Sep 17, 2017 By The 3 min read

If there was any doubt that California is for real in Class A, the Trojans showed Imani Christian they are a solid football team on Saturday afternoon in a 41-26 non-conference victory at Graham Field in Wilkinsburg.

California (2-0, 4-0) trailed the Saints, 20-8, in the second quarter but scored the next 35 points to take a 41-20 advantage.

Trojans 265-pound running back Jelani Stafford rushed for 236 yards on 26 carries and put the game away with a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth.

California got on the board first when it threw a rare pass, but Cochise Ryan pulled in a 33-yard reception from Colin Phillips. Stafford ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Imani Christian quarterback Tawan Wesley completed his first eight attempts, including touchdown passes of 25 and 37 yards to Ray Jackson, and a 33 yarder to Sam Fairley for a 20-8 lead.

The Trojans were able to get together defensively, and Phillips had intercepted Wesley three times. Wesley, who was replaced for multiple series by Israel Reed, was 14 for 22 but was intercepted four times.

California cut the deficit to 20-15 after Phillips’ three-yard run and the first of three successful PATs by Dustin Mock, and took a 22-20 advantage on Zion Aldrich’s seven-yard run.

Aldrich, who rushed for 55 yards on eight carries, scored on a 12-yard run for a 28-20 lead heading into halftime.

The Trojans’ special teams unit got into action in the fourth quarter when Brady Petrucci returned a blocked punt 10 yards for the touchdown and a 34-20 advantage before Stafford’s touchdown.

The Saints (2-0, 3-1) added a late score when Rahmon Hart pulled in a 41-yard reception from Reed.

Phillips had 33 yards on six carries, Ryan had six rushes for 33, Jonathan Wood (five carries, 18 yards) and Austin Grillo (one rush, 1 yard) all contributed to California’s 336 yards rushing.

The Trojans are back in Tri-County South action on Friday when they welcome Dylan Rush and Mapletown (1-1, 2-2) to Coal Center.

Non-conference

California                   8          20          0          13 — 41

Imani Christian        14            6          0            6 — 26

First Quarter

C: Cochise Ryan 33 pass from Colin Phillips (Jelani Stafford run)

IC: Sam Fairley 33 pass from Tawan Wesley (Asante Watkins pass from Wesley)

IC: Ray Jackson 25 pass from Wesley (pass failed)

Second Quarter

IC: Jackson 37 pass from Wesley (run failed)

C: Phillips 3 run (Dustin Mock kick)

C: Zion Aldrich 7 run (Mock kick)

C: Aldrich 12 run (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

C: Brady Petrucci 10 blocked punt return (run failed)

C: Stafford 16 run (Mock kick)

IC: Rahmon Hart 41 pass from Israel Reed (run failed)

Records: California (2-0, 4-0), Inmani Christian (2-0, 3-1).