Mistakes break Waynesburg in loss to KO
DORMONT – Keystone Oaks took advantage of two miscues deep in Waynesburg territory to defeat the Raiders 21-14 Friday night and clinch a playoff berth from the Class 2A Century Conference.
KO is 4-1 in the conference and 4-4 overall. Waynesburg fell to 1-3 in the conference and 3-5 overall.
KO quarterback Owen Gearhart ran for two touchdowns, including a game-winning score on a one-yard plunge midway through the fourth quarter.
Waynesburg took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in four plays for a touchdown. A 55-yard pass from quarterback Teagen Crouse to Jack Ricciuti put the Raiders inside the KO 20-yard line. The play set up a five-yard touchdown run by Roan Tustin, who was injured on the play and did not return to the game.
The Raiders missed the extra point and led 6-0 with 9:38 left in the opening quarter.
Later in the opening quarter, KO downed a punt inside the Waynesburg five-yard line. On the first play of the possession, Waynesburg fumbled at its goal line and Keystone Oaks lineman Alex Guerra Naranjo recovered in the end zone. The extra point was good and KO led 7-6 with 3:52 left in the first quarter.
K0 increased its lead on the opening possession of the second half. Gearhart raced 43 yards around left end on third-and-one for a touchdown that gave the Golden Eagles a 14-6 advantage.
Waynesburg responded on the ensuing possession. Crouse connected with Ricciuti on a 20-yard TD pass on third-and-15 to make it a two-point game. Crouse then passed to Ace Litwinovich, who made a diving catch in traffic over the middle to tie the score at 14-14 with 5:33 left in the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Waynesburg set up for a 32-yard field goal attempt that would have given the raiders the lead. However, a high snap from center prevented the attempt and gave KO possession.
Midway through the fourth quarter, another high snap from center set up KO with the go-ahead score. A snap on a Waynesburg punt was high and the Raiders fell on the loose ball at their own one-yard line. Two plays later, Gearhart scored on a sneak that gave Keystone Oaks a 21-14 lead with 5:44 remaining.
Waynesburg’s Daniel Brookover had a stellar game on defense, intercepting three passes.