WPIAL football playoffs roundup: Evan Wright’s 4 TDs lift Mars past Chartiers Valley

By: Tribune-Review
Saturday, November 4, 2023 | 12:12 AM

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Evan Wright ran for 159 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 4 Mars to a 44-19 victory over No. 13 Chartiers Valley (3-8) in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A football playoffs Friday night.

Luke Goodworth threw for 133 yards and one touchdown for Mars (9-2), which advanced to play Central Valley in the quarterfinals.

Class 3A

Beaver 42, Shady Side Academy 7 — Drey Hall rushed for 183 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 7 Beaver (9-2) to the WPIAL Class 3A first round playoff win over No. 10 Shady Side Academy (5-6). Travis Clear threw for 115 yards and one touchdown for Beaver, which will face No. 2 Avonworth in next week’s quarterfinals.

Class 2A

Beaver Falls 20, Keystone Oaks 7 — Datalian Beauford ran for 182 yards and two touchdowns as No. 10 Beaver Falls (6-5) defeated No. 7 Keystone Oaks (6-5) in the first round of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. Beaver Falls will play Neshannock in next Friday’s quarterfinals.

Imani Christian 52, Waynesburg Central 14 — Dayshaun Burnett threw for 139 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 102 yards and a TD to lead No. 4 Imani Christian (8-2) to the WPIAL Class 2A first-round playoff win against No. 13 Waynesburg Central (7-4) at UPMC Graham Field in Wilkinsburg. Jacob Stephenson threw for 136 yards and both Waynesburg Central touchdowns. Imani Christian will play Mohawk in next week’s quarterfinals.

McGuffey 25, Derry 13 — In the WPIAL Class 2A first round, Connor Crowe threw two first-half touchdowns as No. 6 McGuffey (8-3) defeated No. 11 Derry (5-6). Ahmad Ward scored both Derry touchdowns. McGuffey will face Washington next Friday in the quarterfinals.

Washington 48, Ellwood City 6 — Ruben Gordon caught four passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 92 yards and an 86-yard TD as No. 3 Washington (10-1) downed No. 14 Ellwood City (5-6) in the first round of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. Eddie Lewis rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns for Washington, which gained 360 yards overall on the ground. Elijah Palmer-McCane ran for 92 yards for Ellwood City. Washington advanced to face McGuffey in the quarterfinals.

Western Beaver 38, Serra Catholic 21 — Jaivin Peel hit Dorian McGhee with two touchdown passes as No. 12 Western Beaver (7-4) defeated No. 8 Serra Catholic (4-6) in the first round of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs at Norwin. Tyson Florence added two rushing touchdowns for Western Beaver, which will play Steel Valley in the quarterfinals next week.

Class A

Clairton 44, Laurel 7 — Michael Wright threw for 169 yards and three touchdowns as No. 4 Clairton (9-2) defeated No. 13 Laurel (4-7) in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs. Donte Wright added 101 rushing yards and an 88-yard touchdown on five carries. Clairton outgained Laurel, 417 yards to 128 yards. The Bears advanced to play Union in the quarterfinals.

Fort Cherry 50, Jefferson-Morgan 16 — Matt Sieg threw for 119 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 71 yards and one TD to lead No. 2 Fort Cherry (11-0) to the WPIAL Class A first-round playoff victory over No. 15 Jefferson-Morgan (6-5). Ethan Faletto added 84 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Fort Cherry. The Rangers will play Rochester in next week’s quarterfinals.

Rochester 20, Cornell 19 (OT) — Dom Guido scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run in overtime and Felipe Gomes Castilho made the extra point to lead No. 10 Rochester (6-4) to a Class A first-round win. Khylil Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game in overtime for No. 7 Cornell (8-3), but the extra point attempt was blocked.

South Side 39, Monessen 0 — Ryan Navarra ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns as No. 1 South Side (11-0) blanked No. 16 Monessen (4-7) in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs. A.C. Corfield added 107 rushing yards for South Side, which will face Greensburg Central Catholic in the quarterfinals next Friday.

Union 51, Burgettstown 37 — Braylon Thomas threw for 161 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 109 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 5 Union (9-2) over No. 12 Burgettstown (5-5) in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs. Dayne Johnke caught four passes for 103 yards and three touchdowns for Union. Rudy Brown ran for 141 yards for Burgettstown while teammate Brodie Kuzior added 111 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Burgettstown led at halftime, 23-17.

Tags: Beaver, Beaver Falls, Burgettstown, Chartiers Valley, Clairton, Cornell, Derry Area, Ellwood City, Fort Cherry, Imani Christian, Jefferson-Morgan, Keystone Oaks, Laurel, Mars, McGuffey, Monessen, Rochester, Serra Catholic, Shady Side Academy, South Side, Union, Washington, Waynesburg, Western Beaver