High school football roundup for Sept. 8, 2023: Payton Wehner contributes 7 TDs in Central Catholic win

By: Tribune-Review
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 12:34 AM

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Payton Wehner threw for 298 yards and five touchdowns and added two TDs on the ground to lead Class 6A No. 2 Central Catholic to a 62-46 win against Class 5A No. 4 Bethel Park (1-2) in a nonconference football game Friday night.

Vernon Settles caught five passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings (3-0), who led at halftime, 62-20. Tanner Pfeuffer threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns for Bethel Park while teammate Ja Vaughn Moore ran for 213 yards and two TDs.

Upper St. Clair 42, Baldwin 34 — In the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference, Mason Chambers ran for two touchdowns and Julian Dahlem scored on a 52-yard fumble return and a 61-yard run as No. 5 Upper St. Clair (3-0, 1-0) defeated Baldwin (1-2, 0-1).

Nonconference

Aliquippa 33, North Catholic 7 — Tiqwai Hayes ran for 228 yards and three touchdowns as Class 4A No. 1 Aliquippa (2-0) gained 329 yards on the ground in its nonconference win over North Catholic (1-2).

Armstrong 49, New Castle 19 — Colt Sprankle tossed for 186 yards and three touchdowns to lead Class 4A No. 5 Armstrong (2-1) to the nonconference win against New Castle (0-3). Ian Olsen caught four passes for 95 yards, recorded eight tackles, had an interception and scored on an 82-yard punt return for Armstrong.

Avella 14, Mapletown 7 — Charles Rush ran for 62 yards and a touchdown as Avella (2-1) beat Mapletown (2-1) in a nonconference matchup.

Avonworth 41, Sto-Rox 6 — Class 3A Avonworth (3-0) won on the road at Class 2A Sto-Rox (0-2).

Beaver 42, Freedom 0 — Quay Cain and Drey Hall ran for 113 and 104 yards, respectively, and scored a touchdown each as Class 3A No. 4 Beaver (3-0) defeated Class 2A Freedom (1-2). Amari Jackson added touchdowns for Beaver on a 58-yard kickoff return and a 14-yard interception return.

Bishop Canevin 21, Keystone Oaks 7 — Class A Bishop Canevin (2-0) traveled to Class 2A Keystone Oaks (1-2) for the win.

Butler 38, Brashear 0 — David Graef and Landon Lacey ran for two touchdowns each as Butler (2-1) defeated Brashear (0-3) in nonconference play. Braylon Littlejohn added 99 rushing yards for Butler. Donovan Meadows threw for 101 yards for Brashear.

Carmichaels 27, Chartiers-Houston 7 — In a nonconference matchup, Carmichaels (1-2) beat Chartiers-Houston (0-3).

Central Valley 55, Hampton 0 — Steven Rutherford completed all seven of his passes for 166 yards and a touchdown as Class 4A No. 4 Central Valley (2-1) downed Hampton (0-3) in nonconference play. Brandon Singleton added 74 rushing yards, including a 67-yard scoring run, while teammate Mason Dixon ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

Clairton 38, OLSH 7 — Class A No. 4 Clairton (1-2) defeated OLSH (1-2) in nonconference play.

Cornell 30, Union 14 — Cornell (3-0) upset Class A No. 1 Union (2-1) for the nonconference win.

Elizabeth Forward 45, East Allegheny 15 — Ryan Messina threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns while Jace Brown and Charlie Nigut ran for two TDs each as Class 3A No. 2 Elizabeth Forward (3-0) defeated East Allegheny (1-2) in nonconference play. The Warriors led at halftime, 38-7.

Ellwood City 25, Carlynton 12 — Elijah Palmer-McCane rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns to lead Class 2A Ellwood City (2-1) to the win against Class A Carlynton (1-2). Chris Smiley threw for 119 yards and a touchdown and ran for another TD for Ellwood City. Ryan Lewis paced Carlynton’s offense with 122 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Fort Cherry 49, Beth-Center 6 — Matt Sieg threw for 111 yards and a touchdown, ran for two TDs and returned an interception for another score to lead Fort Cherry (3-0) to a nonconference win at Beth-Center (0-3). Fort Cherry led at halftime, 42-0. Cincere Cruse ran for 100 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, for Beth-Center’s only points.

Freeport 38, Quaker Valley 6 — Brady Sullivan and Cyp Selinger scored two touchdowns each as Freeport (2-1) beat Quaker Valley (0-3) in nonconference play. Sullivan scored on 29- and 13-yard passes from Drew Ross, while Ross connected with Selinger on passes of 26 and 7 yards. Sean Selinger also returned an interception 65 yards for a score for the Yellowjackets.

Greensburg Central Catholic 48, West Greene 30 — Tyree Turner threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns and added a pair of scoring runs to lead Greensburg Central Catholic (2-1) to the nonconference win at West Greene (2-1). Samir Crosby added touchdowns on a 70-yard kickoff return and a 43-yard reception for the Centurions. Colin Brady ran for 209 yards and three touchdowns for West Greene.

Imani Christian 41, South Allegheny 14 — Dayshaun Burnett ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns as Class 2A No. 5 Imani Christian (2-1) defeated Class 3A South Allegheny (1-2). Steve Vandiver threw for 111 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing TD for the Saints.

Indiana 31, Shady Side Academy 21 — Class 4A Indiana (2-1) won at home against Class 3A Shady Side Academy (2-1).

Jeannette 31, Jefferson-Morgan 20 – The Jayhawks improved to 2-1 with a nonconference victory against Jefferson-Morgan (1-2).

Knoch 27, Beaver Falls 18 — Codi Mullen connected with Kaden Spencer on three touchdown passes, including one for 72 yards in the second quarter, to lead Knoch (3-0) to a nonconference win over Beaver Falls (1-2). Mullen threw for 239 yards. Spencer also caught scoring passes of 8 and 12 yards. Tony Nicolazzo scored on a 45-yard interception return for the Knights. Da’Sean Anderson threw for 232 yards and a touchdown and ran for two TDs in the loss.

Mars 49, Blackhawk 7 — Luke Goodworth threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns as Mars (2-1) beat Blackhawk (0-3) in nonconference play. Evan Wright added 110 rushing yards and three touchdowns while Gabe Hein caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Mohawk 28, Laurel 6 — Jay Wrona threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns as Class A Laurel (2-1) defeated Class 2A Mohawk (1-2). Justin Boston ran for 121 yards and a touchdown for the Warriors.

Mt. Lebanon 20, Moon 17 — Michael Malone threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns as Class 6A No. 3 Mt. Lebanon (3-0) beat Class 5A Moon (0-3). Fred LaSota added 113 yards rushing yards and an 82-yard touchdown for the Blue Devils.

Mt. Pleasant 26, McGuffey 21 – Garrett Eicher scored on 3- and 5-yard runs, Cole Chatfield returned an interception 78 yards and Luke Nicotera caught a 38-yard TD from Chatfield as the Vikings (2-1) held off a challenge from host McGuffey (1-2) in a nonconference contest.

Neshannock 42, Ambridge 12 — Jino Mozzocio threw for two touchdowns and ran for 112 yards and an 88-yard TD as Class 2A No. 4 Neshannock (2-1) beat Class 3A Ambridge (1-2).

North Allegheny 43, McDowell 24 — Class 6A No. 1 North Allegheny (3-0) picked up the nonconference win at McDowell (1-2).

North Hills 26, Gateway 8 — In nonconference play, Connor Davis threw for 123 yards and three touchdowns as North Hills (1-2) defeated Gateway (0-3). T.J. Mitchell returned a blocked punt for a touchdown for the Gators.

Northgate 38, Riverview 21 — Austin Mitchell ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns while Darius Fields added 121 rushing yards and two TDs as Northgate (2-1) beat Riverview (2-1) in nonconference play. Landon Johnson rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns for Riverview.

Northern Garrett, Md. 27, Albert Gallatin 6 — Liam Stewart threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Northern Garrett, Md. (1-1) defeated Albert Gallatin (0-3) in nonconference play. Caleb DeHaven ran for 114 yards and a 75-yard touchdown for Albert Gallatin.

Norwin 33, Fox Chapel 18 – Norwin (1-2) earned its first victory of the season with a nonconference triumph over Fox Chapel (0-3). Jake Knight scored twice and Jackson Pons, Luke Denny added touchdowns for the Knights.

Peters Township 34, Trinity 7 — Nolan DiLuca threw for 114 yards and ran for two touchdowns as Class 5A No. 3 Peters Township (3-0) beat Class 4A Trinity (2-1). Jonah Williamson threw for 248 yards and a touchdown for Trinity.

Rochester 42, New Brighton 6 — Class A No. 5 Rochester (2-0) downed Class 2A New Brighton (0-3).

Seton La Salle 23, Steel Valley 20 (2OT) — O’Malley Daly’s 3-yard run in double overtime gave Class 3A Seton La Salle (2-1) the win over Class 2A No. 1 Steel Valley (1-1). Each team traded field goals in the first overtime. Daly finished with three rushing touchdowns.

Shenango 24, Riverside 19 — Sam Myers threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns — all to Colton Frazier — as Class A Shenango (2-1) beat Class 2A Riverside (0-2). Frazier caught nine passes for 167 yards. Robert Janis ran for 203 yards and all three Riverside touchdowns.

South Park 38, Brentwood 0 — Eric Doerue rushed for 253 yards and three touchdowns to lead Class 3A No. 5 South Park (3-0) to victory at Class 2A Brentwood (0-3). South Park’s defense, which scored on a 25-yard interception return by Wyatt Markovich, limited Brentwood to 115 yards of offense.

South Side 41, Burgettstown 7 — A.C. Corfield ran for 187 yards and two touchdowns to lead Class A No. 3 South Side (3-0) to the nonconference win against Burgettstown (1-1). Zack Schrockman scored Burgettstown’s only touchdown on a 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter.

Spring Mills, W.Va. 40, Brownsville 6 — In nonconference play, Spring Mills, W.Va. (2-1) defeated Brownsville (0-3).

Thomas Jefferson 28, West Mifflin 14 — Sean Sullivan caught six passes for 139 yards and a touchdown as Class 4A No. 2 Thomas Jefferson (3-0) beat Class 3A West Mifflin (0-3). Brody Evans threw for 141 yards and a touchdown, Michael Banda rushed for 101 yards and Elias Lippincott ran for one touchdown and returned an interception 19 yards for another score in the win.

Uniontown 45, Carrick 14 — Uniontown (2-1) beat Carrick (0-3) in nonconference play.

Washington 40, Serra Catholic 15 — In nonconference play, Eddie Lewis ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns to lead Class 2A No. 2 Washington (3-0) to the win over Serra Catholic (0-3). Percy Dudley added 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Washington.

Waynesburg Central 27, California 7 — Class 2A Waynesburg Central (3-0) defeated visiting Class A California (2-1).

West Allegheny 58, Ringgold 6 — Brock Cornell returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and added three rushing TDs to lead West Allegheny (2-1) to the nonconference win against Ringgold (0-3). West Allegheny led at the half, 41-0.

Western Beaver 47, Hopewell 0 — Class 2A Western Beaver (1-2) blanked Class 3A Hopewell (1-2) for the road win.

City League

Dover, Ohio 47, Allderdice 14 — Dover, Ohio (2-1) defeated Allderdice (0-3) in nonconference play.

Steubenville, Ohio 43, University Prep 20 — Steubenville Prep (3-1) defeated visiting University Prep (2-1) for the nonconference victory.