WPIAL Football Plays of the Week – Week Five

By: Bruce Markey
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 | 9:24 PM

After a lackluster Week 4 that provided nothing but blowouts, Week 5 brought big matchups, great finishes and upsets galore. Here’s a look at the best three plays from Week 5.

#1:  Washington Little Prexies 18 – Jeannette Jayhawks 15

Many people figured that Washington vs. Jeannette would be a terrific football game and could come down do a big play at the end. It did. But the details of that play are what everyone was buzzing about on Friday night. Washington knocked off Jeannette to stay unbeaten on the year, 18-15. Trailing 15-12 with just 0:30 left, Washington’s Daron Whitaker would block a Jeannette punt. Shai McKenzie would scoop it up for the Little Prexies and run it in from 47 yards for the winning score. McKenzie, who also rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns, helped move Washington to 5-0 on the season.

#2:  Mount Lebanon Blue Devils 39 – Woodland Hills Wolverines 36 in Overtime

After a dramatic, game-tying drive to tie the game and a go-ahead field goal in overtime, Mt. Lebanon would recover a fumble by Woodland Hills’ Dequan White at the 5-yard line, preserving the win for the Blue Devils, 39-36. Mt. Lebanon Quarterback Tyler Roth would orchestrate the game-tying drive on a night in which he would break the school record for passing yards and touchdowns, while Wide Receiver Troy Apke’s 12 receptions for 273 yards were also school records. In an offensive shootout though, it was Lebo’s defense that came up big in the end, recovering the fumble and moving the Blue Devils to 4-1 on the year.

#3:  Monessen Greyhounds 28 – Bishop Canevin Crusaders 21

After a humbling 52-7 loss to Clairton in Week 4, there were some big questions about the resolve of the Monessen Greyhounds football team as they traveled to Bishop Canevin Friday night. They responded in a big way, knocking off the Crusaders 28-21. Clintell Gillespie would score an 11-yard touchdown run with 9:21 to play, capping off a night in which he would touch the ball 16 times (8 receptions, 8 rushes) for 204 yards and 3 touchdowns. A game that saw over 650 yards got defensive though, as Monessen would sack Canevin QB Nico DiPaolo nine times, including four in the 4th Quarter. But Gillespie’s score was the big one for Monessen, who scored touchdowns on their first three drives, only to see their next five come up empty before Gillespie’s run. Both teams are now 4-1 on the season.

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Jeannette, Washington, Woodland Hills