WPIAL Class A Roundup (Nov. 3)
Fulmore again carries North Catholic to victory
No running back in Class A carried the ball more this regular season than North Catholic sophomore P.J. Fulmore.
Fulmore carried 207 times in the regular season, and Friday night in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, the workhorse was at his best, carrying the No. 6 Trojans (8-2) past No. 11 Bishop Canevin (6-4), 21-0.
Fulmore rushed 30 times for 221 yards and all three scores. The Trojans defense posted its fourth shutout of the season.
Other games
Neshannock 42 Jefferson-Morgan 14
Ernie Burkes ran for three touchdowns and passed for three more to lead No. 13 Neshannock (9-1) to the first playoff win in program history with a win against No. 4 Jefferson-Morgan (7-3) at Waynesburg.
Eli Owens led the Lancers with 138 yards rushing. Dustin Conti rushed for 139 yards and two scores for the Rockets.
Brentwood 34 Springdale 6
Justin Vickless rushed for three scores and Chris Shortley passed for two touchdowns as No. 9 Brentwood (7-3) stormed back from a 6-0 deficit to overwhelm No. 8 Springdale (6-4) at Fox Chapel. Sean Dugan, the leading rusher in Class A this season and in Springdale program history, closed his career with a 101 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Clairton 58 Frazier 6
Top-seeded Clairton (10-0) brushed off an early 6-0 deficit to blast No. 16 Frazier (7-3) at Belle Vernon. The Bears have now won 57 consecutive games, two shy of the state record of 59 set by Central Bucks West. Tyler Boyd rushed for 246 yards and six touchdowns on only 11 carries.
Union 21 Beth-Center 7
No. 10 Union (7-3) rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to knock off No. 7 Beth-Center (8-2) and win the program's first playoff game since 1979.
Union fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter at California before Drew Robinson returned a fumble 28 yards for a score to help Union tie the score, 7-7, at halftime. In the second half Joe Salmen rushed for a touchdown and passed for another to help Union pull away from the Bulldogs.
Sto-Rox 40 Carmichaels 7
Lenny Williams accounted for five touchdowns, three passing and two rushing, to pace No. 2 Sto-Rox (9-1) to a win against No. 15 Carmichaels (7-3) at North Hills.
The Vikings, the WPIAL runner-up from last season, led 14-0 at halftime. They broke the 14-0 game open when Williams hooked up with Javelle Kirkland on a 77-yard touchdown pass four minutes into the second half. It was the first of Kirkland's two touchdowns.
Monessen 48 Apollo-Ridge 19
Chavas Rawlins rushed for three scores and passed for another as No. 5 Monessen (9-1) defeated No. 12 Apollo-Ridge (6-4) at Charleroi. The Greyhounds, who led, 35-12, at halftime, outgained the Vikings 461-290. Jesse Zelonka threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns for the Apollo-Ridge.
Rochester 35 Avonworth 15
Dante Marsick rushed for 204 yards and three scores as No. 3 Rochester (9-1) eliminated No. 14 Avonworth (5-5) for the third straight season at Ambridge. Ben Richko threw for 139 yards and two scores for the Rams while Zach Chandler passed for 274 yards and two scores for Avonworth.
No running back in Class A carried the ball more this regular season than North Catholic sophomore P.J. Fulmore.
Fulmore carried 207 times in the regular season, and Friday night in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, the workhorse was at his best, carrying the No. 6 Trojans (8-2) past No. 11 Bishop Canevin (6-4), 21-0.
Fulmore rushed 30 times for 221 yards and all three scores. The Trojans defense posted its fourth shutout of the season.
Other games
Neshannock 42 Jefferson-Morgan 14
Ernie Burkes ran for three touchdowns and passed for three more to lead No. 13 Neshannock (9-1) to the first playoff win in program history with a win against No. 4 Jefferson-Morgan (7-3) at Waynesburg.
Eli Owens led the Lancers with 138 yards rushing. Dustin Conti rushed for 139 yards and two scores for the Rockets.
Brentwood 34 Springdale 6
Justin Vickless rushed for three scores and Chris Shortley passed for two touchdowns as No. 9 Brentwood (7-3) stormed back from a 6-0 deficit to overwhelm No. 8 Springdale (6-4) at Fox Chapel. Sean Dugan, the leading rusher in Class A this season and in Springdale program history, closed his career with a 101 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Clairton 58 Frazier 6
Top-seeded Clairton (10-0) brushed off an early 6-0 deficit to blast No. 16 Frazier (7-3) at Belle Vernon. The Bears have now won 57 consecutive games, two shy of the state record of 59 set by Central Bucks West. Tyler Boyd rushed for 246 yards and six touchdowns on only 11 carries.
Union 21 Beth-Center 7
No. 10 Union (7-3) rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to knock off No. 7 Beth-Center (8-2) and win the program's first playoff game since 1979.
Union fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter at California before Drew Robinson returned a fumble 28 yards for a score to help Union tie the score, 7-7, at halftime. In the second half Joe Salmen rushed for a touchdown and passed for another to help Union pull away from the Bulldogs.
Sto-Rox 40 Carmichaels 7
Lenny Williams accounted for five touchdowns, three passing and two rushing, to pace No. 2 Sto-Rox (9-1) to a win against No. 15 Carmichaels (7-3) at North Hills.
The Vikings, the WPIAL runner-up from last season, led 14-0 at halftime. They broke the 14-0 game open when Williams hooked up with Javelle Kirkland on a 77-yard touchdown pass four minutes into the second half. It was the first of Kirkland's two touchdowns.
Monessen 48 Apollo-Ridge 19
Chavas Rawlins rushed for three scores and passed for another as No. 5 Monessen (9-1) defeated No. 12 Apollo-Ridge (6-4) at Charleroi. The Greyhounds, who led, 35-12, at halftime, outgained the Vikings 461-290. Jesse Zelonka threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns for the Apollo-Ridge.
Rochester 35 Avonworth 15
Dante Marsick rushed for 204 yards and three scores as No. 3 Rochester (9-1) eliminated No. 14 Avonworth (5-5) for the third straight season at Ambridge. Ben Richko threw for 139 yards and two scores for the Rams while Zach Chandler passed for 274 yards and two scores for Avonworth.
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