High school roundup: No. 5 West Allegheny shuts out Woodland Hills

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Friday, October 20, 2017 | 11:15 PM


Tyler Gallant scored the game's only touchdown on a 4-yard run in the second quarter as No. 5 West Allegheny shut out Woodland Hills, 7-0, in the WPIAL Class 5A Allegheny 9 Conference.

Even though West Allegheny (7-1, 6-1) gained only 168 yards, its defense limited Woodland Hills (6-1, 5-2) to 131 yards and seven first downs. Both teams already have qualified for the playoffs.

Class 6A

Pine-Richland 64, Butler 0 — Phil Jurkovec completed 10 of 12 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns to Jason DeFrancisis as top-ranked Pine-Richland (9-0, 5-0) downed Butler (2-6, 1-5) in Northern Seven Conference play. DeFrancisis caught five passes for 79 yards while Jordan Crawford and Vince Bucchino ran for 121 and 102 yards, respectively, with two touchdowns each. Pine-Richland outgained Butler, 317 yards to 35.

Seneca Valley 45, Shaler 7 — Gabe Lawson threw for 79 yards and a touchdown and ran for 69 yards and another score to lead Seneca Valley (2-6, 2-4) over Shaler (0-9, 0-6) in the Northern Seven Conference.

Bethel Park 42, Altoona 3 — Anthony Chiccitt threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 2 Bethel Park (7-1, 5-0) to the Southeastern Conference win at Altoona (2-7, 1-5). Tanner Volpatti added 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns while Austin Lewis scored on a 12-yard pass from Chiccitt and a 14-yard interception return.

Peters Township 28, Canon-McMillan 14 — Jake Cortes threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns as Peters Township (6-3, 4-2) clinched a WPIAL playoff spot by defeating Canon-McMillan (4-5, 2-4) in the Southeastern Conference. Angelo Quarture caught three passes for 186 yards and touchdowns of 72 and 80 yards for Peters Township, whose defense recorded nine sacks. Jon Quinque threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.

Class 5A

Fox Chapel 34, Chartiers Valley 18 Fox Chapel (5-4, 5-3) clinched a playoff berth in the Allegheny Nine Conference with a victory. Micah Morris ran for 141 yards and a score, and Nick Gizzo had three rushing touchdowns for the Foxes.

Moon 44, Baldwin 16 — In the Allegheny 9 Conference, Brady Sunday rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns to lead Moon (4-5, 3-4) to the win against Baldwin (1-7, 0-7). Ian Zandier threw for 171 yards and both of Baldwin's touchdowns.

Upper St. Clair 41, Hampton 21 — Colin McLinden ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns to lead Upper St. Clair (7-2, 7-0) to the Allegheny 9 win against Hampton (2-7, 2-5). Jack Hansberry threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score for the Panthers.

Armstrong 57, Connellsville 22 — Dawson Porter threw for 162 yards and five touchdowns to lead Armstrong (5-4, 3-4) to the Big East 9 win against Connellsville (1-8, 0-7). Porter added 84 rushing yards and a touchdown while teammate Isaac Ridinger ran for 91 yards and a TD.

Gateway 21, McKeesport 18 Gateway's Jeremiah Josephs made an interception in the end zone with 6 seconds left, the fifth turnover forced by the Gators, who did not allow an offensive touchdown Friday night. Gateway quarterback Brady Walker threw three touchdowns, two to Courtney Jackson and a 40-yard game-winner to Brandan Cain with 5:32 left.

No. 3-ranked Gateway (8-1, 6-1) now holds second place all alone in the Class 5A Big East Conference, ahead of No. 2 McKeesport (6-2, 5-2). McKeesport's defense scored a safety and two touchdowns, returning a fumble and a blocked punt to the end zone.

Class 4A

Albert Gallatin 40, Uniontown 13 — Javon Davis rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns to lead Albert Gallatin (2-6, 2-5) to the Big 9 win against Uniontown (0-9, 0-7). Domonick Lewellen added 123 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Thomas Jefferson 42, Laurel Highlands 0 — In the Big 9 Conference, Justin Vigna ran for 188 yards and four touchdowns as No. 3 Thomas Jefferson (7-1, 6-1) blanked Laurel Highlands (4-5, 2-4). Garret Fairman caught seven passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Shane Stump, who threw for 130 yards.

Mars 33, Indiana 7 — Tyler Kowalkowski threw for 184 yards and a touchdown as Mars (6-3, 5-2) clinched a playoff berth by beating Indiana (1-7, 1-6). Luke Miller added 118 rushing yards and a touchdown for Mars, which scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

Montour 35, Blackhawk 7 — Kavon Morman threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 4 Montour (7-1, 6-1) to the Northwest Nine win at Blackhawk (2-6, 2-5). Montour led 35-0 at halftime.

South Fayette 49, Highlands 14 — The top-ranked Lions (9-0, 6-0) secured the Northwest Nine Conference title with their 55th consecutive regular-season victory. Drew Saxton threw for 227 yards and four touchdowns as the senior brought his career passing yardage total to 6,560.

Johnny Beck ran for 94 yards and two touchdowns while Mark Trimbur caught five passes for 105 yards and two scores. Seth Cohen passed for 107 yards for Highlands (4-4, 3-4).

Class 3A

Freeport 28, Keystone Oaks 7 — Conor Selinger returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown and added a second-half rushing score as the Yellowjackets (6-2, 5-1) clinched a playoff berth with an Allegheny Conference win. Austin Romanchak ran for 84 yards and a touchdown, and Freeport's defense had six sacks and three interceptions. Logan Shrubb passed for 115 yards and added a rushing touchdown for Keystone Oaks (5-3, 4-2).

Derry 47, Waynesburg 0 — Shawn Broadway ran for touchdowns of 59, 36 and 65 yards to lead Derry (8-1, 5-1) to the Interstate Conference shutout at Waynesburg (1-7, 1-6). Colton Nemchek added two rushing touchdowns.

Class 2A

Charleroi 49, Beth-Center 44 — Geno Pellegrini threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns as Charleroi (8-1, 5-1) won a Century Conference shootout against Beth-Center (7-2, 4-2). Dominic Fundy rushed 33 times for 294 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 82 yards for another score for Beth-Center. Both teams are heading to the WPIAL playoffs.

Frazier 39, Bentworth 18 — Mason Kelly ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns to lead Frazier (2-7, 2-4) to the Century Conference win over Bentworth (3-6, 2-5). J.D. Celaschi added 105 passing yards and a touchdown as well as rushing for one touchdown and returning an interception for another.

Washington 33, Burgettstown 0 — Zach Swartz threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 2 Washington (8-0, 6-0) to the Century Conference shutout at Burgettstown (6-1, 5-2). Isaiah Schoonmaker caught two passes — both for touchdowns — for 115 yards and Dan Walker caught five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Nick Welsh added 164 rushing yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic 47, South Side Beaver 21 — Zack Rocco threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns as No. 3 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (7-2, 6-0) beat South Side Beaver (2-7, 1-6) in the Midwestern Conference. Joe Meinert ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans. Jake Botkin ran for 112 yards for South Side.

Neshannock 35, Freedom 6 — In the Midwestern Conference, Joey Nerti scored on a 3-yard run and 78-yard punt return as Neshannock (5-4, 4-2) scored 28 points in the second half on way to defeating Freedom (5-4, 3-3). Seth Fehrs added a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Lancers.

Laurel 49, New Brighton 14 — Lance Hill ran for 227 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 116 yards and a TD to lead Laurel (2-7, 2-5) over New Brighton (2-7, 0-6) in the Midwestern Conference. Daniel Blank added 116 rushing yards and an 81-yard touchdown for Laurel.

Avonworth 31, South Allegheny 20 — Derek Johncour threw for 194 yards and a touchdown as Avonworth (3-5, 3-3) clinched a Class 2A playoff spot by defeating South Allegheny (1-7, 1-5) in the Three Rivers Conference. J.J. Igims rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Brentwood 35, Carlynton 7 — Michael Trent threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score as playoff-bound Brentwood (5-3, 3-2) defeated Carlynton (0-7, 0-6) in the Three Rivers Conference. Brentwood rushed for 225 yards as a team.

Steel Valley 39, Serra Catholic 14 — Ronnell Lawrence threw for 144 yards and two touchdowns in top-ranked Steel Valley's Three Rivers Conference win at Serra Catholic (5-4, 3-2). Khalil Smith added 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Steel Valley (7-0, 5-0).

Class A

OLSH 54, Shenango 12 — In the Big 7 Conference, Richard Banks ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 4 OLSH (7-2, 6-1) to victory at Shenango (3-5, 3-4). Tyler Bradley tossed for 203 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing TD for the Chargers.

Rochester 47, Union 14 — Caleb Collins ran for 160 yards and a touchdown and Noah Whiteleather added 145 rushing yards and two TDs as Rochester (6-2, 6-1) defeated Union (6-3, 4-3) in the Big 7 Conference. Mahlik Strozier tacked on 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Rochester.

Sto-Rox 48, Cornell 0 — Deion Liddell completed 7 of 8 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns to lead Sto-Rox (3-6, 3-4) to the Big 7 shutout against visiting Cornell (0-8, 0-7).

Imani Christian 66, Springdale 16 — Tawan Wesley completed 11 of 12 passes for 358 yards and six touchdowns to lead the No. 3 Saints (7-2, 5-1) to an Eastern Conference victory. Ray Jackson caught three passes for 138 yards and TDs of 96 and 26 yards, while Sam Fairley hauled in four for 89 yards and three scores. Josh Harmon led Springdale (4-5, 3-3) with 110 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

Clairton 56, Riverview 0 — Aaron Thompson ran for 88 yards and scored on runs of 43, 11 and 28 yards to lift No. 5 Clairton (6-2, 5-1) to an Eastern Conference win.

California 57, Jefferson-Morgan 8 — Jonathan Wood ran for five touchdowns as No. 2 California (9-0, 6-0) scored 43 first-half points on way to beating Jefferson-Morgan (3-6, 2-4).

Carmichaels 31, Fort Cherry 14 — Nicholas Mundell ran for 214 yards and a touchdown as Carmichaels (6-2, 6-1) scored 24 unanswered points in the second half in its Tri-County South win at Fort Cherry (6-2, 4-2). Ryhan Culberson ran for 198 yards and a touchdown for Fort Cherry.

East Allegheny 27, Burrell 6 — TJ Banks scored on a 1-yard run and an 18-yard reception from Tamaine Underwood, who threw three TD passes, as No. 5 East Allegheny (6-2) won a nonconference game. Underwood threw for 253 yards.

McGuffey 68, Chartiers-Houston 0 — Adam Townsend, Marshall Whipkey and C.J. Cole all returned interceptions for touchdowns as Class 3A McGuffey (6-3) blanked Class 2A Chartiers-Houston (0-9) in a nonconference game. Townsend added a rushing touchdown, while Christian Clutter rushed for two touchdowns and returned a punt 56 yards for another score.

New Castle 20, Ringgold 14 — Marcus Hooker threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Class 4A No. 5 New Castle (6-3) defeated Ringgold (3-5) in nonconference play.

North Allegheny 63, Hempfield 28 — In nonconference play, John Zarzdell and Precise Colon scored on kickoff returns of 88 and 86 yards, respectively, as Class 6A No. 4 North Allegheny (7-2) beat Hempfield (1-8). Luke Trueman ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and Turner White rushed for 119 yards and a TD in the win. Zarzdell added a scoring reception and Colon two rushing touchdowns. Hempfield's Justin Sliwoski threw for 386 yards and four touchdown passes to Braden Brose, who caught 11 passes for 181 yards.

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