Jimmy Zubik was the difference last season in Avonworth's one-point win against visiting Springdale.

He nearly did it again last night, but the Dynamos' defense stood tall.

Zubik's 7-yard touchdown run with 1:57 to go left Avonworth down, 7-6. Avonworth coach Jason Kekseo opted to go for two points and the win.

Zubik took a pitchout in the backfield, drew the defense towards him and lofted a pass into the end zone, but it was broken up at the last second by Springdale's Brian Shemenski.

Shemenski also gave the Dynamos (4-1, 2-1) the lead with a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter before Matt Weber kicked the deciding extra point.

No. 4-ranked Avonworth (4-1, 2-1) lost for the first time since joining the Eastern Conference last season.

Trailing, 12-7, to visiting Beth-Center (3-2, 2-1) with 2:54 to play, Monessen forced a game-changing fumble. One minute later, Terrance Stepoli hit Nick Bolias for a 25-yard touchdown pass to lift the Greyhounds (3-2, 3-0) to a win in a meeting of teams that entered the game tied for the Tri-County South lead.

The Trojans (3-0, 3-2) made easy work of visiting Leechburg (0-5, 0-3) in an Eastern Conference matchup.

North Catholic poured on 29 first-quarter points behind the running of Julian Durden, who scored on touchdown runs of 30, 42 and 75 yards.

The Buccaneers' defense pitched its second shutout this season in a Black Hills Conference win against visiting Frazier (2-3, 1-2). Chartiers-Houston (4-1, 2-1) scored first on a Joey Joscsak touchdown run of 5 yards, and, after Zach Hamilton's 36-yard field goal, Mykel Dorsey put the game away with a 74-yard touchdown run.

Geibel (2-3, 1-2) kept host West Greene (0-5, 0-3) winless in a Tri-County South meeting.

Joe Colangelo did it all for Monaca (3-2, 2-1) as the Indians blew past visiting Union (1-4, 0-3) in a Big Seven Conference game. Colangelo ran for a 2-point conversion, returned an interception 36 yards for one touchdown and rushed for three more.

Serra rebounded from its first loss of the season to throttle another team of Eagles, host Avella. A week after allowing 42 points, Serra (4-1, 2-1) shut out Avella (1-4, 0-3). Four Serra players ran for touchdowns.

A hard-luck loser the past two weeks, host Brentwood (1-4, 1-2) bounced back against Wilkinsburg (0-5, 0-3) in a battle of previously winless teams. In the first quarter, Cory Bauer and Danny Lucas hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes. Bauer added a 5-yard touchdown run in the Spartans' 20-point first quarter.

The Trojans (4-1, 3-0) forced a first-place tie with Monessen in the Tri-County South with a blowout win against visiting Mapletown (0-5, 0-3). D.J. Martinak raced for 3 touchdowns, including runs of 84 and 65 yards.

Ryan Knight's 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter lifted visiting Jefferson-Morgan (4-1, 2-1) to a victory against upset-minded Carmichaels (1-4, 1-2). The Rockets jumped to a 14-0 lead thanks to long touchdowns from Hans Lubich, a 54-yard catch and 86-yard run. Carmichaels responded with two touchdowns to take a 15-14 lead heading the fourth before the deciding score by Knight.

Brandon Seachrist scored consecutive touchdowns to lead Riverview back from an early deficit in a victory against Carlynton (1-4, 1-2). Seachrist scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to pull the Raiders within one. In the third quarter, Seachrist gave Riverview (3-2, 3-0) the lead on an 17-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Millberger.

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