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Battle for first: Trojans, Pioneers set for TCS clash

By Rob Burchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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Celeste Van Kirk

California’s Cochise Ryan eludes Beth-Center’s Dalton White during their game at Beth-Center on Aug. 23. The Trojans travel to Kennedy Field tonight for a Tri-County South showdown against undefeated West Greene.

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Lori C. Padilla

California’s Cochise Ryan is stopped by West Greene’s Ben Jackson (34), Marcus Morris (78) and Andrew Litton during their Tri-County South game at Trojans Stadium last year. The Trojans won, 24-14. The two teams meet again tonight at Kennedy Field.

West Greene and star running back Benjamin Jackson have been running rampant against everyone they’ve played during the 2018 football season.

While the only team that has even slightly tested the Pioneers (5-0, 6-0) has been Monessen, the big test comes tonight when California (3-0, 4-2) visits Kennedy Field with the Tri-County South title on the line. The Herald-Standard Game of the Week is set to kickoff at 7 p.m.

The Trojans won the TSC outright two years ago and earned a share of the title along with the Greyhounds and West Greene last year. Now coached by Ed Woods, who has a slew of conference championships under his belt from his days leading Beth-Center, California won’t let its reign go without a fight.

The Trojans have had the Pioneers’ number the last three years, winning 41-0 in 2016, 42-0 in 2017 and 24-14 in 2018.

Jackson is well aware of those head-to-head numbers.

“Even in the preseason this was the game that we marked,” Jackson said. “We’ve lost to them all of my high school career, three years in a row. That’s kind of a chip on our shoulder.

“We’ve definitely marked this game. It’s a huge game for us. We expect to have a lot of our fans and visitors fans there.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Coach Brian Hanson’s Pioneers have led in each game handily by halftime this season except at Monessen where they trailed coach Mikey Blainefield’s squad 18-14. West Greene rallied behind Jackson in the second half to win going away, 49-24.

“Monessen definitely tested us, especially in the first half,” Jackson said. “We had some miscues in that game and that’s something we can’t have happen against California.”

Jackson is coming off another incredible game, having scored touchdowns on each of his five carries in a 55-0 win over Avella. He scored on runs of 57, 33, 56, 17 and 55 yards in a 218-yard performance, and now has rushed for 1,574 yards this season, upping his career total to an even 5,600 yards.

Jackson extended his lead in the Herald-Standard Touchdown Club standings once again. At 176 points, he leads second-place Colt Harper of Southmoreland (104) by 72.

In third place will be a key player on the opposite side of the field from Jackson tonight. California quarterback Cochise Ryan had a three-touchdown night in a 69-21 win over Jefferson-Morgan to put him at 82 points.

Mapletown’s Landon Stevenson rang up a touchdown and a two-point conversion to remain in fourth place at 68 points with Mount Pleasant’s Jake Johnson in fifth (66) after adding a TD run and a TD reception.

Rounding out the top 10 are Belle Vernon’s Larry Callaway (64), Carmichaels’ Kevin Kelly (60), Beth-Center’s Devin Dingle (56), Bentworth’s Owen Petrisek and the Scotties’ Riley Comfortini (48).

Five of the six Fayete County teams will be playing on their home turf tonight as Laurel Highlands hosts Ringgold, Albert Gallatin will hold homecoming during their game against University Prep (W. Va.), Brownsville hosts unbeaten McGuffey at Redstone Field, Uniontown hosts Derry and Frazier hosts Leechburg.

Connellsville travels to Fox Chapel.

Greene County teams joining West Greene with home games are Carmichaels vs. undefeated Washington at Coaches Field, Jefferson-Morgan vs. Riverview at Parker Field, and Mapletown vs. Greensburg Central Catholic.

Waynesburg Central travels to Quaker Valley.

In a key Interstate clash, Southmoreland hosts Charleroi, and in an important Big East (AAA) battle Elizabeth Forward goes to North Catholic.

Monessen is at Chartiers-Houston in a TCS battle for third place.

In other games tonight, Belle Vernon goes to Trinity, Beth-Center hosts East Allegheny, Yough travels to Aliquippa, Mount Pleasant hosts Burrell, and Bentworth hosts Avella.

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