Imani Christian steamrolls Riverview with 661 yards of offense

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 10:51 PM

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The WPIAL's newest powerhouse rolled into Oakmont on Saturday afternoon, and Imani Christian handed Riverview one of its most lopsided defeats, 66-6.

The Saints, No. 3 in the Trib rankings, got 412 passing yards and six touchdowns from senior quarterback Tawan Wesley and held the Raiders to a lone 6-yard scoring drive after a second-quarter fumble.

Imani continued its surge late in the game, drawing the ire of Riverview coach Matt Bonislawski.

The second-year coach, the epitome of cool throughout his playing and early in his coaching career, was angry at the late scoring by the Saints and his team's inability to stop Imani's offense that netted 661 yards.

“Some of what transpired was at least a little unacceptable by most everyone's standards,” Bonislawski said. “I can say I was most disappointed with our effort.”

Imani not only scored practically at will, three touchdowns were called back because of penalties. The Saints accumulated 112 penalty yards, not including offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties late in the game.With 3 minutes, 51 seconds left in the first half, Bonislawski called a time out after an Imani penalty, gathered his defense about 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage and tore into his players.“It was all effort,” Bonislawski said. “No matter what schemes or what plays we called, it was all about effort. I think we played scared — not everybody — and that is something we're going to have to address.”The Saints (3-0, 2-0) scored on their first three possessions.

Rahmon Hart hauled in a 10-yard pass from Wesley right after Christian Tamburro sacked the Imani quarterback.Ray Jackson made a superb, fingertip catch of a Wesley pass that covered 58 yards. After Wesley was shaken up, Israel Reed came in and fired a 28-yarder to Sam Fairley.

“These guys work really hard and practice really hard,” said Saints coach Ronnell Heard. “We've got some really talented guys this year that can kind of stretch the field for us, and that's what you saw here today.”

One bright spot for Riverview was lineman Billy Conley scooping a fumble at the Imani 30 and pulling Saints tacklers with him to the 6.

Riverview's only score of the game came four plays later on a 7-yard pass from Jared Massack to Jack Stock.

Imani continued its barrage unabated after that.

Fairley caught a second scoring pass from Wesley, and reserve Brian Yates following that.

Asante Watkins caught a pass and skirted the sideline past several Raiders defenders on a 75-yard scoring play to put Imani up 38-6 at the half.

The No. 3 rating is by far the highest the relatively new East Hills school has experienced.

“We'll just take it game-by-game,” Heard said. “If we move up the board, great. I challenged the guys this week, and they stepped up.”

Watkins scored on a 7-yard run early in the second half. Fairley tipped a Massack pass, caught it and ran 23 yards for another score.

Hart scored on an 85-yard pass-and-run and Watkins on an 18-yard carry as the game ended after an Imani timeout.

Bonislawski met Heard at midfield after the game and said Heard apologized for the late-game offensive calls.

Imani's Dashaun Wright was ejected from the game and will miss Saturday's home opener against California.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Imani Christian, Riverview