High school football roundup
HARRISON CITY – A fourth-quarter goal-line stand and the No. 93 proved to be a winning combination for Canon-McMillan as the Big Macs defeated Penn-Trafford, 14-0, Friday night in a non-conference season opener that was dominated by defense.
Canon-McMillan scored two touchdowns, both covering 93 yards, and used a goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter to protect what was a 7-0 lead.
Following a scoreless first half, Canon-McMillan took the 7-0 lead in the third quarter when defensive back Jayden Baxter scooped up a Penn-Trafford fumble as the Big Macs’ seven-yard line and raced untouched for 93 yards to the end zone.
It was almost the second defensive score of the night for the Big Macs. With less than one minute remaining in the first half, C-M’s Zyan Howard intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for an apparent touchdown. The score, however, was negated by a defensive holding penalty. Penn-Trafford eventually missed a short field to end the half.
In the fourth quarter, P-T drove for a second-and-goal at the Big Macs’ one-yard line. Two running plays by the Warriors each lost yardage and a pass into the end zone was broken up, ending the threat.
With C-M attempting to run out the clock, Zach Welsh broke off a 93-yard touchdown run down the right sideline with 1:42 remaining.
Waynesburg 35, Carmichaels 0
Waynesburg scored on its first three possessions and its defense shut down Carmichaels in a 35-0 nonconference victory.
The Raiders were winless last season but took advantage of several Mikes’ turnovers and quarterback Jake Stephenson rushed for 104 yards and threw for 118.
Waynesburg took advantage of a Carmichaels fumble and Breydon Woods scored on a six-yard run with 9:42 remaining in the first quarter. Dalton Taylor converted on the first of five PATs for a 7-0 lead.
Stephenson threw touchdown passes to Jack Ricciuti (14 yards) and Chase Fox (11 yards). Waynesburg’s Daniel Huffman had an interception to stop a Mikes’ drive at Raiders’ 11 in the second quarter.
Stephenson had a four-yard touchdown run and Woods scored from two yards out.
Southmoreland 34, McGuffey 6
Southmoreland dominated the second half and rallied from a halftime deficit to beat visiting McGuffey, 34-6.
Da’sjon Cragette had two long touchdowns runs, and Kadin Keefer ran for one score and passed for another in the the Scotties’ big second half. Southmoreland trailed 6-0 at halftime but scored 34 unanswered points in the second half.
McGuffey took it lead on a two-yard plunge up the middle by fullback Dylan Droboj on the first play of the second quarter.
Keefer capped a Southmoreland drive with a two-yard keeper that put the Scotties up 7-6 midway through the third quarter.
Cragette bolted up the middle for a 61-yard TD that made it 13-6 in the third quarter. He added a 68-yard scoring jaunt in the fourth quarter.
Also in the fourth quarter, Keefer threw a 20-yard TD pass to Wyatt Richter, who made a catch in traffic over the middle. gabe Kobaski ended the scoring with a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:09 remaining in the game.
Mapletown 29, Avella 12
A.J. Vanata ran for a two touchdowns and passed for another as Mapletown erased a halftime deficit and defeated host Avella 29-12 in a non-conference game.
Avella led 6-0 at halftime after a one-yard run by Cole Jaworowski in the second quarter.
Mapletown scored on a fumble return in the opening minute of the second half to tie the score at 6-6. Vanata then scored on runs of 13 and 20 yards to give the Maples a 22-6 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Vanata hooked up Roger Gradek for a 23-yard TD pass over the middle of the field for Mapletown’s final score.
Jaworowski scored his second touchdown of the game with 15 seconds remaining.
The teams will meet again in a Tri-County South Conference game in two weeks at Mapletown.
South Fayette 42, Chartiers Valley 12
Nate Deanes ran for three first-half touchdowns and Nico Lamonde threw two scoring passes to Dom Monz as South Fayette opened the season with a 42-14 victory over visiting Chartiers Valley.
Deanes scored on runs of 1, 7 and 7 yards in helping the Lions forge a 28-7 halftime lead.
Monz, who caught a 3-yard scoring pass in the first half, hauled in a 67-yard TD catch in the third quarter. Lamonde capped the scoring for the home team with a two-yard plunge that made it 42-7.
The Colts’ Julius Best caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Chase Schofield at 7:33 of the second. Teammate Halid Lewis pulled in a 20-yard reception from Michael Lawrence in the fourth.
California 37, Frazier 0
California’s Lee Qualk only caught two passes, but both went for scores in the Trojans’ 37-0 win over visiting Frazier.
Qualk, who also scored on a 23-yard run, caught a 71-yard pass from Jake Layhue in the second quarter and pulled in a 31-yarder in the third.
Layhue was 6-for-8 for 170 yards with two scores to Qualk. Spencer Petrucci opened the scoring on a 27-yard run at 3:30 of the first and Eli Keene added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Petrucci ran for a four-yard touchdown in the third. He gained 50 yards on eight carries.
Bentworth 42, Brownsville 6
Vitali Daniels threw for four touchdowns and in Bentworth’s 42-6 victory over Brownsville.
Daniels, who threw for 270 yards, also rushed for 55. He threw touchdown passes of 55 and 70 in the first quarter. He also ran for a touchdown. Teammate Owen Ivcic scored on a 19-yard run in the first.
In other games
West Greene was a 28-24 winner at Cameron (W.Va.). Beth-Center suffered a 41-20 loss at home to Riverview. Elizabeth Forward was a 37-0 winner over Ringgold.