Five things we learned in Week 6
Each Monday we’ll take a look back at the highlights from the week that was in high school football. This week featured a couple upsets, a dominating performance from Wash High, a Peters Township comeback and another big night for Ben Hays.
A Hiller of a comeback: Rallying back from a 15-point halftime deficit is always a good thing but it had to be even more special for Trinity Friday considering the opponent. The Hillers came back to beat defending Class 4A champion Thomas Jefferson, 33-22.
Trinity outscored the Jaguars 26-0 in the second half and beat them for the second time in the last three years.
Jonah Williamson led the way with two touchdown passes to Chase Kostelnik and Braden Berdar and a 1-yard touchdown that was the go-ahead score. Owen Gardner sealed the game with an interception in the end zone. He also had a 58-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
The win puts the Hillers in a first-place tie at 2-0 in the Class 4A Big Six Conference with Chartiers Valley, who they host this Friday.
Buctober: Chartiers-Houston started the month of October with one of its biggest wins in recent years. The Bucs went down to Monessen and secured a 31-18 victory. The game was tied 12-12 going into the fourth quarter and the Greyhounds took a brief lead on a Rodney Johnson touchdown, but Aaron Walsh returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, which tied the game and sparked 19 unanswered points. Walsh threw a touchdown pass to Brody McCrerey and Dominic Andreoli had a touchdown run.
The Bucs improved to 4-3 overall and eclipsed their win total from last year. After going winless two years ago, they are in position to make the playoffs. A win against Serra Catholic Friday would go a long way toward that goal.
Wash High rolling: Wash High is in a groove and that continued with a 55-0 smashing of Keystone Oaks Friday. Both teams were undefeated in Class 2A Century Conference play before the game, but it’s clear the Prexies led by Miami Ohio recruit Tristan Reed are a cut above. Since their Week 1 loss to Steel Valley, Wash High has won five straight and has outscored its opponents 231-34 in that stretch. Washington seems to be on a collision course with Seton LaSalle for the Century Conference title. The two teams meet at Wash High Stadium in the regular season finale, Oct. 24.
Staring down adversity: It’s rare that Peters Township has been behind at halftime in recent years, let alone shut out in the first two quarters. That’s what happened Friday night against Moon. The Tigers took a 10-0 lead into the break, but the Indians responded with three second half touchdowns to remain unbeaten at 7-0. Nolan DiLucia threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Cole Neupaver had a 1-yard plunge.
The two other unbeaten local teams were victorious as well. Fort Cherry rolled past Cornell 56-20 and Jefferson-Morgan topped Beth-Center, 37-19.
Incredible Hays: Another Friday, another big night for Bentworth running back Ben Hays. This one was an all-encompassing performance. Hays had two rushing touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass, had a pick six and had a punt return for a touchdown in a 42-0 win over West Greene.
He finished with 110 yards rushing. That puts him at 1,250 yards for the season, which is tops in the entire WPIAL.
Staff writer Jerin Steele can be reached at jsteele@observer-reporter.com