Greensburg Central Catholic wins opener in Ohio

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, August 26, 2017 | 9:57 PM

Tuscarawas Central Catholic played well for a half, but a 10-point third-quarter spurt helped visiting Greensburg Central Catholic pull away for a 26-13 win in a high school football opener for both teams at the Art Teynor Complex Saturday night in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

The Centurions drew first blood when quarterback Max Pisula scored on a 1-yard sneak with 7:38 left in the opening quarter to make it 6-0. The visitors went for the two-point conversion, but failed.

Greensburg Central Catholic had converted a third-and-30 play to keep the drive alive en route to scoring.

The Saints tied the game when Alex Price hit his brother Nathan Price with a touchdown pass at the 2:03 mark of the first stanza. The extra point failed, leaving the game tied 6-6.

Nathan Price gave the Saints their first lead when he returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown with one minute left in the first quarter. The extra point gave Tuscarawas a 13-6 advantage.

The Centurions had a first-and-goal at the TCC 3, but the Saints defense stiffened and the visitors had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Ethan Slike, cutting the lead to 13-9 early in the second quarter.

Greensburg Central Catholic took the lead with 53 seconds left before halftime on a 1-yard scoring run by Pisula. The extra point put the visitors up 16-13 at the half.

The Centurions extended their lead to 19-13 on a short field goal by Slike at the 7:30 mark of the third quarter, and a Saints' turnover on their next offensive series led to touchdown by the Centurions. After the extra point, the visitors were up 26-13 and on their way to victory.

Roger Metzger is a freelance writer.

Tags: Greensburg C.C.