Martinak leads California past Mapletown
With the win, California (4-1, 3-0) has won four straight against Mapletown (0-5, 0-3) and has posted an 8-2 record against the Maples in the last 10 contests. The Maples garnered the early lead and went up 6-0 when senior quarterback Cory Minnick rushed for a one-yard touchdown.
California responded with a six-play drive that was capped off by a two-yard rushing touchdown by senior signal collar D.J. Martinak.
On the Trojans’ next two drives, Martinak ran for touchdowns of 84 and 65 yards to put California up 21-6 with eight minutes left in the second quarter.
With 29 seconds left in the second quarter, Martinak threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Wade Stinnett to give the Trojans a commanding 34-6 lead going into halftime.
Carmichaels 20, Jefferson-Morgan 15
CARMICHAELS – After a second quarter full of big plays, Ryan Knight’s one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter clinched a crucial win for the Jefferson-Morgan Rockets over Carmichaels.
After a scoreless first quarter, J-M took a 7-0 lead on a 54-yard touchdown hookup between quarterback Brandon Kozich and running back Hans Lubich. The Rockets made it 14-0 when Lubich broke another big play, an 87-yard run to paydirt with just 14 seconds to go in the half.
The Mighty Mikes got a big play of their own on the ensuing kickoff as Tim Prince took the kick and raced 79 yards for a score. The two-point conversion made it 14-8 at halftime.
Carmichaels took the opening possession of the third quarter and marched right down field to take their first and only lead of the night. Standout running back Anthony Farrar capped a nine-play 64-yard drive with a five-yard scoring run. The extra point made it 15-14.
Carmichaels kept the lead into the fourth quarter, but Knight scored the game-winner with 8:05 to go in the contest. His one-yard plunge ended a nine-play, 50-yard march to a score. The two-point conversion was no good.
Carmichaels drove down the field with less then 2:00 to go in the game, but Jefferson’s Brent Moskola intercepted a pass in his own end zone to seal the win.
Lubich ended the night with 179 yard rushing and 77 yards receiving for a whopping 256 total yards and two touchdowns to lead the Rockets. Farrar was Carmichael’s biggest weapon as he went for 215 total yards (111 rushing, 104 receiving).
Geibel Catholic 29, West Greene 7
ROGERSVILLE – Hudnell Caldwell rushed for just 26 yards, but scored three touchdowns in Geibel ‘s win in the rain at West Greene’s Kennedy Field.
Christian Henckel rushed for 72 yards on 13 carries and scored the other touchdown for the Gators (2-3, 1-2).
It was a penalty-riddled affair, as the teams combined for 23 penalties covering 220 yards.
Brett Sink ruined the shutout bid, scoring on a nine yard run with 4:24 remaining in the fourth quarter. Adam Crawford led the Pioneers (0-5, 0-3) with 59 yards rushing on nine carries.
Albert Gallatin 28, Yough 2
YORK RUN – Albert Gallatin took advantage of five first half turnovers by visiting on its way to a 28-2 victory over the visiting Cougars.
Colonials’ junior tailback Grayling Sanders ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way on offense for AG. He also intercepted a pair of passes.
Albert Gallatin quarterback Cody Peebles ran for two touchdowns and completed 7-of-11 passes for 75 yards.
With the win, the Colonials improved to 2-3. They travel to Southmoreland on Friday.
Thomas Jefferson 55, Laurel Highlands 0
Thomas Jefferson proved why it is the two-time defending PIAA champion as the Jaguars picked up a 55-0 non-conference victory over Laurel Highlands Friday at the Mustang Corral.
Thomas Jefferson’s Ryan Ruffing ran for 72 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns in the first half while teammate Kevin Edmonson rushed for 75 yards on seven carries with one touchdown in the second half.
The Jaguars’ (2-0, 5-0) defense held the Mustangs’ 39 yards of total offense. One bright spot for Laurel Highlands (2-0, 2-3) was a fumble recovery by Tim Gemas.
The Mustangs’ Ryan Reed ran for 22 yards on four carries.
Greensburg Salem 18, Uniontown 0
GREENSBURG – Greensburg Salem took advantage of a pair of blocked punts, one of which was returned for a touchdown, two fumbles, and a pair of interceptions in handing Uniontown an 18-0 defeat Friday night at Greensburg’s Offutt Field.
As rain pelted the stadium turf late in the second period, Greensburg Salem’s Chris Wertz blocked a Uniontown punt at the Red Raiders’ 30-yard line and the Golden Lions’ Michael Nowicki scooped up the loose ball and ran 22 yards for the game’s first score.
On Uniontown’s next possession, Wertz did it again, blocking another punt at the U 12. Four plays later, a Greensburg Salem touchdown gave the Golden Lions a 12-0 halftime lead.
Uniontown mustered nine rushing yards in the first half, and 11 passing.
“We tried everything, but nothing worked,” Uniontown coach John Fortugna said. “We opened it up more in the second half, but even when were able to move the ball, they shut us down. And we have to do a better job blocking up front.”
Greensburg Salem (4-1, 2-0) put the game out of reach with a third-quarter touchdown and leaped ahead of the Red Raiders (3-2, 2-1) in the Class AAA Keystone Conference race. Uniontown’s Arnold Walker had a team-high 37 yards rushing on 15 carries, while Lucas Mosco completed 8 passes in 19 attempts for 76 yards, including four to Aaron Prescott for 43 yards.
Penn Trafford 48, Connellsville 0
CONNELLSVILLE – The Penn-Trafford Warriors used two big plays to take control of the game and rolled over Connellsville.
The first big play came in the second quarter on an interception by Tyler Zimmer who returned the pick 15-yards for a touchdown to push the Warriors to a 21-0 halftime lead.
The second big play came on the opening kickoff of the second half when Nick Markovic went 81 yards for the score.
Another touchdown by Lou Laffoon put the “Mercy Rule” into affect in the third quarter.
The win gives the Warriors a 2-1 record in the Foothills conference and 2-3 overall mark. The Falcons fall to 0-3 in the conference and 0-5 overall.
Greensburg C.C. 40, Waynesburg Central 0
WAYNESBURG – On a wet field in front of a fiery crowd Waynesburg Central couldn’t get its engines moving when needed most and were shut out by Interstate Conference opponent Greensburg Central Catholic.
John Sinnott led the Raiders in rushing with 23 yards and actually outgained the team total of 21 yards.
The Centurions scored their first three touchdowns with relative ease thanks to a pass interference call, a fumble and a blocked punt.
The Centurions would tack on a late second-half touchdown at the 4:21 mark with a two-yard run to increase their lead to 28-0.
Centurion quarterback Trent Hurley connected with Evan Marshall and Miller for touchdown passes in the second half.
Washington 31, Brownsville 14
REPUBLIC – Visiting Washington scored single touchdowns in every quarter as the Little Prexies defeated Brownsville, 31-14, in the Interstate Conference Friday night.
Washington (3-2, 3-2) scored on is first possession when Zach Barnes rambled 68 yards to score and Davon Whitaker added the two-point conversion run.
Brownsville (1-4, 1-4) responded with a 65-yard drive in five plays, capped by quarterback Brandon DeCarlo’s 19-yard scoring run. But the kick failed as the Prexies still led 8-6.
Washington scored just before halftime on Marquis Brown’s 34-yard pass to Gordon. Barnes added the conversion run for a 16-6 lead.
Whitaker’s 28-yard scoring run and William Powell’s kick made it 23-6, and Jaylin Kelly ran 10 yards to score in the fourth quarter made it 31-6 with a two-point pass from Jordan Ribel to Barnes.
Brownsville scored the game’s final touchdown as Zach Patterson ran six yards and Brandon Franks added the PAT on a run.
Chartiers-Houston 17, Frazier 0
Joey Joscsak scored on a 4-yard run in the first quarter, and the Bucs’ defense made the touchdown stand for a Black Hills Conference victory over the visiting Commodores.
Zach Hamilton connected on a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter and made both extra point attempts, the second coming after Mykel Dorsey scored late in the second quarter on a 69-yard run.
Chase Kirmeyer led Frazier with 40 yards rushing.
Boys cross country
Ringgold 24, Elizabeth-Forward 35; Ringgold 23, Albert Gallatin 36; Elizabeth-Forward 27, Albert Gallatin 28
The Colonials dropped both ends of a Section 2-AAA triangular hosted by Elizabeth-Forward at Round Hill Park.
The Warriors’ Josh Gibbons finished first in 18:37. Calvin Fenton was the first Albert Gallatin runner across the line, finishing in 19:39. Teammate Kyle Oldland was 23 seconds behind in fifth place. Jeremy Rich finished ninth with a time of 21:40.
Girls cross country
Elizabeth-Forward 15, Ringgold 50; Elizabeth-Forward 15, Albert Gallatin 50
The Lady Warriors were the only team in the Section 2-AAA triangular at Round Hill Park to field a full squad, sweeping past the Lady Rams and the Lady Colonials.
Braelyn Tracey, Elizabeth-Forward’s lone runner, finished first in 26:19. Savannah Ardabell, the only runner for Albert Gallatin, finished fourth in 31:15.
Boys golf
Waynesburg Central 187, Carmichaels 226
The Raiders remained in position to secure a share of the Division II, Section 8 crown with a victory over the visiting Mikes at Rohanna’s Golf Course.
The Raiders’ Ben Virgin shot a 3-over 36, and Loren Dukate finished with a 37. Emily Rohanna, Aaron Haywood and Matt King all shot 38.
The Mikes’ Zach Wolfe was medalist with a 2-over 35. Brandon Wolfe also broke 40 with a 37.
Waynesburg (12-3) improves to 9-2 in the section with one match remaining against Washington. Carmichaels slips to 6-5 in the section and 7-6 overall.