It took some late-game heroics Friday night for Penn Hills to push past Mars.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Indians took advantage of two interceptions and profited from a game-deciding 78-yard touchdown run by Germar Howard, to top the Planets, 14-7, in a WPIAL Class 5A Northern Conference contest at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium.
No. 5-ranked Penn Hills (3-1, 2-0) trailed Mars at the half, 7-0, but opened the third quarter with an 18-yard touchdown run by Howard. A 6-foot, 180-pound senior, Howard finished with 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
The Planets (2-2, 0-1), who committed six turnovers, scored their only touchdown in the second quarter when Mitchell Wright hauled in a 14-yard pass from Quinn Fuller.
Teddy Ruffner, who entered the game second in the WPIAL in rushing, ran for 94 yards on 29 carries.
Penn Hills outgained Mars in total offensive yards, 297-154.
More games
North Hills 35, Hampton 14: The Indians (4-0, 3-0) scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to hold off the visiting Talbots (2-2, 2-1) and remain undefeated in the Northern Conference. Dylan Pawling scored a pair of touchdowns and had 152 yards of total offense. He completed 4 of 6 passes for 60 yards to go along with his team-best 92 rushing yards. Curtis Foskey rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns for North Hills. Hampton’s Ian Anderson threw two touchdowns and completed 5 of 10 passes for 83 yards.
Upper St. Clair 45, Woodland Hills 41: Ethan Dahlem lit up the South Hills’ sky for the host Panthers (3-1, 2-1). A junior quarterback, Dahlem completed 22 of 33 passes for 485 yards and two touchdowns against the Wolverines (0-4, 0-2) in an Allegheny Eight showdown. Dahlem also rushed for 75 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. David Pantelis hauled in 13 receptions and finished with 269 receiving yards and a touchdown. Woodland Hills led 34-24 at the half, but the Panthers’ defense shutout the Wolverines in the fourth quarter. William Clark paced the Woodland Hills offense by rushing for 141 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Jeffrey Williams also rushed for a pair of scores for the Wolverines.
Moon 41, Baldwin 13: The Tigers (3-1, 1-0) used a 27-point third quarter to hold off the host Highlanders (1-3, 0-2) and earn their first Allegheny Eight Conference victory. Jamal Littlejohn scored twice for Moon, rushing for 97 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries as well as catching three passes and a touchdown. Dante Clay completed 11 of 15 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Peters Township 23, West Allegheny 7: Ryan Magiske rushed 25 times and finished with 149 yards and two touchdowns to guide No. 2 Peters Township (4-0, 3-0) past the visiting Indians (1-2, 1-2) in Allegheny Eight Conference action. Logan Pfeuffer completed 9 of 19 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. Pfeuffer connected with Josh Casilli on a 67-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Casilli finished with two catches for 80 yards. Nico Flati scored West Allegheny’s lone touchdown on a 4-yard run.
Kiski Area 36, Fox Chapel 17: Kenny Blake scored three touchdowns as the Cavaliers (2-2, 1-2) outlasted the host Foxes (0-4, 0-3). Blake rushed for 150 yards on 21 carries and scored on runs of 56, 3 and 4 yards. Fox Chapel’s Shane Susnak completed 15 of 27 passes for 193 yards, while Lorenzo Jenkins had six receptions for 110 yards.
Plum 49, Connellsville 14: The visiting Falcons (1-3, 0-3) trailed 14-7 at the half before the Mustangs (2-2, 1-2) added 35 second-half points in the Big East Conference contest. Plum outgained Connellsville in total yardage, 474-150. Plum quarterback Jacob Miller completed 8 of 12 passes for 161 yards and four touchdowns. Williams Guzzi rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. He scored on runs of 25 and 24 yards.
Bethel Park 31, Shaler 0: Anthony Chiccitt sparked the No. 4 Black Hawks (3-0) by throwing three first-half touchdowns against the host Titans (1-3) in non-conference play. Chiccitt completed 12 of 17 passes for 160 yards. Sean McGowan caught two touchdown passes from Chiccitt and finished with seven receptions for 69 yards. Shaler’s Darin Mizgorski completed 17 of 30 passes for 136 yards.
Franklin Regional 16, West Mifflin 9: Despite trailing the host Titans (2-2), 9-7, at halftime, the Panthers (3-0) put up a defensive stand during the second half of the non-conference game. Franklin Regional’s Zac Gordon rushed for two touchdowns.
First Published: September 14, 2019, 4:08 a.m.
