Scoop Smith’s electrifying kickoff-return TDs boost Woodland Hills past Penn-Trafford

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, September 12, 2025 | 10:49 PM

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It was a crazy start to Friday’s WPIAL Class 5A Big East Conference opener.

The game, which featured two top-five teams, began with some electrifying plays.

It was one that saw the teams combined to score four touchdowns in 40 seconds, which included two kickoff returns by Scoop Smith. The first was a 65-yarder on a lateral from Anthony Barron. The other was 72 yards.

As the game settled down, it was No. 4 Woodland Hills (1-0, 2-2) making more plays, and the Wolverines rolled to a 49-21 victory over No. 5 Penn-Trafford (0-1, 3-1).

“This game fooled me,” Woodland Hills coach Brian Tarrant said. “I thought it would be a physical battle, and I looked at the scoreboard and there was 35 points.

“The kickoff returns gave us momentum, most definitely. Scoop is the most dangerous return man in the WPIAL. The pitch was not practiced. It might be now.”

Penn-Trafford moved the ball at times but could not finish once it reached Woodland Hills territory.

The Warriors hurt themselves with penalties, especially in scoring position, that stopped drives.

“The kickoff returns were tone-setters,” Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane said. “That was just not a very good job by me. We just have to do a better job schematically, tackling and everything.”

Meanwhile, the Wolverines turned to their power running game to control the clock.

Taylor Reid rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns and E.J. Moore rushed for 51 yards.

But it was the kickoff returns that changed the momentum.

“I was yelling to Anthony to pitch it to me,” Smith said. “I do not know if he heard me. It is something we had not practiced.”

Woodland Hills took a 6-0 lead on a 5-yard run by Taylor Reid.

Penn-Trafford then went ahead 7-6 when Ben Grabowski scored on a 7-yard run.

Warriors sophomore Cody Yacamelli scored on an 80-yard run in between Smith’s kickoff return scores.

Woodland Hills made it 28-14 early in the second quarter when Reid scored his second touchdown of the game on a 7-yard scamper.

Yacamelli rushed for 146 yards for the Warriors, who also turned the ball over three times.

“We moved the ball between the 30s, but we could not hit on third and fourth down,” Ruane said. “Something we have to get better at is finishing drives.”

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford, Woodland Hills