lead the No. 5-ranked Talbots (7-0, 40) to a Greater Allegheny Conference road victory over the Mustangs (2-5, 2-2). Christian Liberto scored twice for the Talbots on a pair of 1-yard runs. Liberto also caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Joey Mayer. Plum’s only touchdown came on a 2-yard pass from Sean Franzi to Domenic Beyer.
• Armstrong 33, Greensburg Salem 16: Cadin Olsen completed 12 of 19 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns to lead the River Hawks (5-2, 3-1) to a Greater Allegheny Conference win over the visiting Golden Lions (4-3, 2-2). Olsen connected with Isaiah Brown on touchdown passes of 8 and 5 yards and with Alex Patton on a 13-yard scoring strike. Patton, who rushed for 134 yards on 21 carries, also scored on a 7- yard run. Greensburg Salem’s Haden Teska completed 18 of 35 yards for 262 yards and one touchdown. Teska also scored on a 1-yard sneak.
• Indiana 29, Highlands
14: The Little Indians (4-3, 22) scored 22 points in the second quarter and held on for a Greater Allegheny Conference victory over the visiting Golden Rams (4-3, 1-3). Devin Flint rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries for Indiana and scored its final touchdown on a 14-yard run. The Little Indians also scored on a 32-yard run by Korbin Wilson, a 14-yard pass from Liam McFarlane to Anthony Kowchuck, and a 6 -yard fumble return by Zach Herrington.
• Mars 14, Knoch 13: A missed extra point was the difference as the Planets (16, 1-3) posted their first victory in this Greater Allegheny Conference game against the visiting Knights (2-5, 13). Rafael Bartley accounted for both Mars touchdowns on a 47-yard scoring pass to Aiden Alessio and a 46-yard pass to Noah Nesselroad. Knoch scored on a 7-yard run by Carson Kosecki and a 44yard interception return by Codi Mullen. Class 3A • North Catholic 41,
South Park 0: Joey Prentice threw for four touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Class 3A No. 2-ranked Trojans (7-0) to a road shutout of the Eagles (2-4) in a non-conference game that was called with 3:40 left due to lightning. Prentice completed 8 of 12 passes for 258 yards and connected with Jack Fennell on touchdown passes of 23 and 38 yards, and with Liam Straub and Tyler Maziarz on scoring passes that covered 84 and 44 yards. Prentice also scored on a 1-yard sneak.
• Central Valley 42, Keystone Oaks 0: Matt Merritt threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the top-ranked Warriors (7-0, 2-0) dominated the Golden Eagles (2-5, 0-2) in a Northwestern Six Conference game played at Dormont Stadium. Merritt connected with Deniro Simpson on a 75-yard touchdown pass and with Jayvin Thompson on a 52yard scoring strike. Merritt also recovered a bad punt snap in the end zone for another score.
• Southmoreland 35, Yough 7: Anthony Govern ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the Scotties (5-2, 2-1) pounded the visiting Cougars (0-7, 04) in the Interstate Conference. Govern rushed for 130 yards on 15 carries and scored on runs of 2 and 10 yards. He also connected with Isaac Trout on a 39-yard scoring pass.
• Quaker Valley 30, Hopewell 7: Patrick Cutchember rushed for 200 yards on 15 carries and scored on runs of 1, 74, and 44 yards to lead the Quakers (2-5, 1-1) to a Northwestern Six Conference win over the visiting Vikings (0-6, 0-2).
• Burrell 28, Deer Lakes
24: Caden DiCaprio scored on a 1-yard dive with 2:08 left for the winning points and a first victory for the visiting Buccaneers (1-7, 1-2) in an Allegheny Seven Conference game at Deer Lakes (34, 3-1). DiCaprio also scored on runs of 4 and 11 yards. The Buccaneers also scored on a 1-yard keeper by Devin Beattie. Cody Scarentine scored three times for Deer Lakes on runs of 47, 52, and 5 yards.