One drive. One big defensive play. And one superb effort from a terrific defensive lineman.

It does not sound like all that much to win a game, let alone a postseason contest on the road. But that was the simple formula Penn Hills used last night to knock off host Upper St. Clair, 14-7, in a WPIAL Class AAAA first-round playoff game.

Penn Hills' defense literally won the game for the Indians. The offense was pretty much punchless, except for the first drive of the game that resulted in a touchdown. No problem. The defense provided the winning points.

Defensive back Ray Harris intercepted a pass and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie. The score stood up the rest of the way as Penn Hills limited Upper St. Clair to 157 total yards.

"It's a big win because we still have to get some offense together," said Penn Hills coach Ron Graham. "But our defense did a stellar job."

It was definitely the highest point of the season for Penn Hills, a team that had high expectations at the start of the season, but stumbled through the regular season with a 4-5 record. The Indians had not beaten a team with a winning record, and Upper St. Clair came in with a 6-3 mark.

"I will tell you that these kids never responded to the ills that can come with losing," Graham said. "They practiced hard, they came out and played hard. They never gave up."

Upper St. Clair faced some adversity last night. His name was Aaron Donald.

A senior defensive tackle and a Pitt recruit, Donald wrecked Upper St. Clair plays time after time, despite being double-teamed. He had three sacks and pressured Upper St. Clair quarterback Alex Park a number of other times. He made tackles on running plays. In short, he caused havoc.

Somewhere, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt should be smiling.

"He played a great game," Graham said of Donald.

With less than two minutes left, Upper St. Clair had a first down at the Penn Hills 24. Two passes fell incomplete. Donaldson and Walter Moultrie sacked Park on third down. On fourth down, Park faced heavy pressure again and barely got off an incomplete pass with 1:11 remaining.

Penn Hills line coach Demond Gibson is a former Pitt defensive lineman and said the performance was not out of the ordinary for the 6-foot-2, 270-pound senior.

"What he did tonight is just the natural way he plays," Gibson said.

"He just willed this team and that defense not to lose. I think you saw a big-time player making big plays in a big game.

"We had a conversation before the game, during every timeout and at halftime. I just kept telling him, 'Don't let those guys lose this game.' I kept telling him. I think he willed this team to win."

For Donald, the will was strong.

"It's playoffs. You win or go home," he said. "You have to give 100 percent."

Park came in as one of the leading passers in Class AAAA, but he had defenders in his face just about every time he passed and was sacked six times. Park finished 5 of 18 for only 81 yards.

Penn Hills' offense also struggled against Upper St. Clair's defense as the Indians were limited to six first downs and 121 total yards. Sophomore quarterback Chaz Whittaker was replaced by junior Phil Morford late in the third quarter.

"He wasn't hurt," Graham said of Whittaker.

"We just felt we had to make a change to stabilize our offense."

Penn Hills scored on its first possession, moving 70 yards for a touchdown. Chris Washington capped the march with a 20-yard run.

Upper St. Clair answered on its first possession, moving 59 yards in six plays for a score. Jacob Siwicki scored on a 5-yard run. But neither team's offense scored again.

The winning touchdown came on a pass to the left flat by Park. But Harris got his third interception of the season and the biggest of his career.

Mike White's "High School Sports Edition" videos are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.