WPIAL Class A football final notebook: Jeannette has fourth-most titles in WPIAL history
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Saturday, November 25, 2017 | 4:36 PM
Saturday's title win was Jeannette's ninth in school history, fourth most in the WPIAL behind Aliquippa (16), Clairton (13) and New Castle (11).
Jeannette is 8-8 in WPIAL title games. In 1932, the WPIAL declared Jeannette, New Castle and McKeesport tri-champions without a playoff.
The Jayhawks were in the previous two WPIAL Class A finals, losing both games to Clairton.
The 35-34 win also halted a three-game title-day skid for the Jayhawks as they also dropped the 2011 championship game to Aliquippa.
Negative start
Anyone who has followed Jeannette football for any amount of time probably can't recall the last time the Jayhawks had a net of minus-19 yards in a quarter.
That's the way the first quarter went for Jeannette. The Jayhawks' offense recovered nicely in the second quarter for 191 net yards and three touchdowns.
Diminished flags
After a combined 37 penalties for 341 yards were assessed in the Sept. 23 game between Jeannette and Imani, only 19 were called Saturday — 11 for 100 yards on Jeannette and eight for 71 against Imani.
Defensive stalwarts
Senior Ian Smith and junior Anthony Johnson paced Jeannette with 8½ tackles each.
But Saints linebacker Brian Yates took game-high honors with 12 tackles.
Dual gold
Jeannette has succeeded for many years with multi-sport athletes, and the current era is no different.
The school has four football players and a student manager who were on Jeannette's first WPIAL baseball title team last spring and also were part of Saturday's WPIAL title-winner.
Tre Cunningham, Seth Howard, Zander Malik and Drake Petrillo, along with football manager Ricky Pitzer, all have WPIAL gold in two sports. They received their baseball championship rings at a pep rally Tuesday.
Have ‘faith'
Imani Christian is an academy in the East Hills suburbs.
Jeannette has a player named Imani Sanders. Imani is an East African term meaning “faith.”
Up next
The Jayhawks will play District 10 champion Farrell (11-2) in the PIAA semifinals next weekend at a time, date and site to be determined.
The Steelers, who won six titles as a WPIAL member school, defeated Ridgway-Johnsonburg, 36-0, Friday night.
George Guido is a freelance writer.
Tags: Imani Christian, Jeannette
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