Neshannock combined a stout defense with a dominant running game to hold off previously unbeaten Freedom for a 49-21 victory in the WPIAL Class 2A Midwestern Conference.
The host Lancers (6-2, 4-1) ran for 267 yards on 40 carries while holding the Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1) to 34 yards on 38 carries. Braden Gennock ran for 142 yards and two scores, while Jason Nativio added another 44 yards and four scores for Neshannock.
Freedom was off to its best start since 1977,
More Class 2A
Washington 56, Beth-Center 14: Zack Swartz is the quarterback for No. 1 Washington (8-0, 5-0), but he played like a running back Friday night in a Century Conference triumph against Beth-Center (0-8, 0-6). Swartz carried the ball seven times for 125 yards and scored on runs of 1, 33 and 54 yards. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 101 yards and two more scores.
Avonworth 35, East Allegheny 7: Workhorse running back Jax Miller carried the ball 35 times for 239 yards and four scores to keep the third-ranked Antelopes (8-0, 5-0) unbeaten after the Allegheny Conference win.
Brentwood 25, Carlynton 0: After a scoreless first quarter, the Spartans (7-1, 6-0) found their groove and shutout the Cougars (2-6, 1-4) to stay atop the Three Rivers Conference. Aiden Wardzinski sparked the Spartans offense with a 16-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and then ran it in from 3 yards out in the third quarter. Wardzinski carried 27 times for a game-high 189 yards.
Steel Valley 20, Apollo-Ridge 14: Ronnell Lawrence went 8 for 12 for 117 yards, including a 51-yard scoring strike to NiJhay Burt, as the Ironmen (3-4, 2-3) picked up the Allegheny Conference win. Logan Harmon ran for 150 yards and scored on runs of 1 and 23 yards to lead Apollo-Ridge (6-2, 4-2).
Riverside 49, Ellwood City 28: Nearly half of Riverside quarterback Ben Hughes’ completions resulted in a touchdown, as the Panthers (5-2, 4-2) picked up a Midwestern Conference victory. Hughes went 13 for 15 for 204 yards and six touchdown. Nate Sciarro caught seven passes for 169 yards and three scores.
Burgettstown 44, Mohawk 0: Jake Lounder powered a big first half for the Blue Devils (7-0, 5-0), who raced to a 37-0 halftime lead in the non-section rout of Mohawk (0-8, 0-6). Louder carried the ball seven times for 112 yards, including scoring sprints of 43 and 12 yards.
Class 1A
Sto-Rox 68, Bishop Canevin 0: Eric Wilson, the WPIAL’s leading passer, padded his stats by completed 14 of 20 passes for 308 yards and five scores to lead the Vikings (8-0, 6-0) past the Crusaders (0-8, 0-5) in the Big Seven Conference. He ran for another score as well. Amahd Pack hauled in six passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a 14-yard score in the first quarter. Treynell Paxton caught four passes for 91 yards including a 50-yard touchdown.
Cornell 33, Laurel 21: Zaier Harrison and Isaiah Langston engineered a second-half comeback, as Cornell (6-1, 5-1) edged Laurel (5-3, 3-2) in the Big Seven Conference. Harrison tossed touchdown passes to Langston in the second half. Harrison threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns total. Langston hauled in seven passes for 204 yards and four scores.
Chartiers-Houston 40, Avella 0: The Bucs (6-2, 5-1) claimed a third consecutive victory by routing host Avella in the Tri-County South Conference. Chartiers-Houston took a 14-0 lead in the fourth quarter and then poured it on late with 20 fourth-quarter points. Anthony Lento completed 11 of 18 passes for 172 yards and three scores.
Monessen 24, Mapletown 8: The Greyhounds scored all of their points before halftime and cruised to the Tri-County South Conference victory. Antwon Tucker scored two touchdowns in two different ways for Monessen (3-5, 3-3). First he brought back a punt 47 yards for a score. Then, he hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Isaiah Beltram.
Jeannette 48, Greensburg Central Catholic 14: Imani Sanders ran for 211 yards as the No. 1 Jayhawks (8-0, 4-0) put a halt to the Centurions’ four-game winning streak in the Eastern Conference. Sanders scored on runs of 11, 1, 3, 25 and 6 yards. Jeannette built a 26-0 halftime lead and dominated on the ground. The Jayhawks racked up 496 yards rushing.
Leechburg 31, Imani Christian 6: Jake Blumer ran wild, as the Blue Devils (3-5, 2-3) pulled away from the Saints (0-8, 0-6) for the Eastern Conference victory. Blumer scored the first four touchdowns for Leechburg and finished with 156 yards on 19 carries.
Our Lady of Sacred Heart 60, Jefferson-Morgan 0: The Chargers have won five of six after demolishing the Rockets in a non-conference matchup. Jaymar Pearson needed just five carries to rack up 147 yards and two scores.
First Published: October 12, 2019, 4:22 a.m.
