Friday HighLights AND Saturdays Scholastic Starz – 11/28/2016

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, November 28, 2016 | 10:29 AM

Pittsburgh Central Catholic, West Allegheny and Thomas Jefferson won their gold on 11/18 at Heinz Field and began their quest for more gold this past weekend in the PIAA Quarterfinals while Beaver Falls got a rare weekend off. Steel Valley and Clairton claimed their WPIAL titles this past Saturday at Robert Morris University. Here are the five players who stood above the rest in four district wins and one season ending loss.

J.J. Younger – Pittsburgh Central Catholic

Yes, it is awesome to run behind a big and dominant offensive front which Pittsburgh Central Catholic can definitely boast, but somebody has to hit the holes, whether they are gaping or slim and do special things while holding on to the pigskin once you are loose in the secondary. Thus, a tip of the cap to J.J. Younger, who rushed for 212 yards Saturday and scored on a 48-yard run that broke a 7-7 tie, then proceeded to score three more times in the first half on runs of 52, 18 and 48 yards that broke Williamsport’s back and spirit as the Vikings cruised past the Millionaires 62-21 in a PIAA 6-A Quarterfinals game at Altoona.

Nick Ross – West Allegheny

While we acknowledge the return and success of Kenny White, who rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown a week after suffering a concussion in the WPIAL Class 5-A championship game at Heinz Field, our salute once again goes to West Allegheny quarter Nick Ross who once again proved he was The Boss. Ross connected on 9 of 13 passes for 208 yards with three touchdowns, including a pair of scoring tosses to Connor Johnson as the WPIAL champion Indians advances to the state Semifinals with a convincing 47-20 win over the Meadville Bulldogs at North Allegheny High School.

Bobby Kelley – Thomas Jefferson

We acknowledge the end of a great scholastic career with Quinton Hill at Thomas Jefferson High School as the schools all time leading rusher ran for 113 yards, but our star gets put on the forehead of Bobby Kelley. The TJ quarterback hit on 12 passes for 149 yards and two touchdown passes of 3 yards to Jake Giegerich and 27 yards to Zane Zandier as the Jaguars season ended for a second straight year at the hands of the District 10 champion Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers 30-13 at Baldwin High School in a Class 4-A Quarterfinals game.

DeWayne Murray – Steel Valley

The last time Steel Valley was crowned WPIAL football champion, star running back DeWayne Murray was negative nine years old. However there was nothing negative about Murray or the maroon and gold Saturday evening in the WPIAL Class 2-A championship game at Robert Morris University as Murray rushed for 213 yards on 16 carries while scoring five touchdowns on runs of 5, 2, 3, 75 and 13 yards as the Ironmen became the first WPIAL team to mercy rule every team in the regular season and through the district playoffs with a dominating 49-14 conquest over the Neshannock Lancers.

Lamont Wade – Clairton

Great players rise to the occasion in the face of adversity and when the spotlight is brightest. With Clairton back on the Class 1-A championship game stage, this time at Robert Morris University on Saturday, running back Lamont Wade switched to quarterback, but was able to keep his Superman cape on. With starting signal caller Noah Hamlin out with a knee injury, Wade rushed for 100 yards and scored the games first touchdown on a 6 yard run and capped the scoring with a 54-yard run, plus he was 6 of 10 passing for 65 yards and returned an interception 83-yards for a backbreaking score as the Bears clinched a third straight crown and their 8th in 9 years with another victory over the rival Jeannette Jayhawks, this time by a score of 26-6.

Tags: Clairton, West Allegheny