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Tarrant too much for C-M’s defense

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CANONSBURG – Big plays and turnovers were at the forefront of Friday night’s Class 6-A nonconference game between Canon-McMillan and Penn Hills.

The Big Macs had the big plays early, jumping out to a 14-0 lead, but Penn Hills proved why it has the leading passer in the WPIAL.

Cam Tarrant’s yards might have been below his season average, but he was still impressive, with four first-half touchdowns to erase that early deficit. He would go on to throw seven overall to lead Penn Hills over Canon-McMillan, 56-21, in a wet, sloppy game at Memorial Stadium.

“One good half, one bad half,” said Big Macs coach Mike Evans. “We probably weren’t as prepared as we should’ve been, and that’s on me.

Tarrant’s first pass was intercepted and returned 42 yards by Josh Clopp, but it took the Big Macs (1-2) four plays to score after starting at the Indians’ 5-yard line. Jordan Castelli hit Andrew Engel for the first of two touchdown connections between the two, and Canon-McMillan struck first.

The Big Macs doubled the lead four minutes later on a 90-yard bomb to Rahmiere Knight, who’d beat his defender and wasn’t going to be caught.

Ironically, that’s when the momentum shifted and Penn Hills (2-1) began to wrestle control of the game. First downs became rare for the Big Macs and turnovers became frequent.

“I was on the bus and I asked the kids if we were going to a party or to a football game,” said Indians coach John Peterman. “They came out to play football, and we weren’t focused, and they took it to us for a good bit.”

After the Indians got on the board late in the first quarter, a fumble and interception by the Big Macs opened the door for Penn Hills, who kicked it in with a pair of quick scoring drives, one being a 47-yard touchdown play from Tarrant to Cam Jeffries to put the Indians ahead, 21-14.

“(Tarrant) keeps his eyes down the field,” said Peterman. “A couple years ago we were running 400 yards a game, but now we recognize our skill guys, and we’re gonna get them the ball.”

The teams traded punts and turnovers after that, combining for seven giveaways in the first half alone. Canon-McMillan finally put an end to the trend by marching 64 yards in just five plays to tie the game on Engel’s second touchdown grab of the night.

But, a good return and penalty on the ensuing kickoff put the Indians in good position with under a minute to play in the half, and it took them just two plays to regain the lead.

Penn Hills blew the game open in the third quarter, scoring 28 points as Canon-McMillan turned it over four times in the frame – eight total. Tarrant finished 10 of 20 for 227 yards, crossing the 1,000-yard mark in just three games, and seven touchdowns. Terry Smith ran 15 times for 108 yards and three touchdowns.

“I had something to say to them at halftime,” said Peterman. “We weren’t focused in the first half and we got focused in the second. I’m a big believer of football gods, and if you’re not prepared for a game, you won’t make plays.”

Castelli completed 10 of 30 passes for 227 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Knight caught five passes for 160 yards. But the run game, without its top two backs, stuttered to just 3 yards while the game was still in the balance.

“We’re just not crossing our T’s and dotting our I’s,” said Evans. “It’s on me. It’s terrible. I’m embarrassed at the way we responded in the second half. It’s not what we’re trying to do here.”

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