WPIAL Class 5A football final primer: Gateway vs. Peters Township
By:
Friday, November 22, 2019 | 4:47 PM
Gateway quarterback Bryson Venanzio looks for an opening during WPIAL Class 5A football semifinal against McKeesport on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 at Offutt Field in Greensburg.
WPIAL Class 5A championship
No. 2 Gateway (11-2) vs. No. 5 Peters Township (12-1)
6 p.m. Saturday, Norwin Knights Stadium
On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com; 95.3 FM
Coaches: Don Holl, Gateway; T.J. Plack, Peters Township
Winner plays: The winner of District 12 champion Archbishop Wood (9-3) in the PIAA semifinals Nov. 29-30.
WPIAL titles: Gateway 6 (1969, ‘72, ‘74, ‘85, ‘86, 2017); Peters Township 0
Gateway
Player to watch
Derrick Davis
Junior, 6-1, 190, RB/LB
One of the nation’s top prospects, Davis has rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and scored 30 touchdowns this season. The four-start prospect has offers from Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Pitt, among others.
Statistical leaders
Passing: Bryson Venanzio, 161-270, 2,375 yards, 26 TDs, 7 INTs
Rushing: Derrick Davis, 165-1,420 yards, 30 TDs; Venanzio, 96-214 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Davis, 36-547 yards, 30 TDs; Tui Faumuina-Brown, 34-494 yards, 6 TDs
How they got here
Regular season
46 Mt. Lebanon 20
7 at Penn-Trafford 28
44 Plum 0
49 at Latrobe 0
49 Ringgold 0
40 at North Hills 7
31 Franklin Regional 0
12 at Massillon, Ohio 48
48 Connellsville 7
36 at McKeesport 7
WPIAL playoffs
35 Shaler 21
17 Bethel Park 13
14 McKeesport 7
Probable starting lineup
Offense
RB, 8, Derrick Davis, 6-1, 190, Jr.
QB, 13, Bryson Venanzio, 5-10, 180, Sr.
WR, 4, Patrick Body, 6-1, 175, So.
WR, 5, Jayden Hurt, 6-1, 180, Jr.
WR, 9 Chamor Price, 6-1, 175, Jr.
TE, 15, Tui Faumuina-Brown, 6-3, 215, Sr.
OT, 55 Jacques Taylor, 6-1, 240, Jr.
OG, Kelvon Nelson, 6-0, 225, Jr.
C, 72, Patrick Bauman, 6-0, 278, Jr.
OG, 71, Dom Pascarella, 6-2, 245, Jr.
OT, 70, Pete Zlokas, 6-3, 271, Sr.
K, 22, Jayson Jenkins, 5-7, 150, Jr.
Defense
DE, 55, Jacques Taylor, 6-1, 240, Jr.
DT, 54, Kelvon Nelson, 6-0, 225, Jr.
DE, 52, James McClinton, 5-10, 225, Sr.
OLB, 15, Tui Faumuina-Brown, 6-3, 215, Sr.
ILB, 10, Jordan Stancovich, 5-10, 205, Sr.
ILB, 37, Jay Johnson, 5-11, 210, Sr.
OLB, 8, Derrick Davis, 6-1, 190, Jr.
CB, 3, Sonny Comunale, 5-11, 177, Sr.
CB, 2, Shayne Thrift, 6-0, 170, Jr.
S, 11, Zach Smith, 5-10, 160, Sr.
P, 22, Jayson Jenkins, 5-7, 150, Jr.
Peters Township
Player to watch
Ryan Magiske
Senior, 5-10, 190, RB/S
Magiske has run for nearly 1,300 yards and carried the ball more than 200 times in helping Peters Township reach the WPIAL championship game.
Statistical leaders
Passing: Logan Pfeuffer, 136-213, 2,121 yards, 24 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing: Ryan Magiske, 214-1,276 yards, 17 TDs; Josh Casilli, 29-333 yards, 22 TDs
Receiving: Casilli, 47-562 yards, 22 TDs; Aidan McCall, 24-364 yards, 6 TDs
How they got here
Regular season
45 Fox Chapel 0
29 Upper St. Clair 21
26 at Woodland Hills 0
23 West Allegheny 7
38 North Hills 14
35 at Canon-McMillan 3
13 at Moon 21
43 Chartiers Valley 14
30 at Bethel Park 7
38 at Baldwin 0
WPIAL playoffs
47 Mars 6
33 Moon 7
28 Penn-Trafford 10
Probable starting lineup
Offense
QB, 8, Logan Pfeuffer, 6-1, 170, jr.
RB, 35, Ryan Magiske, 5-10, 190, sr.
WR, 5, Josh Casilli, 6-1, 185, sr.
WR, 19, Breylen Carrington, 5-10, 165, jr.
WR, 3, Donovan McMillon, 6-1, 180, jr.
TE, 10, Corban Hondru, 6-1, 230, jr.
T, 54, David DiCio, 5-11, 250, jr.
G, 63, Dylan Wente, 5-10, 240, jr.
C, 65, Zach Magnotti, 5-10, 215, sr.
G, 55, Ethan Spangenberg, 5-11, 220, jr.
T, 50, Austin McKinnon, 6-0, 240, jr.
K, 17, Andrew Massucci, 5-10, 170, so.
Defense
DL, 50, Austin McKinnon, 6-0, 240, jr.
DL, 65, Zach Magnotti, 5-10, 215, sr.
DL, 55, Ethan Spangenberg, 5-11, 220, jr.
SLB, 7, Nico Pate, 6-0, 180, so.
WLB, 28, Reed Scott, 5-11, 190, sr.
MLB, 10, Corban Hondru, 6-1, 230, jr.
CB, 5, Josh Casilli, 6-1, 185, sr.
CB, 2, Aidan McCall, 5-9, 165, sr.
S, 20, Adrian Williams, 5-9, 175, sr.
S, 35, Ryan Magiske, 5-10, 190, sr.
S, 3, Donovan McMillon, 6-1, 180, jr.
P, 10, Corban Hondru, 6-1, 230, jr.
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Gateway, Peters Township
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