Seton LaSalle routs shorthanded Raiders
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsrom@observer-reporter.com
WAYNESBURG – It’s tough enough to win football games in the Class 2A Century Conference,
Try doing it with five starters out with injuries.
That was the dilemma facing the Waynesburg Raiders Friday night.
Maybe what hurt the most was starting quarterback and arguably the team’s best player, Jacob Stephenson, was one of the walking wounded.
Give Waynesburg credit, the Raiders fought hard but no way were they going to beat undefeated Seton-LaSalle. The Rebels, behind a powerhouse offense, clobbered the Raiders, 55-0.
The win was the fifth straight for the Rebels, who are 3-0 in the conference. Waynesburg fell to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
“We came in here playing what would be considered the top dog in the conference at this juncture,” said Waynesburg head coach Aaron Giorgi. “We were kind of hobbled by the injuries we sustained last week at Steel Valley. The challenge was monumental coming into this game.”
Teagan Crouse, normally the team’s starting wide receiver, replaced Stevenson.
“I’m proud of Teagan for stepping in there and for what he brought to practice,” said Giorgi. “I’m proud of him for what he did and how he played on the field.”
Seton-LaSalle quarterback Michael Pastirik’s 9-yard run with 4:59 remaining in the third quarter gave the Rebels a 41-0 lead, invoked the Mercy Rule. Pastirik threw for more than 100 yards.
“We were happy with our performance,” said Seton LaSalle head coach Tim Storino. “Their best player was out for them so we knew it would be tough for them. We were happy with the way we executed.
Richard Littlejohn scored two touchdowns, including a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown with 18 seconds remaining.
“He’s been out of football the past two years because he had lime’s disease,” said Storino of Littlejohn. “He’s just getting his stride. He’s surprising us.”
Seton-LaSalle took control of the game from the start, building a 27-0 lead at halftime.
Khalil Taylor paced the Rebels by scoring three times.
The first touchdown came on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Michael Pastirik with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter.
Taylor and Pastirik connected again, this time from 23 yards out, to make it 14-0
Richard Littlejohn scored Seton LaSalle’s first rushing touchdown of the game when he burst over from 45 yards out with 5:38 remaining in the half. Rose’s extra point made it 21-0.
Seton LaSalle’s final score of the half came on a three-yard run by Taylor. The touchdown was set up by Logan King’s 45-yard run to the Waynesburg three-yard line.