Sabatucci leads Canon-Mac past Mt. Lebanon
CANONSBURG – TJ Sabatucci made a huge play in all three phases of the game Friday night and that proved pivotal for Canon-McMillan.
On defense, Sabatucci, a Buffalo recruit, made a huge tackle for loss on a second-and-goal play on a drive that ended with a turnover on downs.
He caught an 80-yard pass where he broke a bunch of tackles and blocked a punt to help the Big Macs open Class 6A Quad County Conference play with a 21-6 victory over Mt. Lebanon.
The Big Macs (1-0, 3-2) trailed 6-0 at halftime, but Ty Jansma hit Ethan Campoli for a 52-yard touchdown on the second play of the third quarter.
Rhys Maentz’s extra point gave Canon-McMillan a 7-6 lead.
Mt. Lebanon (0-2, 0-5) had a 17-play drive that lasted nearly 10 minutes after the Campoli touchdown, but came up empty. On fourth and goal at the 12, Blue Devils quarterback Pat Smith rolled to the left, got around the edge and dove for the end zone, but came up two yards short. Two plays prior is when Sabatucci stuffed Smith in the backfield for a loss.
Canon-McMillan took over at its own two, but quickly flipped the field when Jansma threw a rope that Sabatucci caught near midfield. Sabatucci broke a couple tackles and rumbled all the way down to the Mt. Lebanon’s seven. Two plays later, Mason Calgaro scored from three yards out. Rhys Maentz’s extra point made it 14-6 with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth.
Mt. Lebanon stalled on its next possession and lined up to punt, but Sabatucci broke through and blocked it, giving Canon-McMillan a short field.
A couple plays later, Braelon Wingfield scored from 16 yards out.
Mt. Lebanon was shutout in its previous two games, but that streak ended on the opening possession of the game.
The Blue Devils went 62-yards on nine plays, culminating in a 42-yard touchdown run by Smith. The extra point attempt was blocked.
The Blue Devils were driving again late in the second quarter, but Canon-McMillan’s Marco Faieta jarred the ball loose from the hands of Mt. Lebanon running back Kris Kambitsis. Brayden Collins recovered at the Big Macs’ 28-yard line.