Penn-Trafford clinches share of conference title after win over Kiski Area

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 20, 2017 | 11:00 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

For as uneventful as some blowouts can go, a lot happened during the latest one for top-ranked Penn-Trafford on Friday night in Harrison City.

A lengthy and happening first half paved the way for an important Class 5A Big East Conference win for the Warriors, 54-19 over Kiski Area on senior night at Warrior Stadium.

• Quarterback Cam Laffoon threw for three touchdowns, and John Gay IV scored three times.

• Dimitri George intercepted two passes and caught a short touchdown pass.

• Caleb Lisbon turned a third Kiski Area turnover into a 61-yard pick-6.

• And kicker Nick Tarabrella broke the school record for career field goals.

All that effort and scoring against a gritty Cavaliers team that held off the mercy rule as long as they could was well worth it because McKeesport lost.

Gateway (8-1, 6-1) edged the Tigers, 21-18.

The Warriors (9-0, 7-0) earned a share of the conference championship, their third title in four years, and moved within a win of their fifth undefeated regular season.

They'll finish the regular season at McKeesport (6-2, 5-2) next week with a chance to nail down the No. 1 seed.

“I liked the way we came out. Our defense got a few turnovers, and the safety was big,” Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane said. “It's great to see Gateway beat (McKeesport). This conference is crazy with how many teams can beat each other. The whole bracket's going to be wide open when our four teams get in it.”

Penn-Trafford put up 33 points during a drawn-out, 40-minute opening quarter. Gay scored a pair of early rushing touchdowns and a bad snap on a Kiski Area punt sailed out of the back of the end zone for a safety, and it was 16-0 Warriors.

Anthony Cervone, who set the tone with a big kick return, caught a 57-yard pass from Laffoon, and Tarabrella hit a 27-yard field goal, the 16th of his career and a program record.

Lisbon's interception return made it 33-0.

“We were up 33, and it was the third quarter, but it was a little difficult to maintain an edge,” Ruane said. “We gave up a couple, which kind of woke us up. But we responded after that, which I was happy about.”

Kiski Area (1-8, 1-6) blitzed Laffoon from the start, something other opponents haven't done much, and had the quarterback stopped several times.

Drew DeNunzio-Biss gave Penn-Trafford some issues as a pass rusher, sacking Laffoon for an 11-yard loss.

The Cavaliers scored back-to-back touchdowns to catch Penn-Trafford's attention. Both scores came on passes from Bryson Venanzio to Jack Colecchi, one on a 91-yard bomb.

Penn-Trafford called a timeout to reset things against the blitz.

“You can't have a letdown at this point,” Ruane said. “We have to be on our toes every single snap of every single game from here on out.”

Peyton McCann had an interception for the Cavaliers.

“Penn-Trafford is No. 1 for a reason,” Kiski Area first-year coach Sam Albert said. “I don't see a weakness. I was pleased with our defense. Our kids go all out every play. Against any team, you can't make mistakes like we did. I think this is the fourth straight week we played the No. 1 team.”

Warriors' senior lineman Logan Hawkins missed his third consecutive game with a leg injury.

Christian Adams recovered a fumble for Penn-Trafford.

Ross Greece had a third-quarter touchdown for Kiski Area. Sam Fanelli scored for the Warriors in the fourth.

Venanzio finished with 126 yards passing for Kiski Area.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Kiski School, Penn-Trafford