Tino Sunseri scored two touchdowns, but an extra point by Matt Oczypok proved to be the difference, as Central Catholic captured the WPIAL Class AAAA title with a 35-34 overtime victory over Gateway, in a game played tonight at Heinz Field.

Central Catholic (13-0) was making its fifth title appearance, and fourth in seven years, and claimed its third title. The Vikings also won titles in 2003 and 2004. Gateway (11-2) was making its 10th title appearance.

Gateway opened the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run by Cameron Saddler with 3:44 left in the first quarter. The two-play, 25-yard drive was set up by Brian Williams' 15-yard punt return. Gateway had another excellent scoring opportunity late in the second quarter. The Gators drove from their own 35 to the Central Catholic 12, with the help of a fake punt and a 35-yard pass from Robert Kalkstein to Leon Green, but a 35-yard field goal attempt by RyanLichtenstein was wide left.

Central Catholic evened the score at 7-7 with a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on its last possession of the first half. Tino Sunseri capped the Vikings drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Williams on a rollout. The score came with 0:41 left in the half.

Central Catholic took advantage of a Gateway turnover to score its second touchdown midway through the third quarter. Emmanuel Matthews intercepted a Kalkstein pass at the Gateway 25. Andrew Taglianetti scored two plays later on a 35-yard run.

The Vikings increased their lead to 21-7 with a 10-play, 94-yard

drive. Tino Sunseri capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run with 8:49 left in the game.

Gateway responded with a four-play, 65-yard drive to score its

second touchdown. Saddler capped the drive with a 12-yard run with 7:25 left, but the extra point attempt failed. The key play was a 39-yard pass from Kalkstein to Jonathon Pryor.

The Gators tried an on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff and

recovered the ball on the Central 44, but the Vikings held on downs.

On Gateway's next possession, the Gators drove from their own 30 to the Central 19, but Matthews picked off his second pass and returned it 85 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. That gave Central Catholic a 28-13 lead.

Just when it looked as if Central would win, Gateway scored two

touchdowns in the final minute to send the game into overtime. The first came on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Kalkstein to Cory Brown with 31 seconds left. The score capped a three-play, 40-yard drive.

The Gators then recovered another on-side kick and drove 50 yards on four plays to tie the game. The touchdown came on a hook and ladder play that covered 29 yards, in which Saddler took a lateral from Pryor and ran 11 yards for the score. A two-point pass from Kalkstein to Steve Horath tied the game.

Central Catholic won the coin toss in overtime and chose to have the ball last during the overtime.

Both teams needed four plays to score in overtime, but Gateway's

extra point attempt by Lichtenstein failed. Green scored on a 1-yard

sneak for Gateway, while Sunseri scored from the same distance for

Central Catholic, but Oczypok was perfect on all five extra point attempts.

Central Catholic accumulated 281 yards in total offense, including 206 yards on 28 rushing attempts. Taglianetti led the Vikings with 103 yards on 13 carries.

Gateway had 360 yards in total offense, including 164 yards on 46

rushing attempts. Saddler rushed for 128 yards on 36 carries. Kalkstein completed 11 of 20 passes for 196 yards, but was intercepted twice.

The victory also earned Central Catholic a PIAA berth. The Vikings will face District 10 champion Erie Cathedral Prep (9-2) in next week's quarterfinals at a site and time to be determined. Erie Prep advanced with a 28-14 win over City League champion Brashear (12-1).