Oct 10, 2014 4 min read

ALVERTON – It might be premature to call a Week 7 matchup a playoff game, but that pretty much was the case Friday night for both Waynesburg and Southmoreland, each locked in a fight for what will likely be the final playoff spot in the Class AA Interstate Conference.

Waynesburg was dominated everywhere but where it mattered most – the scoreboard – as the Raiders took advantage of a couple Southmoreland special teams miscues and leaned heavily on running back Hunter Cenname for a 26-21 victory.

Southmoreland (4-2, 4-3) dominated time of possession, methodically moving the chains all night. The Scotties ran 78 plays from scrimmage compared to only 24 from the Raiders.

“I don’t think I have ever seen a game that was so one-sided like that,” Waynesburg head coach Russ Moore said. “Thankfully, we made three big plays and the defense did what it had to do. We have lost so many nail-bitters in the past that it seemed like we were snake-bit. It was nice to come out on the other end of one of those.”

Waynesburg (4-2, 5-2) ran only five plays from scrimmage in the game’s first 20 minutes and followed that by running only one offensive play during the entire third quarter – a fumble by Cenname.

But in the end, it didn’t matter.

Cenname gained 189 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns. With John-Glen Davis out for the season, Cenname has rushed for 431 yards and seven touchdowns on only 31 carries in two games.

Waynesburg started things in a big way as Travis Wilkinson returned the opening kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown.

Special teams also played a big role in the Raiders’ next score as Scotties punter Justin Livengood couldn’t handle the snap from center, giving Waynesburg the ball at the 20-yard line.

It took Cenname one carry to get across the goal line and give Waynesburg a quick 12-0 lead.

“Special teams proved to be big for us,” Moore said.

While the Scotties had difficulty slowing down Cenname, the Raiders had the same problem with Southmoreland’s Jake Pisula, who came into the game with more than 3,200 career rushing yards. Pisula got off to a slow start, but that didn’t stop Southmoreland from moving the ball as quarterback Jayden Datz success. However, a 13-play, 70-yard drive stalled when Waynesburg stopped the Scotties on a fourth-and-goal play from the one.

Southmoreland scored early in the second quarter, when Datz hit Tommy Pisula with a six-yard touchdown pass. But Cenname didn’t waste any time getting those points back for the Raiders, breaking a 64-yard touchdown run to make it a 20-7 game.

Pisula eventually going, gashing the Raiders for several big runs and found the end zone from seven yards to pull the Scotties within 20-14 at halftime. Pisula finished with 195 yards on 34 carries.

Southmoreland’s deliberate offense eventually provided a 21-20 lead on a seven-yard run by Tommy Pisula.

The Scotties kept driving but couldn’t extend the lead. Southmoreland had two touchdowns called back in the fourth quarter because of penalties.

“That was terrible,” said Southmoreland coach Mark Adams. “When my kids play their hearts out and get a win taken away from them because of calls like that, I can’t stand by and take that. They were phantom calls and cost my kids a win they should have had. That’s just terrible. I’ve never said anything bad publically about officiating, but that was terrible.”

While Southmoreland moved the chains, the Raiders refused to break. And their defense, which stopped the Scotties four times on fourth down inside the red zone, deserves much credit for the victory.

“Though we gave up 21 points, it was the greatest defensive effort I have ever seen,” said Moore. “To play with the heart that they played with, it showed a will that we have. That team gives us fits, but we made plays.”

Waynesburg got the ball back with 4:59 left, needing to go 88 yards to win. They leaned on Cenname, who broke a 45-yard game-winning touchdown run with 2:04 remaining.

“It was a great game to watch,” said Moore. “I almost thought about letting them score their final drive just to get field position. But the kids believe. I was just trying to call plays that final drive that would work, but it really came down to the kids just believing.”