California sloppy early but rolls into Class A semifinals
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
California’s Cochise Ryan runs past Union’s Bryce Smith during Friday night’s WPIAL Class A quarterfinal game at Canon-McMillan.
California’s Jelani Stafford runs in for a touch down against Union during the WPIAL Class A football quarterfinals at Canon-McMillan's stadium on Friday, Nov. 10 , 2017.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
California’s Colin Phillips attempts to elude the tackle in the Trojans' quarterfinal game against Union.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Jelani Stafford led California in rushes, yards and touchdowns en route to becoming one of the top running backs in the WPIAL last season.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
California’s Zion Aldrich carries the ball against Union during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal game at Canon-McMillan.
CANONSBURG – If one were to look at the California High School football schedule, they would think the Trojans have played quite a few perfect games.
To hear head coach Darrin Dillow tell it, there’s always something to fix, some mistakes to clean up, no matter how well the Trojans might play.
Well, after the first half of California’s Class A quarterfinal game against Union, there were quite a few mistakes that needed fixing. In addition to letting Union take the game’s opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, California committed seven penalties, including three personal fouls, and turned the ball over three times – all on fumbles – in the first half. One came inside the Union 5-yard line, and another occurred inside California’s 15.
Add a fourth fumble and a couple more personal fouls in the second half, and you’d think that would add up to a loss. But not with this team. California overcame a slew of mistakes and went on to defeat Union, 43-19 Friday night at Canon-McMillan’s Memorial Stadium, and advance to the WPIAL Class A semifinals, where a rematch with Imani Christian awaits.
“If we have that kind of performance against any other team the rest of the playoffs, we’re in trouble,” said Dillow. “We’re in real trouble. Tonight was a good lesson for us to understand that it’s going to get real the next few weeks.”
Mistakes weren’t limited to California. The Trojans (12-0) forced a few of their own, and that’s how they got back into the game after Tre Charles scored on the opening kickoff. After Union (8-4) took over possession following the first California fumble at its own 5, the Scotties drove out to their 33 where they faced a fourth down.
A high, slow snap to the punter followed, and California burst through the line to block the kick and take over at the Union 12. It took two plays for the Trojans to score from there, with Jelani Stafford bowling over a defender at the 2 to get into the end zone.
California’s second fumble on a botched handoff eventually led to Union scoring on a Michael Flowers 4-yard touchdown reception, but the extra point was no good.
It took one more fumble before the Trojans seemed to stabilize their game, and following a Union punt California drove 36 yards in three plays, with Stafford doing his thing again, apparently being tackled after a short gain but maintaining his feet and going 21 yards to tie the score, with the extra point putting the Trojans ahead by one.
California’s defense, which held Union to 23 yards of offense in the first half, forced another punt, taking over at the Scotties 45. Again it took the Trojans just three plays to score, with quarterback Colin Phillips breaking to the sideline for a 15-yard scoring run.
That led to a nine-point halftime lead, and the lead grew to 29-13 after Phillips scored his second touchdown to start the third quarter. Union responded immediately through its passing game. Then
California, facing a third and goal at the 27, scored what might have been the dagger when Phillips floated a pass to little-used Jordan Campbell, whose second catch of the season went for a score to make the lead 36-19 late in the third quarter.
“Down and distance we were in, we kind of had to throw,” said Dillow. “And momentum-wise, the kids seemed kind of flat. I’m not sure why.”
The Scotties, when quarterback Evan Pinkerton actually had time to throw – California had eight sacks -started to exploit California’s secondary, but it was a case of too little, too late, as the Trojans’ defense held firm and didn’t allow Union back into the end zone.
Despite the eight sacks, Dillow found a flaw there as well.
“Those guys pursue well, but we’ve got to fix our pass-rush lanes,” he said. “We’re kind of losing our contain a bit. We have to make sure to pin that kid in.”
Imani Christian defeated Our Lady of Sacred Heart, 20-12, to set up a rematch. The Trojans won the first meeting, 41-26, on the road.
“Best team we’ve played all year,” said Dillow. “We did well against them. But we focus on our kids. We don’t really talk about them too much. We’ve got a lot to fix this week.”
Stafford finished with 132 yards on 14 carries and Cochise Ryan gained 102 yards on eight attempts.