E. Allegheny clinches tie for conference title with OT road win against Knoch
A blocked extra point was the difference, as the East Allegheny football team clinched a tie for the Allegheny 6 Conference title with a 14-13 overtime win against host Knoch on a cold and rainy Friday night.
East Allegheny (7-2, 4-0) opened the overtime period with an 8- yard touchdown pass from Michael Cahill to Brennan Rutledge, and kicker Ryan Rupert converted on the extra point.
Knoch (7-2, 3-1), ranked No. 4 in WPIAL Class 3A, scored on a 10-yard scamper by quarterback Codi Mullen on its first play in overtime, but the kick by Kannon Trofimuk was blocked.
Cahill and Rutledge also connected on a 19- yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the first half to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead. An interception by Raemar Simms set up the two-play, 19-yard drive.
Knoch tied the score on an 11-yard pass from Mullen to Jackson Bauman with 3:29 left in the third quarter.
Also in Class 3A
West Mifflin 42, Hopewell 7: Armand Hill rushed for 499 yards — second best in WPIAL history — as the No. 5 ranked Titans (4-4, 3-1) dominated the visiting Vikings (1-7, 0-4) in the Western Hills Conference. Hill carried the ball 27 times and scored on runs of 75, 40, 61, 7, 26, and 25 yards.
Belle Vernon 49, Southmoreland 7: Jake Gedekoh and Cole Doppelheuer each scored two touchdowns as top-ranked Leopards (7-1, 40) pounded the host Scotties (5-4, 2-2) in the Interstate Conference. Gedekoh scored the Leopard’s first two touchdowns on runs of 16 and 1 yards, while Doppelheuer scored the final two on runs of 35 and 21 yards. Quentin Martin rushed for 148 yards on nine carries for the Leopards
and scored on a 62-yard run. The Leopards also scored on a 29-yard interception return by Tanner Moody and a 26-yard run by Curtis Wade. Southmoreland’s only touchdown came on a 78-yard pass from Caden Matthews to Ty Keffer. Scotties tailback Da’sjon Craggette was held to 48 yards on 20 carries.
North Catholic 42, Indiana
6: Jack Fennell scored six touchdowns as the host Trojans (5-4, 4-1) dominated the Little Indians (2-7, 0-6) in a Greater Allegheny Conference game played at Stone Field in North Park. Fennell rushed for 252 yards on 19 carries and scored on runs of 22, 2, 56, 41, and 11 yards. He also returned a kickoff 82 yards for another score. Fennell now has 1,176 yards on 154 carries and has scored 21 touchdowns.
Elizabeth Forward 48,
Greensburg Salem 13: Ryan Messina threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the No. 3 ranked Warriors (9-0, 4-0) to a convincing Interstate Conference victory against the visiting Golden Lions (1-8, 0-4). Messina completed 13 of 17 passes for 204 yards, connected with Isaiah Turner on scoring passes of 15 and 35 yards, and connected with Connor Fleming on a 60-yard strike. Messina also scored on a 3-year scamper. Charlie Nigut scored twice for the Warriors on an 86-yard kickoff return and a 4-yard run.
Avonworth 35, Seton LaSalle 20: The No. 2 ranked Antelopes (9-0, 5-0) remain unbeaten in the Western Hills Conference with a road victory against the Rebels (4-4, 2-3) in a game played at Dormont Stadium. Hunter Blackson scored twice for Avonworth on a 14-yard run and an 11-yard pass from Ben Barnes. The Antelopes also scored on a 4yard run by Jackson Vogt, a 38-yard pass from Carson Bellinger to Andrew Kuban, and a 19-yard run by Justin Beck.
Class 4A
14:
McKeesport 42, Latrobe
Keith Spell rushed for 133 yards on 10 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 12, 4, and 62 yards as the No. 2 ranked Tigers (8-1, 5-0) defeated the visiting Wildcats (6-3, 4-2) in the Big Seven Conference. McKeesport also scored on a 14-yard run by Garrett Tarker, a 38-yard fumble return by Anthony Cromartie, and a 30-yard run by Kemon Spell. Latrobe scored on a 26-yard run by John Wetzel and a 95-yard kickoff return by Ja’Tawn Williams.
Mars 42, Hampton 15:
Evan Wright rushed for 28 yards on 28 carries and scored five touchdowns to lead the Planets (7-2, 5-0) to a convincing victory against the host Talbots (3-6, 3-2) in the Greater Allegheny Conference. Wright scored on runs of 70, 27, 3, 33, and 5 yards. Eric Kasperowicz Jr. rounded out the scoring for Mars on a 1-yard run. For the season, Wright has 1,352 yards on 191 carries and has scored 26 touchdowns.
Thomas Jefferson 61, Connellsville 0: Brody Evans completed 9 of 13 passes for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns as the No. 4 ranked Jaguars (8-1, 4-1) dominated the host Falcons (4-4, 2-3) in the Big Seven Conference. Evans connected with Sean Sullivan on touchdown passes of 24, 9, and 14 yards. The Jaguars scored twice on returns: a 76yard interception return by Jason Salmon and a 20-yard blocked punt return by Matthew Martinis.
Kiski Area 39, Fox Chapel 8: Isaiah Gonzalez scored three touchdowns to lead the Cavaliers (4-5) to a convincing nonconference win against the host Foxes (0-9). Gonzalez caught touchdown passes of 69 and 21 yards from Carson Heinle and returned an interception 85 yards for another score. Heinle completed 12 of 18 passes for 173 yards. Heinle also scored on a 9-yard run.