Top-seeded Pine-Richland tops Trinity
GIBSONA – Quarterback Aaron Strader ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as top-seeded Pine-Richland defeated Trinity 24-6 in a WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal round game played on the Rams’ home turf Friday night.
Pine-Richland (10-1) scored on its first possession, which was capped by a 25-yard run by Strader with 8:08 left in the first quarter.
The Rams pushed their lead to 14-0 when Strader hooked up on a touchdown pass with wide receiver Cooper Stiscak, a Penn State baseball recruit, late in the first quarter to make it 14-0.
Trinity’s defense played well for the remainder of the game but couldn’t generate enough offense to fuel a comeback.
The Hillers’ lone score came in the second quarter when quarterback Owen Samogala passed 51 yards to Ayvari Chandler. The extra-point attempt was no good, leaving the score at 14-6 with 8:54 remaining before halftime.
Pine-Richland, which had a bye in the first round, made it 21-6 when Strader scored on a three-yard quarterback draw on a third-down play.
The Rams got the ball back before halftime and kicker Landon Brown booted a 50-yard field goal into the wind that gave Pine-Richland a 24-6 lead heading into halftime.
Neither team scored in the second half.