Turnovers cut short Cal’s upset bid
ELIZABETH — Brendan Parsons threw three touchdown passes, including two to Kenlein Ogletree, and Taevon Thompson returned an interception for the only score of the second half as second-seeded Clairton held off California 27-17 in a first-round playoff game at Elizabeth Forward Friday night.
California (6-5) had three costly turnovers — two fumbles inside the Clairton 10-yard line and Thompson’s 26-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter. The Trojans had leads of 7-0, 14-7 and 17-14, but Clairton (9-1) took the lead for good at 20-17 on a 65-yard TD pass from Parsons to Ogletree with 1:59 remaining in the first half.
California had a chance to take the lead in the second half when it put together a seven-minute drive but it produced no points as the Trojans fumbled into the end zone and it went for a touchback.
Cal quarterback Austin Grillo had a one-yard TD run in the the first quarter and Cochise Ryan intercepted Parsons and returned it 18 yards for a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. After Parsons and Ogletree hooked up for a 77-yard TD pass, Cal’s Matt Trunzo booted a 27-yard field goal for a 20-17 Trojans lead.