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WPIAL CLASS AAAA: Penn-Trafford overcomes big deficit in win
Saturday, October 31, 2009

After a slow start, Penn-Trafford is experiencing seventh heaven.

Finding themselves facing a 17-14 second-quarter deficit, the host Warriors scored the game's final 24 points to defeat Norwin, 38-17, in a virtual playoff game in the Foothills Conference.

The victory means Penn-Trafford (3-6, 3-3) qualified for the WPIAL postseason for the seventh year in a row. The loss by Norwin (4-5, 2-4) meant it has sat out the playoffs during seven of the past nine seasons.

Manny Simpson rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns, Ryan Austin scored on an 89-yard kickoff return and on a 49-yard pass from Zach Emerick, and Ryan Burger had 13 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown for the Warriors, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Tim Petro had a 9-yard touchdown run and threw a 59-yard touchdown pass during the first half for Norwin, which lost its final three games after a 4-2 start.

Penn-Trafford hasn't won a playoff game since 1999.

OTHER GAMES
Plum 28, Kiski Area 21

PG PDFs


The visiting Mustangs (3-6, 2-3) qualified for the playoffs in an elimination game against the Cavaliers (3-6, 1-4) in the Big East Conference.

Kiski Area ended the season on a four-game losing streak.

Plum went 1-9 last season.

Upper St. Clair 21, Mt. Lebanon 14

Alex Park scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter to break a tie and lift the Panthers (6-3, 3-2) to a road win against the rival Blue Devils (5-4, 3-2) in the Great Southern Conference.

Jacob Siwicki rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown for Upper St. Clair, which earned a home game in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Mt. Lebanon's Luke Hagy scored on a 3-yard run and Michael Martin had a 9-yard touchdown reception. Martin had a game-high five catches for 49 yards for the Blue Devils, who were out-gained, 246-240.

Bethel Park 41, Baldwin 7

Nick Kwiatkowski had a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown on offense and also had an interception and a fumble recovery defensively as the Black Hawks wrapped up a Great Southern Conference title-winning season with a win at home. Kwiatkowski had four catches for 81 yards and Bre Ford rushed for 96 yards on carries and had two touchdowns for defending WPIAL champion Bethel Park (8-1, 5-0).

Jordan Joyce threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Marquis to break up the shutout for Baldwin (2-7, 2-3), which still earned its first playoff berth since 2005 when Canon-McMillan lost.

Bethel Park has won the conference two consecutive seasons.

Central Catholic 42, Fox Chapel 14

The Foxes' Montay Green rushed for 175 yards and touchdowns during the first and fourth quarters. But in between, the visiting Vikings (7-2, 4-1) ran off 41 consecutive points in a Big East Conference win to clinch home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Quarterback David Smyers rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns and Dom Maggio rushed for two touchdowns for Central Catholic.

Fox Chapel (3-6) lost all five conference games this season.

North Allegheny 28, North Hills 3

Alex Papson had 20 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns and Justin Brozick passed for and ran for touchdowns as the Northern Six Conference champion Tigers (8-1, 5-0) won their sixth in a row. The visiting Indians (4-5, 2-3) have lost four of their past five against their bitter rival, but the series is tied at 25-25.

North Allegheny coach Art Walker won his 100th career game. Walker is in his 12th season, his fifth with the Tigers. He formerly coached at Central Catholic.

Anthony Chiappetta's 23-yard field goal in the third quarter accounted for the only scoring for North Hills, which was out-gained, 262-243.

Seneca Valley 35, Butler 17

Donny Holl was 11-for-14 for 109 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown as the host Raiders (5-4, 3-2) clinched third place in the Northern Six Conference with a win against the Golden Tornado. Andrew Smith, Troy Witt, Randy Morris and Jack Graham also scored touchdowns for Seneca Valley.

Brian Jendesky and Jacob Thompson scored and Jordan Lumley was 9-for-12 for 119 yards and an interception for Butler (0-9, 0-5), which completed its second winless season in the past three years.

Peters Township 41, Canon-McMillan 21

Quarterback Austin Hancock played a role in five touchdowns as the host Indians (5-4, 1-4) snapped a four-game losing streak with a Great Southern Conference victory that kept the Big Macs (3-6, 1-4) out of the postseason.

Hancock rushed for two touchdowns, passed for two more and returned an interception 84 yards for a score as the Indians built up a 41-7 lead. Hancock was 10-for-13 for 220 yards. Both of his touchdown passes went to Egan Balash.

Hempfield 40, Latrobe 33

The visiting Spartans had won only once since opening night and had been shut out in two of their past three games but jumped out to a 33-13 lead and held on for a Foothillls Conference victory.

Pat Parisi rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns and R.J. Thomas had first-half scoring runs of 4 and 52 yards for Hempfield (3-6, 2-4).

Eric Shaffer threw a touchdown pass and ran for another for the Wildcats (4-5, 3-3), who held a 423-253 edge in total yardage in defeat.

Shaler 29, Pine-Richland 7

Jesse Della Valle rushed for three touchdowns and Matt Ramey had 22 carries for 116 yards and a 33-yard touchdown run for the host Titans (8-1, 4-1), who already were assured second place in the Northern Six Conference.

Tyler Bills was 10-for-20 for 173 yards -- including seven completions to Della Valle for 133 yards.

The Rams' Justin Williams rushed for 220 yards and a touchdown. Pine-Richland (3-6, 1-4) held a 386-375 edge in total yards but has lost five of six and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

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First published on October 31, 2009 at 12:07 am