Jeannette pulls another upset, knocks off Greensburg CC in Class A quarterfinals
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Friday, November 8, 2024 | 11:14 PM
Jeannette’s Kymon’e Brown cuts through the GCC defense during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
Jeannette’s Nicholas Mendoza gets outside on the GCC defense during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
GCC’s Landon Honick makes a diving interception on a ball intended for Jeannette’s Jayce Powell during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
GCC’s Luke Semelka cuts upfield for a touchdown against Jeannette during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
Jeannette’s Jayce Powell pulls away from GCC’s Luke Semelka for a touchdown during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
Jeannette’s Majhi Sanders gets called for a horse-collar tackle on GCC’s Samir Crosby during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
GCC’s Blasé Bugosh defends Jeannette’s Jayce Powell at the pylon for a fourth-down pass breakup during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
Jeannette’s Noah Sunder drops GCC’s Jackson McMullen for a safety during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
GCC’s Jackson McMullen gallops into the end zone past Jeannette’s Jayce Powell for a touchdown during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
GCC’s Samir Crosby dives past Jeannette’s Jayce Powell during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
Jeannette’s Kymon’e Brown cuts through the GCC defense during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
GCC’s Jackson Lowden pulls in a ball intended for Jeannette’s Jayce Powell during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
Jeannette’s Kymon’e Brown cuts back on GCC during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
Jeannette’s Noah Sunder celebrates after dropping GCC’s Jackson McMullen for a safety during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday at Norwin.
Kymon’e Brown had not beaten Greensburg Central Catholic during his high school football career, but now Jeannette’s dual-threat quarterback can check the accomplishment off his bucket list.
Brown ran for 139 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, threw for 133 yards and another score, and intercepted a pass to lead No. 13 Jeannette to another playoff upset, 29-23 over rival and No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic in a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal Friday night at Norwin.
“Just coming out from the beginning of the game and wanting to win every snap, we played hard as a team and it showed on every down, no matter what happened,” Brown said. “The defense had my back, and my teammates are playmakers. They make the game so easy. It’s about believing in the coaches and the game plan.”
Jeannette (9-3), which knocked off No. 4 Neshannock last week, moves on to play No. 1 Fort Cherry (12-0) in next week’s semifinals.
The Jayhawks haven’t been to the semis since 2020, the year they won their 10th WPIAL title.
GCC is finished at 8-3, its winning streak halted at seven. The Centurions haven’t reached the semis since 2011.
Jeannette broke a four-game losing streak against GCC and now leads the all-time series 22-12-1. It is 2-0 against GCC in the playoffs.
“Our guys had a look in their eyes all week,” Jeannette coach Tommy Paulone said. “I wasn’t (relaxed) until there were triple zeroes on the clock, but our kids believed and our O-line worked hard and finished the game. We outplayed them.
“You don’t get second chances in football. Our guys came in ready to go.”
Running back Nick Mendoza helped Jeannette seal the win with a 7-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes, 31 seconds left.
Jeannette could not convert the 2-point conversion, though, and GCC scored rapidly — the Centurions drove 59 yards on three plays in 59 seconds — to get within 29-23 with 2:32 left.
Landon Honick grabbed a ball tipped by Brown in the back of the end zone for the touchdown, and Samir Crosby ran in the 2-pointer.
Jeannette recovered GCC’s onside kick and ran out the clock with Mendoza, who finished with a career-high 81 yards on 14 carries.
GCC beat Jeannette, 44-27, in Week 6.
“You have to tip your hat to Jeannette,” GCC coach JT Thompson said. “They are so much better than the first time we played them. You can’t make the kind of mistakes we made tonight. Too many self-inflicted wounds. Our guys kept fighting.”
The Centurions had to overcome a number of injuries in the rematch. Thompson said a half-dozen players were hurt and did not return.
“We were down to 17 or 18 guys at the end, and we had no kicker,” he said. “No excuses, though. We have a young group of kids, and they are going to get better.”
Jeannette bottled up Crosby, holding him to 44 yards on 14 carries. Crosby passed for 150 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
“That’s a credit to our coaches,” Paulone said. “Our DC, Anthony Kobus, had a game plan ready. He changed up our defensive front.
“Coach Fats (Darius Brown) finished the game for us. Our special teams killed us last game.”
Jeannette took a 13-7 lead into halftime on the strength of a short touchdown run by Majhi Sanders and a 54-yard scoring strike from Brown to Jayce Powell.
Brown completed 8 of 16 attempts and threw two interceptions. Powell had five catches for 102 yards.
GCC regained the lead with 8:56 remaining in the third when Jackson McMullen scored on a 12-yard run. Crosby’s 2-point run made it 15-13.
Brown stopped on a dime with a juke move to gain 13 yards and set up his 1-yard TD — and conversion — as Jeannette went back in front 21-15 late in the third.
After getting stopped on downs at its own 2, Jeannette added to its lead with a safety, as Noah Sunder tackled McMullen in the end zone.
Lowden intercepted Brown, but GCC gave it right back on a lost fumble, which was recovered by Powell with 7:32 to go.
Jeannette’s Nick Stuchell had a 10-yard sack on that possession.
“Jeannette blitzed the heck out of us,” Thompson said. “We had a tough time picking it up. Samir gave it all his heart tonight.”
GCC played without three key players in Jerry Davis, Tucker Lloyd and John-Michael Landa, who could not play due to transfer rules.
McMullen did the kicking and attempted a 38-yard field goal before the half.
The Jayhawks went to Mendoza to bleed the clock and set up their final score.
Jeannette’s McAlister Steele left the game late in the first half with a leg injury he suffered on defense and did not return.
That left the kicking duties to Hunter Schaeffer, who also filled in for Steele at corner.
Honick had an interception and also blocked an extra point for the Centurions.
Lowden had three catches for 97 yards.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Greensburg C.C., Jeannette
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