Jeannette pulls out wild victory over Leechburg

By: Andrew John
Friday, October 6, 2023 | 11:59 PM

When a team has a turnaround season like Jeannette, there most likely are signature wins along their journey. This was the case for the Jayhawks when they traveled to face Eastern Conference foe Leechburg.

With 2 minutes, 36 seconds remaining, Leechburg took a 31-30 lead after the Jayhawks had a 13-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Jeannette (6-1, 3-0), which was riding a four-game winning streak heading, never gave up and marched down the field led by senior quarterback Payton Molter.

After a couple completions, Molter scrambled up the middle for a 28-yard touchdown run to give the Jayhawks a 37-31 lead and, ultimately, the victory over Leechburg (4-3, 2-2) at Veterans Memorial Stadium with 36 seconds remaining in regulation.

“I just told the guys in the locker room, we’ve been together for a year and a half, and look how much we’ve grown. It’s bittersweet, and it’s more motivation to keep going,” Jeannette coach Tommy Paulone said.

Jeannette headed into the fourth quarter with a 23-10 lead. The Blue Devils cut the deficit to one score after a 5-yard touchdown run by junior Jake Cummings to make it 23-17 with 6:58 remaining.

The Jayhawks quickly responded on the first play of their next drive when freshman wide receiver Jayce Powell eluded the Blue Devil defenders on a quick pass from Molter, switched fields and ran for a 69-yard touchdown.

Molter finished 11 of 20 for 207 yards and two touchdowns passing.

The Blue Devils, behind the arm and legs of junior quarterback Jayden Floyd, drove down the field and got back within one score after Floyd’s 5-yard touchdown run to make it 30-24 with 4:15 remaining.

After forcing a Jeannette punt, Leechburg hit the Jayhawks with a quick strike down the right sideline, as Floyd connected with Tristan Zalenski for a 73-yard pass to bring it to the Jayhawk 1-yard line. On the next play, Cummings ran it in to give the Blue Devils a 31-30 lead.

“I’m proud of the way they played. They never quit. It was going to be a lot of knockout blows. It was going to be about who threw the last punch. They threw the last punch. Someone has to win and someone has to lose,” Leechburg coach Randy Walters said.

Floyd finished 15 of 28 for 230 yards passing with one interception.

At half, the score was tied 10-10.

Jeannette senior running back Noah Sanders, who had only 20 yards in the first half, finished with 131 yards on 19 carries. Sanders scored one rushing and one receiving touchdown.

The Jayhawks will face Greensburg Central Catholic next week. Leechburg looks to rebound when it travels to Riverview next week.

Tags: Jeannette, Leechburg