Trinity snagged four takeaways, returning two for touchdowns and added a punt return score, rolling past 4A #7 North Catholic, Trinity’s first playoff win since beating Mt. Pleasant in the 2007 first round. Andrew Durig returned a punt 88 yards to open the scoring and later added a rushing touchdown. Luke Lacock scored twice including a 45-yard Pick Six. Caden Vogel scooped a fumble and ran it back 20 yards for a touchdown as the #10 Hillers put up two defensive touchdowns in a 17-second span of the third quarter.
Ruben Gordon caught a pair of early TD passes and later ran 86 yards to the house, leading 2A #3 Wash High over Ellwood City. Eddie Lewis scored twice, part of his 103 yard night on a dozen carries, going over the 1,000 yard mark late in the first quarter. Zxavian Willis ran for one touchdown and threw for another for the Little Prexies who will face #6 McGuffey in the quarterfinals. The Highlanders built a 25-0 lead on #11 Derry, then held off the Trojans to advance. Connor Crowe threw touchdown passes to Ryan Keith and Rian Johnson. Dylan Droboj added a short TD run and Dylan Stewart booted a 25-yard field goal.
5A #1 Peters Township put up its 5th shutout of the season, blanking Franklin Regional and advancing to the semifinals. Nolan DiLucia had a hand in all five Peters touchdowns, passing for three scores and running for the other two. DiLucia has thrown for more than 2,000 yards on the season. Preston Blair, Carter Shanafelt and Ethan Wertman were on the receiving end of the scoring throws. The Indians face #5 Moon, a team Peters Township handled, 40-7 a month ago.
Ethan Faletto and Nate Heirendt each ran for a pair of touchdowns, Matt Sieg threw for two and rushed for another as 1A #2 Fort Cherry rolled past #15 Jeff-Morgan. Braydon Cook and Nik Massey caught the scoring passes as the Rangers picked up win #370 all-time, moving Fort Cherry into a tie for 8th-most in Washington County with Beth-Center.
#6 California jumped on visiting Jeannette early and never looked back, rolling past the Jayhawks and into the quarterfinals. Spencer Petrucci scored four touchdowns and rushed for nearly 200 yards. The Trojans, winners of eight straight, will face #3 Bishop Canevin.
#12 Burgettstown took a 30-15 lead but couldn’t protect it, falling to #5 Union, the defending WPIAL 1A champion. Brodie Kuzior led the Blue Devils with three rushing touchdowns and a TD pass to Zach Schrockman who later added a long kickoff return.
Waynesburg was within reach of 2A #4 Imani Christian at the half but allowed 30 points in the period as the Raiders season ended. West Greene fell to Greensburg Central Catholic in the 8-9 match-up. The Centurions beat the Pioneers in the regular season as well. Click Here for WPIAL Football Brackets
Quarterfinals
5A #1 Peters Township 35, #8 Franklin Regional 0
First Round
4A #10 Trinity 49, #7 North Catholic 0
2A #3 Wash High 48, #14 Ellwood City 6
2A #6 McGuffey 25, #11 Derry Area 13
2A #4 Imani Christian 52, #13 Waynesburg 14
1A #2 Fort Cherry 50, #15 Jeff-Morgan 16
1A #6 California 44, #11 Jeannette 6
1A #8 Greensburg Central Catholic 41, #9 West Greene 22
1A #5 Union 51, #12 Burgettstown 37