After generating plenty of preseason buzz with a loaded roster featuring several big-time playmakers, Beaver didn’t have to wait long for its first big test of the 2024 season.
And after a back-and-forth slugfest that saw the Bobcats rally from an early double-digit deficit against Westinghouse before withstanding a second-half rally, it’s safe to say they passed with flying colors.
In the final game of the KDKA Kickoff Classic Saturday night at the Wolvarena, Class 3A No. 4 Beaver picked up one of its biggest wins in years by defeating the two-time defending City League champion Bulldogs, 28-26. Westinghouse reached back-to-back PIAA Class 2A championship games in 2022-23, and many projected the Bulldogs as a leading state title contender in 2024 after dropping down to Class 1A. They may still reach their ultimate goal in December, but Saturday night belonged to the Bobcats.
“We’ve got nothing but respect for how they play the game,” said Beaver coach Cort Rowse. “We went through some adversity. It’s nice to see my kids overcome that. … To come out of here with a ‘W’ against a team like that, it feels good. It’s something to build on.”
Rowse deserves much of the credit for the Bobcats’ gritty, inspired performance on Saturday, as he rolled the dice on multiple occasions while pulling out all the stops in order to bring home the victory.
After scoring to take a 14-12 lead late in the second quarter, Beaver successfully recovered an onside kick to steal an extra possession, leading to a 1-yard touchdown run by Drey Hall on fourth-and-goal just before halftime. Then, with the Bobcats clinging to a two-point lead and 1:57 remaining, Rowse inserted star senior Amari Jackson in punting formation on fourth-and-4 — but he gave Jackson the option to take off and run for the first down, and that’s exactly what Jackson did to seal the win with a 7-yard gain.
“I was going to punt the ball originally, but no one rushed, so I was like, ‘I might as well just take off and get this win for the team,'” Jackson said.
A Villanova recruit, Jackson had a game to remember for Beaver, catching five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown while also intercepting a pass in the end zone late in the fourth quarter to preserve the lead for the Bobcats. And of course, he saved his best for last.
“We worked really hard all offseason,” Jackson said. “They played really intense, but we played intense, too. … I feel like we were the more physical team at the end of the day.”
Beaver quarterback Travis Clear completed 12-of-18 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, while Qualan Cain rushed for 58 yards and a score on 13 carries.
For Westinghouse, senior receiver Lloyd Penn was the star of the show, catching three passes for 71 yards and two TDs while adding an end-zone interception of his own. Sophomore K-Shawn Hawkins had a 95-yard kick return TD on the opening kick and also hauled in a 51-yard reception for the Bulldogs.
But while Westinghouse lost back-to-back games for the first time in several years, the Bobcats kickstarted what could turn out to be a special season with a monumental Week 0 win
“I don’t really look at all the hype,” Rowse said. “I look at how we prepare and how we go about our business day-to-day. … We were able to get by a really good football team tonight.”
Class 6A
• Central Catholic entered the season ranked No. 1 in Class 6A, but the Vikings were no match for nationally ranked powerhouse St. Frances, Md., suffering a 44-16 defeat in the second game of the KDKA Kickoff Classic at the Wolvarena. St. Frances wasted little time asserting its dominance while taking a 21-3 lead into the half, then tacked on a safety to make it a 20-point lead early in the third quarter before pulling away later in the second half. Xxavier Thomas (11-yard TD reception) and Roman Thompson (6-yard rushing TD) were the only players to find the end zone for the Vikings.
Class 4A
• Mars took a trip down south and put its high-octane offense on full display, outlasting Boone, Fla., in a 47-35 shootout. Planets quarterback Luke Goodworth completed 10-of-15 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns, including three of 80-plus yards. Senior wideout Gabe Hein was his primary target, hauling in nine receptions for a whopping 330 yards and three scores, while Eric Kasperowicz Jr. rushed for 120 yards and a pair of TDs on 18 carries.
Class 3A
• Imani Christian showed why some are expecting the Saints to contend for a WPIAL title after moving up from Class 2A, blowing the doors off District 12 foe West Catholic en route to a 45-6 rout at the York Rose Bowl Kickoff Classic. Highly touted junior David Davis accounted for three touchdowns, including a 98-yard punt return for a score, and Stephen VanDiver passed for a pair of TDs while rushing for another. Penn State recruit Dayshaun Burnett hauled in a 56-yard TD reception from VanDiver, and Marcus Williams scored on a 57-yard TD pass for Imani.
Class 1A
• In a battle between two of the WPIAL’s most storied small-school programs, Class 1A No. 2 Clairton made good on all its preseason hype by trouncing Class 2A No. 1 Steel Valley, 30-7, in the opening game of the KDKA Kickoff Classic at the Wolvarena. Zaemear Correll scored on a 37-yard TD reception from Jeff Thompson on the Bears’ first play from scrimmage, and Deon Pompey tallied a trio of rushing TDs in the win for Clairton, which didn’t allow a score on defense the entire game. Donald Barksdale scored the lone touchdown for the Ironmen on a fumble return.
Scores
Beaver 28, Westinghouse 26
Clairton 30, Steel Valley 7
Cornell 44, Brashear 0
Imani Christian 45, West Catholic 6
Mars 47, Boone, Fla., 35
St. Frances, Md., 44, Central Catholic 16
Summit Academy 20, Frazier 16
Susquehanna Township 36, Penn Hills 30
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
