Canon-Mac is going to the WPIAL title game
CANONSBURG – It was a long-time coming for those who follow Canon-McMillan football. Eighteen years to be exact.
It was well worth the wait.
Canon-McMillan used every ounce of skill, will and guile to overcome North Allegheny 24-21 Friday night at AHN Field and punched its ticket to the WPIAL Class 6A championship game against Central Catholic at Pine-Richland High School next week.
It will be the program’s first-ever WPIAL title game appearance. This was the Big Macs’ first home playoff game since 2008.
Bryce Collins led the way with 162 yards on 21 totes. Ty Jansma completed seven of 14 passes for 116 yards.
Brady Brinkley rushed for 127 yards for the Tigers in a losing effort.
Rhys Maentz, however, was the star as he launched a long punt to set up one Big Macs score and made a game-winning field goal from 36 yards with one second remaining to provide the winning points.
After an exchange of punts to start the third quarter, Canon-McMillan marched 89 yards to a tying score. Ty Jansma slung a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ohio State recruit Luke Sohyda, who grabbed a high throw and dragged three defenders across the goal line. Rhys Maentz made the extra point, knotting the score at 14 with 3:15 to go in the quarter.
The Tigers appeared poised to take the lead as they drove deep into Big Mac territory, but the drive stalled thanks to the Canon-McMillan defense stiffening up. Their drive stalled at the 10, which led to a 27-yard field goal attempt by Josh Gidas. The kick sailed wide left with 10 minutes to go, leaving the score tied at 14.
Although Canon-McMillan went three and out on their ensuing possession, Maentz came on to boot a 69-yard punt to kick it out of harm’s way and put the Tigers deep into their own real estate.
It set up for Canon-McMillan to take the lead as Roman Cimarolli intercepted a Brady Brinkley pass and returned it 35 yards for a score with 7:44 to go, giving the Big Macs a 21-14 advantage.
But North Allegheny showed its mettle, driving 60 yards to tie. Brinkley found Mason Brown for an 8 yard touchdown reception at the 3:12 mark of the final quarter, leaving the score at 21 apiece.
North Allegheny scored its first second-quarter possession when Brady Brinkley avoided a sack and raced 61 yards for the game’s first score.
Canon-McMillan responded on their following drive thanks to the strong legs of Bryce Collins. Collins kept the march alive when he ran for 31 yards on fourth-and-6, down to the North Allegheny 6. On the very next play, Collins slashed into the end zone, making it 7-7.
The Tigers reassumed the lead on their next possession. Ben Kern capped a march thanks to a 15-yard run off a reverse, making it 14-7.