Rams roll to a 56-20 win at Southmoreland
Highlands scored four touchdowns in the second quarter, including a kickoff return with just seconds remaining, for a 56-20 victory at Southmoreland on Friday in the opening round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.
Menage Lucas had touchdown runs of 1 and 50 yards, and completed a 32-yard scoring pass to Montrell Johnson in the quarter for the Rams (6-4).
Camren Phillips scored on a 28-yard run midway through the second quarter, and Anthony Smith powered into the end zone on a fourth-and-goal with only 28.6 seconds remaining in the first half.
Phillips ran for 64 yards on 17 carries.
However, Darius Cherry returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and a 35-13 halftime lead.
Lucas also had a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jahmar Wright in the first quarter and powered into the end zone from a yard out early in the fourth quarter. Lucas completed four passes for 158 yards.
Darius Cherry added a two-yard touchdown run and rushed for 160 yards.
Smith threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Stanley Betters early in the third quarter for Southmoreland (7-4). Betters led the Scotties with 53 yards receiving on three receptions.
Elliot Premus caught three passes for 19 yards and Jackson Mickens had three receptions for 44 yards.
Freeport 44, Mount Pleasant 20 – The Vikings trailed 24-14 at halftime, but the visitors were outscored in the second half, 20-6, in a WPIAL Class AAA first-round road loss.
Jarett Garn scored all three touchdowns for Mount Pleasant (5-6) on a 58-yard pass from Cole Chatfield and on runs of 11 and 10 yards. Chatfield completed 9-of-17 passes for 160 yards.
Drew Ross had rushing touchdowns of 10, 5 and 20 yards and an interception return of 42 yards for a score. Amos Glenn finished with 190 yards for Freeport (8-3).
McKeesport 34, Belle Vernon 11 – The Tigers led 9-0 after the first quarter and Belle Vernon was unable to rally for a first-round road loss in the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs.
Preston Rathway hit a 41-yard field goal for the Leopards’ only points in the first half.
Kole Doppelheuer scored on a 2-yard run and the two-point conversion for Belle Vernon (4-5) in the third quarter.
Kemon Spell ran for touchdowns of 65 and 5 yards, and finished with 277 yards on 28 carries for McKeesport (7-4).
Freeport 44, Mount Pleasant 20 – The Vikings trailed 24-14 at halftime, but the visitors were outscored in the second half, 20-6, in a WPIAL Class AAA first-round road loss.
Jarett Garn scored all three touchdowns for Mount Pleasant (5-6) on a 58-yard pass from Cole Chatfield and on runs of 11 and 10 yards. Chatfield completed 9-of-17 passes for 160 yards.
Drew Ross had rushing touchdowns of 10, 5 and 20 yards and an interception return of 42 yards for a score. Amos Glenn finished with 190 yards for Freeport (8-3).
South Allegheny 53, Waynesburg Central 14 – The Gladiators scored 46 points in the middle quarters for a first-round home victory in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs against the visiting Raiders.
The Raiders (6-4) tied the game in the first quarter on Jacob Stephenson’s 7-yard touchdown run.
South Allegheny (8-2) scored the next 46 points.
Ryan Cortes threw touchdown passes of 10 and 31 yards to Drew Cook and 82 yards to Cam Epps, scored on a 1-yard run and returned a fumble 46 yards for a score.
Epps also scored on a 46-yard run.
Waynesburg closed the scoring on Jeffrey Blair’s 42 yard pass to Teagen Crouse in the fourth quarter.
Bishop Canevin 56, Bentworth 3 – Caden Hackinson connected on a 27-yard field goal for the Bearcats’ only points in WPIAL Class A first-round loss to the Crusaders.
Myontae Mott scored three touchdowns for Bishop Canevin (8-2).
Bentworth finished the season with an overall record of 6-5.
Greensburg C.C. 54, Monessen 38 – The Centurions advanced in the WPIAL Class A playoffs with a high-scoring victory over the visiting Greyhounds.
Tyvaughn Kershaw completed 8-of-12 passes for 173 yards, two touchdowns and an Interception for Monessen (7-4). He also ran for 206 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.
Tavian Taylor was the Greyhounds’ top receiver with six receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
Samir Crosby completed six passes for 169 yards and four touchdowns, had a 70-yard kickoff return and scored on a 26-yard run for the Centurions (8-2).