Wash High loses grip on title hopes
Prexies lose 3 fumbles in 2nd half of 27-19 loss
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
McMURRAY – Washington High School’s football team made one mistake too many to beat Seton LaSalle.
The Prexies lost four fumbles, three of them coming in the second half, and Wash High’s secondary gave up an 81-yard touchdown pass with 3:10 to play as the Rebels defeated the Prexies, 27-19, Friday in the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals at Peters Township High School’s stadium.
The loss ends Washington’s season with a 10-3 record. Seton LaSalle will play either Western Beaver or Steel Valley next week for the championship.
Washington held a 19-13 lead at halftime but got outscored 14-0 in the second half.
Wil Martin’s one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter started the rally for the Rebels.
Washington fumbled the football three times in the second half, losing all three.
The first half was filled with enough excitement to last a season and Washington held a 19-13 lead when it was over.
Wash High quarterback Tristan Reed capped a 12-play, 70-yard drive with a five-yard scamper to the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
Seton LaSalle wasted no time in tying the game when Kymar Freeman burst up the middle for a 50-yard touchdown just 47 seconds after Reed’s scoring run.
Reed got the Prexies back into the lead when he connected with Ameer Nelson for a 40-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point try was no good.
Jamarie Walker pushed Washington’s lead to 19-7 when he broke away with a 20-yard touchdown run. The big play in the drive was a 34-yard completion to Nelson.
Seton LaSalle got back to within six when Deandre Hill scored from 14 yards out.
On the ensuing kickoff, Nelson fumbled the ball and after a scramble, Seton LaSalle recovered the football.
As time ran out in the first half, Seton LaSalle went for it on fourth-and-goal and was stopped short of the goal line.