A Class A preseason favorite, North Catholic avoided falling to 0-3 by upsetting No. 2 Springdale (2-1), 20-14, last night at J.C. Stone Field in North Park in an Eastern Conference showdown.

The Trojans (1-2) fell behind, 7-0, in the first quarter when Springdale quarterback Brian Shemenski scored on a 3-yard run. North Catholic junior quarterback Martin Long led his team back with two touchdown runs and a 23-yard touchdown pass to Bill Frizzi to give the Trojans a 20-7 lead. Shemenski added a second touchdown in the fourth quarter but North Catholic was able to run out the clock.

Long finished with 138 passing yards and Julian Durden added 105 yards on the ground for the Trojans.

Beth-Center sophomore Deshan Brown had arguably the game of the night in leading Beth-Center (2-1) to a 28-6 win last night against Carmichaels in the Tri-County South opener for both teams.

Brown scored three touchdowns, two on special teams and one on defense. Brown opened the scoring with a second-quarter, 75-yard punt return. Later in the quarter, Brown returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown. In the second half Brown answered Carmichaels' lone touchdown with a 70-yard kickoff return for a score.

Carmichaels fell to 0-3 for the fourth consecutive season.

After an opening-week stunner, Clairton (2-1) has bounced back with two wins, including a rout last night against visiting Frazier (1-2). The Commodores took an early 7-0 lead before Clairton stormed back with 62 unanswered points. Deontae Howard had rushing touchdowns of 65, 56 and 15 yards and Desimon Green threw two touchdown passes.

In its home opener and conference opene,r the Trojans (2-1) shut out the Pioneers (0-3) in a Tri-County South Conference game at California University. D.J. Martinak had three rushing touchdowns of 20-plus yards and 151 total yards. California piled up 384 yards of total offense while limiting West Greene to 53.

The Raiders (1-2) picked up their first win of the season in their Eastern Conference opener while visiting Wilkinsburg (0-3) was denied a chance for its milestone 500th win. Riverview opened the game with 37 unanswered points.

Brandon Seachrist returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown and tacked on a 28-yard rushing touchdown for the Raiders.

In a back-and-forth game, the Cougars (1-2) held off Leechburg (0-3) thanks to a Tyrone Murray 34-yard touchdown pass to Jake Hatcher with 21 seconds left in regulation at Honus Wagner Field in Carnegie.

The Blue Devils had just taken a 21-20 lead on a Derian Sziraki touchdown run with just under a minute to play before Carlynton's last-second touchdown drive. Sziraki finished with 179 yards rushing.

Avonworth (3-0) held off Brentwood (0-3) to stretch its regular-season winning streak to 12 games. Jimmy Zubik returned an interception 25 yards for a first-half touchdown and Tom Turnbull found Ben Kramer for a 4-yard touchdown pass for the home-standing Antelopes.

The No. 3-ranked Eagles (3-0) rode senior running back Neal McFarland to a Black Hills Conference road victory against Burgettstown (1-2). McFarland opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown reception from Rob Heatherington and scored on rushes of 6 and 23 yards. McFarland finished with 107 rushing yards.

Five different Rangers scored touchdowns as Fort Cherry (3-0) picked up a Black Hills Conference win against the visiting Bearcats (1-2). Gary Kiefer ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns for Fort Cherry, and Tanner Garry passed for 123 yards.

Trey Johnson rushed for three first-half touchdowns and threw one as No. 1-ranked Rochester (3-0) shut out visiting Union (1-2) in the lone Big Seven Conference game of the night. In three games, Rochester has outscored opponents, 112-14.

The host Rockets (3-0) jumped out to a 34-6 halftime lead and rolled to a win against Geibel (1-2) in a Tri-County South Conference opener for both teams. Hans Lubich scored three touchdowns for the Rockets, two on the ground and one on a 18-yard pass from Brandon Kozich, who had three touchdown passes.

After opening the season with two brutal, non-conference games, Monessen (1-2) opened Tri-County South action by beating Mapletown (0-3). Brett Crenshaw rushed for 202 yards for the Greyhounds, who only led, 19-12, entering the fourth quarter.

Chartiers-Houston (3-0) held off the Eagles (1-2) in a Black Hills Conference opener.