Bulldogs answer the call to bring joy to hometown
City League champs make statement in PIAA semifinal
Amidst a packed house at West Mifflin High School Friday night, the huge throng of Westinghouse fans broke out that old chant more than a few times: “There’s a house up on the hill … let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.”
It was loud and clear, just like the statement Westinghouse team made on the field.
Believe it. A Pittsburgh City League team is actually going to a state championship in football. That statement has been made only twice before and not in 25 years. But Westinghouse earned a trip to the PIAA Class 2A title game Friday in Mechanicsburg when it emphatically defeated Steel Valley, 26-7, in front of a packed house at West Mifflin.
That chant should now be, “There’s a ‘House in the state championship … there they go, there they go, there they go.”
One side of West Mifflin’s stadium was indeed Westinghouse electric Friday as Bulldogs fans chanted throughout much of the game.
“This is bigger than just us,” said Westinghouse running back Khalil Taylor, one of the keys to the win after rushing for 145 yards on 19 carries. “We’re putting on for the whole city. People say we can’t compete outside the City. We’re proving everyone wrong – and proving ourselves right.” The win against WPIAL champion Steel Valley (12-1) made Westinghouse the first City League team to make a state final since Perry in 1997.
Westinghouse overcame a 7-6 deficit in the second half to post this win. After the game, Westinghouse coach Donta Green gathered his players together and let them give shoutouts to teammates or groups of players. There were about 20 shoutouts that took about a minute. But they were all legit because Westinghouse was solid in so many areas, especially defensively, swarming to the ball and limiting Steel Valley to 133 yards offense. Cruce Brookins, Steel Valley’s fine running quarterback, was held to 36 yards rushing on 21 attempts, counting sacks.
“It was a family win. That’s what we like to call them,” Green said.
And it was a big shot in the arm for the City League. The Bulldogs will play in the state final against perennial power Southern Columbia, which has won more state titles than any school in Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh City League has one when Perry won in 1989.
But Westinghouse has become the pride of the City. The Bulldogs’ bandwagon is getting full.
“I’ve been telling the kids that they’re touching the deepest, darkest corners of our neighborhoods,” Green said. “Someone just got shot a block away from my house [Thursday night] and a little girl died. The family is kin to some of our players and one of our coaches. There’s so much negativity that happens every week with our guys. To face adversity, come out here and pull this game out. …
“My quarterback [Keyshawn Morsillo] was in tears at 1 in the afternoon [Friday] because of the incident. I’m just so proud of our guys for shining a light on the darkest corners of our community. People who haven’t come to football games in years are coming out. They’re smiling and they’re happy. This is community
restoration at its best.”
While Morsillo was in tears Friday afternoon, he was all smiles afterward – and for good reason. He threw for 136 yards and ran for 55. And he couldn’t help but feel the electricity in the air.
“This was the greatest game I ever played in,” Morsillo said. “A shoutout to the Homewood community.”
Westinghouse held a 6-0 lead at halftime when Morsillo capped a 59-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Earlier in the half, both teams turned the ball over on downs in the red zone.
The second half started horribly for Westinghouse. The Bulldogs had trouble coming up with the kickoff near the 10-yard line and Steel Valley recovered at the 6. Brookins then ran for a touchdown on the first play and the extra-point gave Steel Valley a 7-6 lead.
But Westinghouse dug deep and went on a 98-yard drive to take the lead. Taylor capped the march with a 20 -yard TD run with 36 seconds left in the third quarter.
Morsillo scored on a 1yard run with 7:55 left in the third quarter to make it 20-7. Steel Valley isn’t built for comebacks because the Ironmen don’t throw the ball much. Steel Valley never seriously threatened the rest of the game and Shaun Robinson closed out the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run.