WPIAL Football Semifinals Playoff Recaps

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, November 18, 2017 | 4:45 AM

In 24 WPIAL Class 2-A and Class 1-A First Round and Quarterfinals Playoff games, only two games were decided by six points or less. But on a thrilling night of Semifinals action, three were decided by six points or less with the other one a five point game until a late score, plus the first postseason overtime contest for the two smallest classifications. The final stop on the Road to RMU was a dandy and sets up a pair of quality championship games next Saturday. Here are the recaps from the four games on Semifinals Friday.

A special thanks to Brent Whigham, Sean Meyers, Matt Vandriak and Brian Mroziak for their help on these recaps.

WPIAL CLASS 2-A Semifinals:

Steel Valley Ironmen 13  –  Riverside Panthers 10 in Overtime
It wasn’t pretty, but in the end doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you get it done.  And the defending Class-2A champions got it done, as Steel Valley extended their winning streak to 26 games with a 13-10 overtime win over Riverside at Martorelli Stadium in West View. Steel Valley and Riverside had met three times over the past two seasons coming in to this rematch of last year’s Class-2A Semi Final, with the Ironmen having outscored the Panthers 131-35 in winning those three games.  This one was much closer, as both defenses controlled this game despite both team’s offenses getting all of the hype.  Steel Valley averaged 42.4 points per game coming in, while Riverside was averaging 36 points per game.  But these two teams combined for only 7 points in the first half, which was plagued by penalties.  The Panthers got the only points of the opening half in the 2nd quarter, when Ben Hughes found Kyle Marweg on a 20 yard touchdown pass.  The Ironmen’s offense sputtered throughout the first half, taking multiple pre-snap penalties.  Freshman quarterback Ronnell Lawrence struggled as well, going 4 of 16 passing for only 31 yards and an interception. The score remained 7-0 into the 4th quarter, before the Ironmen finally got a big play on offense.  Trey Karfelt, who came in at quarterback to start the 2nd half, found Amonte Struthers on a 71 yard touchdown pass to tie the game for the Ironmen.  Karfelt had been Steel Valley’s starting quarterback for the first half of the regular season, before being injured and replaced by Lawrence.  Coach Rod Steele decided to stay with Lawrence throughout the playoffs since he had the hot hand. Riverside wasn’t phased by the Ironmen’s tying score, as they drove right back down field on the ensuing drive.  But it was the Ironmen’s defense that made the next big play.  With the Panthers inside the 15 yard line, Karfelt forced a fumble that was recovered by Alex Ligeros at the Steel Valley 8 yard line with 4:18 left in regulation.  Riverside’s defense then did their part, as they forced the Ironmen to go three and out.  The Panthers then got a break as Struthers shanked the punt, netting only 10 yards on it and giving Riverside the ball back on the Steel Valley 23.  The Panthers drove it inside the 10 again, and were set up for the go ahead field goal with :57 seconds left.  But a bad snap doomed the play for Riverside, as Hughes couldn’t get the ball set for kicker Wyatt Ray to try the 20 yard attempt.  Nahki Johnson was able to break through and tackle Hughes before the kick was attempted, keeping Steel Valley alive. In overtime, Riverside got the ball first, but were only able to gain 2 yards on three plays.  Ray was called upon again, and this time hit from 25 yards to put the Panthers ahead 10-7.  On Steel Valley’s first offensive play, Karfelt tried to hit Trevon Adams in the end zone, but Riverside’s Conner McQuiston stepped in front of the pass and nearly came away with the game clinching interception.  On the next play, Steel Valley went back to the air as Karfelt threw a jump ball up for Struthers.  Struthers was able to make the catch off of the helmet of Marweg, who was covering on the play for the Panthers, and send the Ironmen to Robert Morris for the second straight year. Steel Valley was able to get the win despite going 0 of 9 on 3rd downs and only getting 6 first downs the entire game.  The Ironmen also committed 20 penalties for 126 yards.  Riverside was 0 for 12 on 3rd down tries.  And Steel Valley’s defense was able to hold the Panthers to just 78 yards rushing on the night.  Adams led the Ironmen with 122 yards rushing on 20 carries.  Karfelt completed 2 of 4 passes for 81 yards and 2 TD’s, both to Struthers who had 3 catches for 85 yards.  Ben Hughes led Riverside with 106 yards passing while throwing a TD and one interception. With the win, Steel Valley improves to 11-0 in 2017, and will face Washington for the Class-2A title.  The last team that Steel Valley lost to besides South Fayette in the past 4 seasons was Washington, who knocked the Ironmen out in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs. 

Washington Little Prexies 19 – Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans 14
The offensive performance for the Prexies was downright ugly at times on Friday, but the Washington defense stood tall in the second half, as Washington edged the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans 19-14 in the Class 2A semifinals at Moon High School. As a result, No. 2 Washington continued its perfect season (12-0), and advanced to the 2A Championship next Saturday at Robert Morris University. Washington committed five turnovers, including on four consecutive drives in the second half, but the Prexies’ defense held the Trojans’ offense out of the end zone after halftime. Meanwhile, Washington’s offense provided just enough scoring, starting on its first drive of the game. After Washington RB Nick Welsh picked up a big gain earlier on the drive, sophomore quarterback Zack Swartz connected with Dan Walker on a 14-yard touchdown pass on fourth down. A blocked extra point loomed large for a while, however, as No. 3 CWNC (10-3) took the lead in the second quarter. Zach Rocco, the Trojans’ sophomore QB, hooked up with Ryan Maziarz on a 9-yard strike, and the subsequent PAT staked Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic to the 7-6 edge. Less than two minutes later, though, the Prexies responded, as Welsh found pay dirt on a 14-yard run. The subsequent failed two-point attempt kept the score at 12-7 in favor of Washington at the half. Washington struck again to open the third quarter, as Miami (Ohio) commit Isaiah Schoonmaker darted 61-yards on a reverse into the end zone to extend the Prexies’ edge to 19-7. From there, however, the Washington offense went in a downward spiral. On the next Prexies’ drive, Swartz threw an interception. Following that, three straight Washington drives ended in fumbles, the second of which was recovered by CWNC’s Rocco in the end zone for a touchdown to pull the Trojans within five. The final fumble, by Welsh, allowed the Trojans to start the drive at the 44 in Prexies’ territory, but they turned the ball over on downs. After Washington could muster no offense, the Prexies punted, but the low punt from Schoonmaker hit a teammate on the line of scrimmage, again allowing Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic to begin the drive on Washington’s 44. The Prexies’ defense made one final stand, however, forcing a three-and out. With Dylan Asbury in at running back, Washington picked up multiple first downs, which allowed the Prexies to run out the clock. Courtesy of the triumph, Washington moves on to the title game, where undefeated and defending champion Steel Valley will await.

WPIAL CLASS 1-A Semifinals:

Imani Christian Saints 30 – California Trojans 24
Imani Christain held California’s star running Jelani Stafford to 24 yards rushing on only 8 carries, the Trojans totaled just 109 rushing yards on 35 attempts and Imani Christian won 30-24 to advance to the WPIAL Championship Game for the 1st time in school history and ended California’s undefeated season. Imani scored first on a 38-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tawan Wesley to senior wide receiver Sam Fairley, who ended the night with six receptions for 114 yards. Rahmon Hart Jr. caught a pass from Wesley for the two-point conversion and the Saints took an early 8-0 lead. After a California fumbled the Saints struck again on a 25-yard pass from Wesley to Hart, who ended the game with eight receptions for 110 yards. After a California punt and an Imani penalty pinned the Saints on their own 4-yard line, Wesley was sacked for a safety to allow California back to within 16 to 2 and that was the halftime score. California would score again late in the 3rd quarter on a Colin Phillips 1 yard touchdown run to get back to within 16 to 9 of Imani after Dustin Mock added the extra point. Wesley was injured early in the fourth quarter, and backup Isreal Reed came in and hooked up with Ray Jackson on a 26-yard strike to give the Saints a 24 to 9 lead after the made 2 point conversion. Reed would play most of the 4th quarter and ended the game 6 for 7 for 129 yards and a touchdown.  The Saints would throw for 304 yards as a team for the game. California would be forced to pass on their next drive and Phillips threw into triple coverage to Cochise Ryan, who caught a 38-yard pass for a touchdown to pull California to within 24 to 17 of the Saints after another 2 point conversion. Asante Watkins ran for an 8-yard touchdown on the Saints next drive to increase the lead back to 30 to 17.  Phillips and Ryan hooked up again late on a 19 yard touchdown pass to get back to within 6 at 30 to 24, but a failed onside kick allowed Imani to take a knee to end the game with a 30 to 24 win.  Imani is now 11 and 2 on the season and will face Jeannette in the WPIAL “A” Championship Game.  California’s season ends with a 12-1 record.

Jeannette Jayhawks 18 – Clairton Bears 7
For the first time since 2013 the Clairton Bears will not play in the WPIAL Championship game as the Bears fell to Jeannette 18-7 Friday night at Elizabeth Forward.  Clairton had won six straight against the Jayhawks, including a 40-6 blowout in the final game of the regular season.  Jeannette ended its “Clairton Curse” behind two touchdowns by Robert Kennedy.  The senior had started at quarterback all season but was replaced for the game by junior Seth Howard.  Kennedy still returned an interception 50 yards for a score, ran one in from 19 yards out, made an amazing one handed catch against his shoulder pad, and racked up nearly 200 yards of total offense all by himself.  Howard scored the other touchdown for Jeannette while Aaron Thompson’s one yard run was the only score for Clairton.  Jeannette advances to the WPIAL Championship game where the Jayhawks will get a rematch with Imani Christian.  The Jayhawks beat the Saints 54-36 in week four of the regular season, in a game filled with controversy.  A win Saturday at Robert Morris would give the Jayhawks their 9th WPIAL title and also tie Jeannette with New Castle for most wins in WPIAL history.

Tags: Imani Christian, Jeannette, Washington