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Stopped 2-point conversion gives J-M a perfect 10, TCS title

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Jefferson Morgan's Deaklyn Dehoet (10) pulls in a twenty-three yard Houston Guesman pass for a second quarter touchdown that put the Rockets up 21-7 over California on the Trojans' home field October 25.
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John Woodward (23) sprints past California's Aidin Keys for a first down at the 23 on a second quarter drive in the October 25 game at California.
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California's Landodn Abercrombie escapes Jefferson Morgan's Ethan Crowe (27) and scores from the eleven to put the Trojans one point behind the visiting Rockets late in the fourth quarter on October 25.
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California's Adin Keyes gives the Trojans hope with an interception of a Houston Guesman pass in the second half of the October 25 game at California.
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Jefferson Morgan's Ethan Crowe (27) closes in on California's Lee Qualk (4), foiling the two-point conversion attempt and leaving the Trojans down 28-27 in the final minutes of the October 25 game at California.
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Jefferson-Morgan's Elijah Carpenter advances a Houston Guesman pass for a second half first down at the eighteen yardline in the October 25 game against the Trojans at California.

By Joe Tuscano

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

CALIFORNIA – It’s been 34 seasons since the Jefferson-Morgan High School football completed an undefeated season.

But here was California lining up for the two-point conversion after scoring what could have been the game-winning score after Landon Abercrombie caught an 11-yard touchdown pass, the third thrown by California quarterback Logan Hartley in this game.

But the football gods smiled on Jeff-Morgan as Lee Qualk, the leading rusher in the WPIAL, couldn’t handle the pitch from Hartley. Qualk fell on the football at around the 11-yard line but the damage had been done and the players on Jeff-Morgan’s side of the field had begun to celebrate a 28-27 win and the Tri-County South Conference championship, along with the perfect 10-0 record.

The Rockets’ last undefeated season came in 1989. The last conference championship came in 2006, when J-M shared the title with Monessen. Finally, the last time the Rockets won the conference title outright was in 1991.

“I can’t even count my heartbeats (on the two-point conversion),” said J-M head coach Shane Ziats. “It was a a feeling of pure joy.”

“All we had to do was stop No. 4,”said J-M’s Johnny Gilbert, whose clutch interception in the fourth quarter stopped a California drive.

Jeff-Morgan (7-0, 10-0) roared out to a 28-7 halftime lead over California (6-1, 7-3) but wouldn’t score a point in the second half. California chipped away, scoring three touchdowns in the second half to bring the score to 28-27 with the two-point conversion all that remained with 1:00 to play.

“We weren’t going for the tie,” said California head coach Ed Woods. “We had some bad breaks the second half. Qualk just bobbled the ball but those things happen.”

California quarterback Logan Hartley threw two TD passes in the second half. He had three for the game and came into the game with five for the season.

Both teams will enter the Class A playoffs. Sites, dates and times will be released by the WPIAL today.

Jefferson-Morgan showed off its offensive firepower in building a 28-7 lead over California.

Guesman threw for one touchdown and ran for another to pace the Rockets’ attack.

But before Guesman’s first-half heroics, John Woodward burst through from eight yards out to cap J-M’s first possession, which covered 78 yards. The big play came on a 38 Guesman completion to Dehoet that set Jeff-Morgan up at California’s 24-yard line.

California roared back when Hartley hit Vincent Manzella with an 80-yard touchdown pass down the left side of the field. The extra-point kick gave California a 7-6 lead.

That lead lasted two plays as Dehoet and Guesman hooked up for a 70-yard touchdown pass.

Jefferson-Morgan then took control of the half with two scores before halftime.

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