Imani Christian needs late rally to get past Greensburg CC

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 21, 2018 | 11:06 PM

Seemingly in control midway through the fourth quarter, Class A No. 2 Imani Christian Academy in a matter of a minute found itself trailing Greensburg Central Catholic.

No time for the Saints to panic.

Israel Reed threw two touchdown passes to Rahmon Hart, including a go-ahead 34-yarder with 2 minutes, 52 seconds left, as Imani Christian rallied with 16 unanswered points late to beat the host Centurions, 36-21, on Friday night in an Eastern Conference game.

Reed finished 13 of 20 for 281 yards, 70 on passes to Hart. Dashaun Wright caught five passes for 128 yards for the Saints (4-1, 2-1), whose only loss is to top-ranked Jeannette.

“They defintely put a little bit of pressure on our guy,” Imani Christian coach Ronnell Heard said. “I’m proud of Izzy after he didn’t have a very good first half.”

Tom Voelker scored two touchdowns in a span of 1:06 as GCC (3-2, 2-2) erased a 13-point deficit to take a 21-20 lead with 5:23 left. Voelker caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Max Pisula, who escaped pressure and dumped the ball off at the line of scrimmage.

Alexander Colcombe recovered Reed’s fumble on the next possession, setting up Voelker’s 21-yard run that put GCC back in front for the first time since a 7-0 advantage in the second quarter on Pisula’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Brown.

Reed followed with a 1-yard touchdown run, capping an 85-yard drive, to pull Imani Christian within 7-6 at halftime.

Reed tossed a 16-yard scoring pass to Hart in the third quarter to put the Saints ahead 12-7 after Kavon Poindexter’s fumble recovery gave Imani Christian possession. Hart finished with six catches for 156 yards.

Juaron Thompson’s 9-yard run for a touchdown added to the Imani Christian lead, making it 20-7, after the Saints had a touchdown pass of 45 yards from Reed to Hart called back by a holding penalty.

“We had opportunities,” GCC coach Aaron Smetanka said. “We had too many turnovers. Imani’s got a lot of speed, no doubt about it. They can break it anytime. They have good playmakers and good speed out there, and if you don’t play them tight, they’re going to break one open and take it to the house.”

After Reed’s go-ahead touchdown pass to Hart, GCC, which lost for the second time in three games, fumbled away possession with Imani Christian’s Adrian Nanji picking up the loose ball and carrying it 25 yards to the end zone.

“We’re quick in our skill spots, and we definitely tried to take advantage of the mismatches that were presented to us,” Heard said. “No panic. My defense is pretty good, so we always put the game on the back of the defense. Those guys responded very well.”

Pisula passed was 11 of 17 for 120 yards before leaving the game late with what Smetanka indicated was a bone bruise in his leg.

“I think he’s OK,” Smetanka said. “He’s going to rest over the weekend and come back next week and get treatment and be ready (Friday) for Springdale at their place. They beat us last year at their place (in GCC’s final game).”

Smetanka said the Centurions’ latest effort was good, and it has been that way this year.

“I thought the effort was there all night long for our kids,” he said. “That’s what I preach all the time. That’s something you can control on offense, defense and special teams. Bring that effort out on the field.”

Dave Mackall is a freelance writer.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Imani Christian