News, notes, scores, photos and videos from Week 6 of the high school football season.
Trinity entered a game Friday night against Thomas Jefferson reeling after back-to-back losses.
Wouldn’t you know, the Hillers will wake up Saturday knowing they just reeled in one of the biggest upsets in the WPIAL this season.
Jonah Williamson ran for two touchdowns to propel host Trinity to a 23-6 win against previously undefeated Class 4A No. 2-ranked Thomas Jefferson in Big Seven Conference play.
Trinity (4-3, 2-2) was coming off losses against McKeesport and Latrobe, the second of which Trinity coach Dan Knause said was much closer than the 25-7 final score indicated. But against Thomas Jefferson (6-1, 2-1), one of the WPIAL’s premier programs, the Hillers bounced back against a team that dealt them a 45-10 defeat a season ago.
“This is huge,” said Knause, who is in his second season as coach. “I’m just happy for the kids. I’ve been telling them that they’ve been making huge strides. It’s tough to bounce back when you haven’t won much and you’re teaching them how to win.”
Thomas Jefferson had scored at least 24 points in each of its first six games, but the Jaguars could find the end zone only once against a Trinity defense that surrendered only 202 yards. Their lone score came in the fourth quarter after Trinity already had grown its lead to 23-0.
Trinity scored a touchdown in each of the first three quarters, with Williamson scoring on a 2-yard run in the first, Andrew Durig on a 21-yard run in the second, and Williamson on a 4-yard run in the third. The Hillers added a safety in the fourth quarter.
Williamson was a workhorse, running for 104 yards on 28 carries and completing 6-of-9 passes for 54 yards.
“We had to be darn near perfect to beat them, especially by 17,” Knause said.
PILLAR HELPS PINE-RICHLAND STUN CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Central Catholic was universally considered the No. 1 overall team in the WPIAL, but that could change now after host Pine-Richland (4-3) rallied for a 26-19 nonconference win against the Class 6A top-ranked Vikings (6-0). After trailing, 16-14, at the half, Pine-Richland stormed back to take the lead courtesy of two third-quarter touchdown runs, the first by Talan Hill-Ressler and the second by Ethan Pillar to make it 26-16. Pillar finished with a school-record 297 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Central Catholic would add a field goal early in the fourth to pull within 7. Central Catholic’s Jacob Sassic scored on a pick-6 and a touchdown reception from Payton Wehner.
GATEWAY EDGES PENN-TRAFFORD
In a battle of Class 5A Big East Conference teams surging after poor starts, visiting Gateway (4-3, 4-0) kept the good times going by defeating Penn-Trafford (3-4, 2-1), 31-27, to take over first place in the conference. Brad Birch completed 18-of-29 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, his scoring tosses going to Jaquon Reynolds and Kenny Lewis. Tasso Whipple ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns for Penn-Trafford. Following his second touchdown with 1:21 left, Gateway’s Tristan Hutton returned the ensuing onside kick 50 yards for a score to extend the Gators’ lead to 31-19.
DILUCIA POWERS PETERS TOWNSHIP OVER MOON
Nolan DiLucia threw for three touchdowns and also ran for one to vault Class 5A No. 1 Peters Township (7-0, 4-0) to a 40-7 win over No. 5 Moon (3-4, 1-1) in the Allegheny Six Conference. DiLucia was the king of the big play, running for a 90-yard touchdown and throwing touchdowns of 73, 67 and 4 yards to Carter Shanafelt. DiLucia was 10-of-21 passing for 220 yards and carried eight times for 87 yards. Shanafelt had five catches for 166 yards and also scored on a 37-yard interception return.
BETHEL PARK UPSETS USC
Ryan Petras ran for a 64-yard touchdown on Bethel Park’s opening possession and finished with 206 total yards while leading the Black Hawks (3-4, 2-0) to a 22-10 upset of visiting Class 5A No. 4 Upper St. Clair (5-2, 1-2) in the Allegheny Six Conference. Petras rushed for 146 yards on five carries and also had five receptions for 60 yards. Teammate David Dennison ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.
MONTOUR SLIPS PAST CENTRAL VALLEY
Jake Wolfe ran for two touchdowns and passed for another to lead Class 4A No. 5 Montour (6-1, 3-1) to a massive 21-20 win at No. 4 Central Valley (5-2, 3-1) in the Parkway Conference. Wolfe scored on runs of 7 and 3 yards and hooked up with Keino Fitzpatrick for a 71-yard touchdown. Wolfe finished with 94 yards on 23 carries and completed 13-of-18 passes for 244 yards. Central Valley’s Mason Dixon scored on a 5-yard run to pull the Warriors within 21-20 with 5:43 left, but the Warriors’ 2-point conversion attempt failed. Central Valley freshman Jance Henry rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown.
AVONWORTH COMES FROM BEHIND TO BEAT BEAVER
Andrew Kuban’s 14-yard touchdown run with 1:23 left in the third quarter was the final score of the game and the difference in Class 3A No. 2 Avonworth’s 33-28 win at No. 5 Beaver (5-2, 1-2) in a key Western Hills Conference game. Kuban also scored on a 36-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and added a second-quarter interception. Nico Neal added two rushing touchdowns for Avonworth (7-0, 4-0), while Beaver got three touchdowns from Amari Jackson (run, catch, interception return).
CANEVIN TAKES DOWN CORNELL
Kole Olszewski’s three touchdown passes propelled Class 1A No. 2 Bishop Canevin (5-1, 3-1) to a 21-13 win at No. 2 Cornell (6-1, 3-1) in the Black Hills Conference. Olszewski connected with Jason Cross for two touchdowns and his 29-yard scoring toss to Jayden Lindsey in the fourth quarter gave the Crusaders some breathing room after Cornell had cut its deficit to 14-13. C.J. Jackson threw two touchdowns for Cornell, one to Mikey Keyes and the other to Julian Cordice.
BETH-CENTER’S VARESKO RUSHES FOR 438
Ethan Varesko rushed for 438 yards and four touchdowns to lead host Beth-Center (3-4, 3-1) to a 52-37 win against Bentworth (2-5, 1-3) in the Tri-County South Conference. It’s the most rushing yards by a WPIAL player this season. Varesko scored on runs of 65, 48, 49 and 49 yards. Varesko entered the game with 387 yards rushing for the entire season.
CALIFORNIA TOPS WEST GREENE IN TRI-COUNTY SHOWDOWN
Jake Layhue’s three touchdowns allowed host California (6-1, 4-0) to take over sole possession of first place in the Class 1A Tri-County South Conference after a 44-12 win against West Greene (5-2, 3-1). Layhue scored on two 1-yard runs in the first half and added an 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
PUP BITES
- — Zach Welsh had a monster game, running for 280 yards and four touchdowns to help Class 6A No. 4 Canon-McMillan (5-2, 2-2) rally for a 30-14 win against Baldwin (1-6, 0-4). Welsh accounted for the final four touchdowns of the game (65, 7, 7 and 13 yards) after Baldwin had taken a 14-3 third-quarter lead. Baldwin’s Andrew Sharp rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
- — If you have anyone from Ellwood City or New Brighton on your fantasy teams, hopefully you had them in your lineup Friday. In one of the highest-scoring games in the WPIAL this season, host Ellwood City (4-3, 2-2) outlasted New Brighton (0-7, 0-4), 62-40, in a Class 2A Midwestern Conference game. Ellwood City quarterback Chris Smiley was 14-of-19 passing for 275 yards and five touchdowns, while teammate Elijah Palmer-McCane ran for 285 yards and four touchdowns. New Brighton’s Brian Taylor was 17-of-38 passing for 297 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target was Mike Veon, who finished with nine catches for 244 yards and three scores.
- — City League No. 1 Westinghouse (6-0) remained unbeaten after a 36-7 nonconference win at Butler (2-5). Ty Abrams rushed for 148 yards for the Bulldogs, including a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to open the scoring. Teammate Kyshawn Robinson added a 28-yard fumble return for a score.
THREE STARS
*** — Kolton Carlson, Laurel. Only a sophomore, Carlson put forth an outstanding two-way performance while leading host Laurel to a 35-12 win against Northgate in the Class 1A Big 7 Conference. Carlson pulled in six catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns and added five sacks to help the Spartans snap a five-game losing streak.
** — John Wetzel, Latrobe. Wetzel completed only four passes, but each of them went for touchdowns (including three to Ja’Tawn Williams) in Latrobe’s 35-6 win at Ringgold in the Class 4A Big Seven Conference. Wetzel finished 4 of 8 for 86 yards and also ran for a touchdown.
* — Michael Gimigliano, South Fayette. Gimigliano wasn’t in a giving, but rather a receiving mood, as his 10 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown paced South Fayette in a 24-13 nonconference win against Plum.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
SCOREBOARD
CITY LEAGUE
University Prep 46, Brashear 0
WPIAL Class 6A
Tri-County Five Conference
North Allegheny 43, Mt. Lebanon 7
WPIAL Class 5A
Allegheny Six Conference
Bethel Park 22, Upper St. Clair 10
Peters Township 40, Moon 7
Big East Conference
Franklin Regional 37, Norwin 29
Gateway 31, Penn-Trafford 27
Northeast Conference
North Hills 31, Shaler 8
Penn Hills 61, Fox Chapel 0
WPIAL Class 4A
Big Seven Conference
Latrobe 35, Ringgold 6
McKeesport 48, Connellsville 6
Trinity 23, Thomas Jefferson 6
Greater Allegheny Conference
Armstrong 42, Indiana 7
Mars 56, Kiski Area 14
North Catholic 28, Hampton 16
Parkway Conference
Aliquippa 41, Blackhawk 6
Chartiers Valley 35, New Castle 14
Montour 21, Central Valley 20
West Allegheny 40, Ambridge 0
WPIAL Class 3A
Allegheny 6 Conference
Deer Lakes 39, Valley 6
East Allegheny 28, Freeport 7
Knoch 1, Shady Side Academy 0 (Forfeit)
Interstate Conference
Belle Vernon 53, Greensburg Salem 7
Elizabeth Forward 39, Mount Pleasant 25
Southmoreland 42, South Allegheny 20
Western Hills Conference
Avonworth 33, Beaver 28
South Park 35, Quaker Valley 13
West Mifflin 26, Seton LaSalle 21
WPIAL Class 2A
Allegheny Conference
Burrell 33, Ligonier Valley 13
Imani Christian 60, Apollo-Ridge 13
Serra Catholic 40, Yough 12
Steel Valley 38, Derry 0
Century Conference
McGuffey 41, Charleroi 7
Washington 43, Sto-Rox 8
Waynesburg 48, Brentwood 14
Midwestern Conference
Ellwood City 62, New Brighton 40
Mohawk 21, Beaver Falls 12
Neshannock 35, Freedom 0
WPIAL Class 1A
Big 7 Conference
Laurel 35, Northgate 12
South Side 62, Shenango 12
Union 46, Rochester 28
Black Hills Conference
Bishop Canevin 21, Cornell 13
Carlynton 32, Chartiers-Houston 24
Fort Cherry 42, Avella 8
Eastern Conference
Clairton 65, Springdale 17
Greensburg Central Catholic 31, Frazier 6
Jeannette 37, Leechburg 31
Tri-County South Conference
Beth-Center 52, Bentworth 37
California 44, West Greene 12
Monessen 14, Carmichaels 13
Jefferson-Morgan 50, Mapletown 21
Nonconference
Albert Gallatin 19, Laurel Highlands 17
Canon-McMillan 30, Baldwin 14
Keystone Oaks 28, Hopewell 8
North Star 34, Uniontown 7
Pine-Richland 26, Central Catholic 19
Seneca Valley 42, Hempfield 13
South Fayette 24, Plum 13
Steubenville, Ohio, 36, Allderdice 0
Westinghouse 36, Butler 7
Woodland Hills 41, Highlands 10
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.