It was the final game at Glassport Stadium and South Allegheny went out in style with a 21-7 victory over Mount Pleasant in the Class 3A Interstate Conference.
The win earned South Allegheny (4-6, 4-2) its fifth WPIAL playoff berth and first since 2012. It concluded 72 years of football at Glassport Stadium, as the Gladiators will move into a new stadium next season.
A potent rushing attack was the key for South Allegheny, as the Gladiators accumulated 295 yards on the ground. Akell Carrington opened the scoring with a 5-yard run with 7:23 left in the first quarter.
Kavan Markwood added two more touchdowns, on a 5-yard run with 11:35 left in the second quarter, and a 12-yard run with 9:10 left, which gave the Gladiators a commanding 21-0 lead.
Mount Pleasant (5-4, 3-2) scored its only touchdown with 6:39 left on a 20-yard run by Tyler Reese. The Vikings also qualified for the playoffs.
More Class 3A
Elizabeth Forward 49, Yough 8: Zach Boyd caught touchdown passes of 63 and 25 yards from Zion White, and returned a punt 65 yards for another touchdown as the No. 3-ranked Warriors (8-2, 6-0) concluded their Interstate Conference schedule with a convincing victory over the visititing Cougars (1-9, 1-5). White also connected with Jordan Wilmore on a 30-yard scoring pass. Davontay Brownfield, Sam McDonald, and Johnny DiNapoli also scored touchdowns for the Warriors.
Southmoreland 28, South Park 14: Anthony Govern scored on runs of 10 and 3 yards to give the Scotties (7-3, 4-2) the deciding points in a road victory over the Eagles (2-7, 2-4) in the Interstate Conference. The win marks only the third time in school history that Southmoreland has qualified for the playoffs. Govern also completed 13 of 19 passes for 136 yards and connected with Josh Bass on a scoring pass. Isaac Trout also scored for the Scotties on a 5-yard run.
Burrell 19, Valley 14: Caden DiCaprio scored on runs of 3 and 20 yards to lead the Buccaneers (3-7, 3-3) to an Allegheny Seven Conference win over the visiting Vikings (2-8, 1-5). The win, along with Deer Lakes’ loss to Freeport, allowed Burrell to qualify for the playoffs.
Keystone Oaks 27, Ambridge 7: Kevin Drew and Shawn Reick combined to rush for 250 yards and one touchdown as the Golden Eagles defeated the visiting Bridgers (2-8, 2-3) in the Northwestern Six Conference. Drew rushed for 133 yards on 26 carries, while Reick had 117 yards on 14 carries and scored on a 4-yard run.
Class 4A
Highlands 33, Knoch 13: Chandler Thimons and Luke Bombalski combined to rush for 384 yards and five touchdowns as the Golden Rams (7-3, 4-3) finished their Greater Allegheny Conference schedule with a win over the visiting Knights (2-8, 1-6). Thimons rushed for 196 yards on 14 carries and scored on runs of 4 and 2 yards. Bombalski accumulated 188 yards on 20 carries and scored on runs of 3, 20 and 21 yards. Kegan Fraser scored twice for Knoch on a 1-yard run and a fumble recovery in the end zone.
Plum 30, Greensburg Salem 27: Angelo Baleno’s 29-yard field with 4:45 left was the difference as the Mustangs (4-6, 4-3) pulled out a narrow victory over the visiting Golden Lions (5-5, 3-4) in the Greater Allegheny Conference. Sean Franzi completed 13 of 27 passes for 98 yards and three touchdowns for the Mustangs. He connected with Logan Brooks on touchdown passes of 6 and 16 yards and with Kaden Thomas on an 8-yard scoring pass. Greensburg Salem’s Hayden Teska scored on runs of 29 and 1 yards and connected with Donavin Waller on a 10-yard scoring pass that tied the score, 27-27.
Thomas Jefferson 49, West Mifflin 0: Elias Lippincott scored on touchdown runs of 31, 16 and 1 yard, and returned a fumble 12 yards for another score, as the No. 5-ranked Jaguars (6-2, 4-2) dominated the host Titans (2-8, 1-5) in the Big Eight Conference. Joe Lekse connected with Sean Sullivan on touchdown passes of 11 and 45 yards. Lekse also scored on a 85-yard interception return.
Armstrong 42, Indiana 22: Cadin Olsen rushed for 100 yards and scored on runs of 1, 1, 6 and 10 yards to lead the River Hawks (7-3, 5-2) to a road victory over the Little Indians (5-5, 3-4) in the Greater Allegheny Conference. Olsen also connected with Noah Shuttlesworth on a 2-yard scoring pass. Indiana’s Zach Herrington rushed for 96 yards and a 1-yard score. He also caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Devin Flint.
Laurel Highlands 42, Uniontown 14: Rodney Gallagher became the 12th player in WPIAL history to rush for 1,000 yards and throw for 1,000 yards in the regular season as the Mustangs (7-3) dominated the host Red Raiders (2-4) in a non-conference game. Gallagher also set the school single-season scoring record with 33 touchdowns.
Hampton 48, Mars 14: The No. 4-ranked Talbots (10-0, 7-0) concluded the regular season with an unblemished record with this blowout of the visiting Planets (1-9, 1-6) in the Greater Allegheny Conference.
Beaver 23, Blackhawk 21: A 27-yard Evan Baker field goal in the fourth quarter was the difference as the Bobcats (7-2, 4-1) defeated the visiting Cougars (2-8, 0-5) in the Parkway Conference. Jake Hilton scored on runs of 56 and 27 yards for Beaver.
First Published: October 30, 2021, 4:08 a.m.