West Catholic wins First Ever State Title

FROM DEAN BEERS

HERSHEY – The last time West Catholic was in the PIAA State Football Championships, was in 2008 when they were defeated by Wilmington, 35-34 in two overtimes.

The Burrs (13-2) wanted to make amends for that loss when they returned to Hershey on Saturday afternoon to face District 7 Champion – South Fayette. And, they did, by defeating the Lions 50-14 on a cold, sunny day at Hershey Park Stadium, for the P.I.A.A. Class 2A State Championship.

South Fayette started the game strong, scoring the first touchdown of the game. Lions’ sophomore wide receiver Zach Challingsworth scored on an 8-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Christian Brumbaugh. The Lions took a 7-0 lead.

Late in the first quarter, it would take the Burrs one play to tie the game up. Sophomore running back David Williams would go up the middle 81 yards for the touchdown, for the first of his two touchdowns of the game.

The Burrs, starting at their own 8-yard line, would take two plays on this drive to score, with 8:45 left in the second quarter.

Talented senior wide receiver Jaelen Strong-Rankin would haul in his second of two touchdown receptions – a 75-yard pass from senior quarterback Anthony Reid. The Burrs lead 14-7.

About three minutes later, Reid would scramble seven yards to the endzone, putting his team up 20-7. The kick was missed.

The Lions (15-1) would answer back with three minutes left in the half. It was the Brumbaugh to Challingsworth (7 catches, 53 yards) connection again, but this time it was a 20-yard touchdown pass and catch. The Lions were behind by 6, 20-14.

But, back came West Catholic. Burrs’ senior running back Brandon Hollomon (14 rushes, 112 yards) would score his only touchdown of the game – a 16-yard burst to put his team ahead 28-14.

Strong-Rankin (2 catches, 100 yards) would score his second of two touchdowns just before halftime, a pass from Reid in the right corner of the endzone. The Burrs extended their lead 36-14.

Burrs’ David Williams would score his second touchdown of the day as well, on a 4-yard run with 7:53 left in the third quarter. West Catholic would lead 44-14.

West Catholic would put the mercy rule into affect, when their third running back scored a touchdown. Senior Joshua Mathis (8 rushes, 60 yards) would run 26 yards to paydirt, padding his team’s lead to 50-14.

Lions’ senior quarterback Brumbaugh, a William & Mary recruit, would finish the game, completing 11 passes in 28 attempts for 111 yards.

His counterpart, Anthony Reid toss 7 passes, completing 3 of them for 124 yards.

West Catholic would compile 530 yards of total offense compared to South Fayette’s 135 yards. The Burrs would have over 400 yards rushing for the game.

http://www.d11football.com/news/12/19/west-catholic-wins-first-ever-state-title/