Shady Side Academy QB Moore leads Indians to rout of Burrell

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 12:18 AM

Shady Side Academy's Skyy Moore has been waiting 350 days since to get back out on the field and have a breakout game since breaking his ankle early last season.

Moore's wait is over. The junior dual-threat quarterback set the tone for the game — and possibly the season — by rushing for four touchdowns and throwing for another as Shady Side Academy downed Burrell, 42-8, in both teams' WPIAL Class 3A Allegheny Conference opener.

“I'm a Valley boy, but I'm an Indian now. But (playing Burrell) is still a rivalry to me. It's like homecoming to me,” said Moore, a New Kensington resident. “Since, I broke my ankle. I've been dreaming of the comeback.”

Moore did his best to break Buccaneer ankles, too. With Burrell (1-2, 0-1) going three-and-out on the opening drive, Shady Side Academy's Billy Frolich burst through the line to block Seth Tatrn's punt and set the Indians up at the Bucs 3-yard line. One play later, Moore gave the Indians the quick 7-0 lead.

“They outcoached us, and they beat us in every phase of the game,” Burrell coach Dave Bellinotti said. “They're a very well-coached football team. They were prepared for everything. They performed and took it to us.”

Shady Side Academy (1-1, 1-1) showed no signs of letting up on offense. Tatrn, the Burrell quarterback, threw the first of his three interceptions on the following drive as Ivor Wood picked him off and returned the ball to the Burrell 43. Three plays later, Moore stretched his legs on a 32-yard jaunt to give the Indians a 14-0 lead with over 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

“That was the O-line right there,” Moore said. “That happens when you got great blocking up front.”

Moore went on to score on touchdown runs of 1 and 8 yards before finishing the night with 101 yards rushing in just a little over three quarters.

“I think last week we left a lot of points off the board, and I think we watched the film and saw there was a lot of things that we could do to come away a little better this week,” Shady Side Academy coach Chuck DiNardo said.

Bellinotti said what concerned him the most, beside Moore's big-play ability, was Shady Side Academy's size up front, and it showed. The Indians sacked Tatrn three times but it could have been more if not for Tatrn's elusiveness and ability to scramble.

“We just didn't trust the game plan collectively as a unit, and that doubt creeps in and you get those results,” Bellinotti said. “Their line played very well and was very aggressive. They played football the way you're supposed to play it.”

Burrell got some offense going with its first drive of the second half. The Bucs put together an 11-play, 66-yard drive capped by a Luke Kastelic 6-yard run to bring the score to 35-8 after Dom Zottloa's run for the 2-point conversion.

Tatrn finished 6 of 17 for 80 yards, and running back Logan Bitar rushed for 76 yards on 18 carries to lead the Bucs.

“Our kids don't give up, and that's one thing that I can absolutely say,” Bellinotti said. “The kids commitment when it comes to toughness, I can't question that.”

Moore found junior wide receiver Dino Tomlin all alone on the outside on a busted coverage by the Burrell defense for a 55-yard TD pass to close out the scoring. Tomlin, the son of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, finished with three receptions for 102 yards.

“It comes down to blocking, tackling and motivation,” Bellinotti said. “I guess that's my job, and we'll see.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Burrell, Shady Side Academy