WPIAL Class AAA Roundup (Nov. 3)
Hopewell scores first-round upset
Tyler Ishman rushed for 157 yards on 20 carries and scored the deciding touchdown, as Hopewell upset Hampton, 14-6, in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs Friday night at Hampton.
Ishman scored on a 1-yard run as time ran out in the third quarter.
The extra point by Stefan Mrkonja capped the scoring, all of which came in the third quarter.
Hopewell (5-5), seeded No. 11 in the 16-team bracket, opened the scoring early in the period with a 22-yard pass from Mrkonja to Bryce Smith.
Hampton (7-3), the No. 6 seed, scored its only points on a 4-yard run by Ben Foreman. The Talbots failed on the extra point attempt.
Other games
Thomas Jefferson 63 Hollidaysburg 19
The top-seeded Jaguars (10-0) remained the only unbeaten team in Class AAA with their domination of the Golden Tigers (3-7).
Zach Talley and Luke Deanovich each scored twice for the Jaguars. Talley returned a kickoff 70 yards for a score, then returned a punt 61 yards for another score. Deanovich scored on runs of 25 and 41 yards.
Thomas Jefferson accumulated 380 yards in total offense, while Hollidaysburg had 194 yards. The Jaguars scored nine touchdowns, all 25 yards or longer.
Central Valley 17 Belle Vernon 16
Elliott Taylor kicked a 22-yard field goal with seven seconds left to provide the deciding points, as the No. 3 Warriors (8-2) escaped with a narrow win against the No. 14 seeded Leopards (4-6).
Central Valley was playing with out quarterback Nathan Climo and tailback Jordan Whitehead, who were out with injuries, and receiver Robert Foster, who was suspended for one game.
Central Valley also scored on a 2-yard run by Jaquan Pennington and a 1-yard run by John George. Belle Vernon's Anthony Levis scored twice on a pair of 3-yard runs.
It was the ninth time since 2000 that Belle Vernon has lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
West Allegheny 48 Ringgold 7
The No. 4 seeded Indians (9-1) built a 41-0 halftime lead, then cruised to a first round victory against the visiting Rams (4-6).
Chayse Dillon led the Indians with 127 yards on 6 rushing attempts. He scored on runs of 10 and 58 yards. Nick Halbedl scored three times on runs of 1, 1, and 6 yards.
West Allegheny accumulated 16 first downs and 362 yards in total offense, including 322 on the ground
It was the fifth loss in six games for Ringgold. The Rams had 165 yards in total offense and turned the ball over four times.
Montour 27 Trinity 6
Cole Macek rushed for 143 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead No. 5 seed Montour (9-1) to a win against the visiting Hillers (5-5).
Macek scored on a 10-yard run to lead a 20-point outburst by Montour in the first quarter. Macek also scored the Spartans last touchdown on a 22-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Mihelcic accounted for Montour's other two scores. He ran 6 yards for one and connected with Devin Wilson on a 12-yard pass for the other. Mihelcic completed 10 of 13 passes for 192 yards.
Trinity scored its only points on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Jason Vankirk to Corey Hunsberger.
Franklin Regional 44 Elizabeth Forward 7
Tailback Dane Brown reached the 4,000-yard plateau, as the No. 8 seeded Panthers (8-2) dominated the visiting Warriors (6-4)
Brown rushed for 140 yards on 22 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 7, 41, 3, and 6 yards. He now has 4,084 career yards.
Charan Singh scored twice for the Panthers, on a 4-yard pass from Nico Lodovico, and a 70-yard interception return. Lodovico completed 7 of 11 passes for 89 yards.
Elizabeth Forward was making its first playoff appearance since 2005. Rex Pearse scored on a 4-yard run for the Warriors only points.
Tyler Ishman rushed for 157 yards on 20 carries and scored the deciding touchdown, as Hopewell upset Hampton, 14-6, in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs Friday night at Hampton.
Ishman scored on a 1-yard run as time ran out in the third quarter.
The extra point by Stefan Mrkonja capped the scoring, all of which came in the third quarter.
Hopewell (5-5), seeded No. 11 in the 16-team bracket, opened the scoring early in the period with a 22-yard pass from Mrkonja to Bryce Smith.
Hampton (7-3), the No. 6 seed, scored its only points on a 4-yard run by Ben Foreman. The Talbots failed on the extra point attempt.
Other games
Thomas Jefferson 63 Hollidaysburg 19
The top-seeded Jaguars (10-0) remained the only unbeaten team in Class AAA with their domination of the Golden Tigers (3-7).
Zach Talley and Luke Deanovich each scored twice for the Jaguars. Talley returned a kickoff 70 yards for a score, then returned a punt 61 yards for another score. Deanovich scored on runs of 25 and 41 yards.
Thomas Jefferson accumulated 380 yards in total offense, while Hollidaysburg had 194 yards. The Jaguars scored nine touchdowns, all 25 yards or longer.
Central Valley 17 Belle Vernon 16
Elliott Taylor kicked a 22-yard field goal with seven seconds left to provide the deciding points, as the No. 3 Warriors (8-2) escaped with a narrow win against the No. 14 seeded Leopards (4-6).
Central Valley was playing with out quarterback Nathan Climo and tailback Jordan Whitehead, who were out with injuries, and receiver Robert Foster, who was suspended for one game.
Central Valley also scored on a 2-yard run by Jaquan Pennington and a 1-yard run by John George. Belle Vernon's Anthony Levis scored twice on a pair of 3-yard runs.
It was the ninth time since 2000 that Belle Vernon has lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
West Allegheny 48 Ringgold 7
The No. 4 seeded Indians (9-1) built a 41-0 halftime lead, then cruised to a first round victory against the visiting Rams (4-6).
Chayse Dillon led the Indians with 127 yards on 6 rushing attempts. He scored on runs of 10 and 58 yards. Nick Halbedl scored three times on runs of 1, 1, and 6 yards.
West Allegheny accumulated 16 first downs and 362 yards in total offense, including 322 on the ground
It was the fifth loss in six games for Ringgold. The Rams had 165 yards in total offense and turned the ball over four times.
Montour 27 Trinity 6
Cole Macek rushed for 143 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead No. 5 seed Montour (9-1) to a win against the visiting Hillers (5-5).
Macek scored on a 10-yard run to lead a 20-point outburst by Montour in the first quarter. Macek also scored the Spartans last touchdown on a 22-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Mihelcic accounted for Montour's other two scores. He ran 6 yards for one and connected with Devin Wilson on a 12-yard pass for the other. Mihelcic completed 10 of 13 passes for 192 yards.
Trinity scored its only points on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Jason Vankirk to Corey Hunsberger.
Franklin Regional 44 Elizabeth Forward 7
Tailback Dane Brown reached the 4,000-yard plateau, as the No. 8 seeded Panthers (8-2) dominated the visiting Warriors (6-4)
Brown rushed for 140 yards on 22 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 7, 41, 3, and 6 yards. He now has 4,084 career yards.
Charan Singh scored twice for the Panthers, on a 4-yard pass from Nico Lodovico, and a 70-yard interception return. Lodovico completed 7 of 11 passes for 89 yards.
Elizabeth Forward was making its first playoff appearance since 2005. Rex Pearse scored on a 4-yard run for the Warriors only points.
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