Imani stuffs California, ends Trojans’ title hopes
California’s Cochise Ryan scores a touchdown in the 4th against Imani’s Samuel Fairly (2) and Rahmon Hart Jr.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
California celebrates a touchdown in the third by Colin Phillips against Imani Christian.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
California’s Josh Altman brings down Imani’s Asante Watkins
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
California’s Cochise Ryan runs the ball on a play against Imani Christian in the team's 30-24 loss in the WPIAL Class A semifinals
McMURRAY – Jelani Stafford is one of the best running backs in the WPIAL.
He entered the game with a WPIAL-leading 28 rushing touchdowns, running for 10.5 yards per carry and was sixth in the WPIAL – and first in Class A – with 1,580 rushing yards.
When California played Imani Christian in mid-September, the 263-pound junior ran for 228 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries to lead the Trojans to a 41-26 win – a statement win that put California on the map.
The WPIAL Class A semifinal game between No. 1-seeded California and No. 4-seeded Imani at Peters Township High School Friday night could not have been any different than the game two months ago.
Imani head coach Ronnell Heard put eight defenders inside the tackles and the other three defenders on the edges of the box to prevent the dive play to Stafford in California’s potent triple-option offense.
It worked.
The Saints’ defensive front shied California from running its normal offense with Stafford as its workhorse. Stafford ran the ball only nine times for 30 yards, the Trojans totaled 106 rushing yards on 35 attempts and Imani Christian won 30-24 to advance to the WPIAL final and end California’s undefeated season.
“They stopped our run. That’s what we’ve been living with all year. They had all 11 inside there,” California head coach Darrin Dillow said. “You can’t run dive on (that defensive alignment). When they’re so quick out there to that pitch, it’s hard to do anything.”
Heard said taking away the run was a focus of his game plan.
“I think we kind of took that away from them,” Heard said. “I think we forced them to do some other stuff. A lot of respect to Jelani Stafford and that California team. They battled for four quarters. That was a great football game.”
After both teams traded three-and-outs on their first drives, Imani got on the scoreboard first with a 38-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tawan Wesley to senior wide receiver Sam Fairley, who caught six passes for 128 yards. Rahmon Hart Jr. caught a fade pass from Wesley for the two-point conversion and the Saints took an early 8-0 lead.
A slightly off-target backwards pass from Colin Phillips to Cochise Ryan ended in a fumble recovered by the Saints and Imani started a drive on the California 44-yard line. The Saints and scored on a 25-yard pass from Wesley to Hart, who caught seven passes for 126 yards. Wesley threw a jump ball to Hart, who used his 6-3 frame to go over the California defensive back. A two-point conversion run from Asante’ Watkins gave the Saints a 16-0 lead late in the first quarter.
After a California punt pinned the Saints on their own 4-yard line, Wesley was sacked for a safety to make the score 16-2. California’s Dustin Mock then missed a 36-yard field goal on the Trojans’ next possession after they started it on the Imani 15-yard line following a good free-kick return and a penalty.
Imani then drove down to the California 8-yard line, but Wesley was stopped on a fourth-and-short QB sneak late in the first half.
Late in the third quarter, Phillips capped off a 10-play, 71-yard drive to put the Trojans down one score with a 1-yard run.
Wesley was injured early in the fourth quarter, and backup Isreal Reed replaced him. Reed was the starting quarterback for Imani in its win against Clairton earlier this season and played part time with Wesley last week. The junior came in and completed his first three passes for 48 yards, ending with a 26-yard strike to Ray Jackson to give the Saints a two-score lead.
The two quarterbacks combined for 297 yards and three touchdowns on 21 of 27 passing.
“The quarterbacks played well,” Heard said. “Obviously, we’re very lucky to have two good athletes to play quarterback, but it also makes us very hard to defend. They’re both very skilled.”
California was forced to open up its passing game on the next drive, and Phillips threw into triple coverage to Cochise Ryan, who caught the 38-yard pass for a touchdown to put the Trojans down one score halfway through the fourth quarter. Phillips threw more passes in the game than he had completions in California’s first 12 games. He completed nine of 16 pass attempts for 172 yards and a touchdown and ran for 60 yards and a score on 16 carries.
Needing a stop, the Trojans weren’t able to get one, as Asante’ Watkins ran for an 8-yard touchdown two minutes later after two third-and-long conversions by Reed’s arm.
“Imani is good. They throw the ball well,” Dillow said. “We thought we had the right package in there, and that’s on me. Maybe I could have done something different with that.”
Phillips found Ryan, who caught six passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns, for a 19-yard score two minutes later to put the Trojans down six points with about 90 seconds left.
The onside kick was unsuccessful, though, and the Trojans’ historic season was ended.
“These kids have tremendous heart,” Dillow said. “I’m extremely proud to have coached these kids this year. It’s been a wonderful year.”