Down a peg: Pioneers fall at California, drop into second place
West Greene无毛视频檚 Colin Brady is dropped for a loss by California无毛视频檚 Landon Abercrombie during Friday night无毛视频檚 game at California. (Photo by Mark Marietta)
Mark Marietta
California无毛视频檚 Spencer Petrucci is met by West Greene无毛视频檚 Seth Burns on a second-quarter run during Friday night无毛视频檚 game at California.
Mark Marietta
Mark Marietta
West Greene无毛视频檚 Seth Burns (11) prevents a touchdown by pushing California无毛视频檚 Lee Qualk (4) out of bounds in the second quarter of Friday night无毛视频檚 game at California.
Mark Marietta
California无毛视频檚 Spencer Petrucci crosses midfield on a second-quarter run Friday against West Greene.
California无毛视频檚 Daquan Davis comes down with a Lane Allison pass for an interception that stopped West Greene无毛视频檚 late second-quarter drive Friday night.
California's Spencer Petrucci eludes West Greene's Johnny Lampe during Friday night's game at California.
California quarterback Jake Layhue begins the Trojans' first drive as he spins away from West Greene's Lane Allison Friday night.
Mark Marietta
West Greene无毛视频檚 Colin Brady takes in a Lane Allison pass and turns for the end zone for the Pioneers无毛视频� only score in the first half of Friday night无毛视频檚 game at California.
COAL CENTER 无毛视频� The phone at Ed Woods无毛视频� house will be ringing quite a bit this week.
On the other end of the line will be any number of coaches wanting to know how his defense could stifle one of the best running backs in the WPIAL.
Woods, the head coach at California High School, might want to keep it a secret. Postseason spots are still to be had for the WPIAL playoffs and the Trojans无毛视频� effort Friday night in a 44-12 victory over West Greene in the Class 1A Tri-County South Conference game will be sure to open some eyes.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 not telling anybody anything,无毛视频� Woods said with a laugh. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 keeping that to myself.无毛视频�
Brady surpassed 5,000 career rushing yards last week, needing 75 and getting unofficially 295. But his longest run of first three quarters of the game against California was five yards. He finished with seven yards on 12 carries.
无毛视频淭he defense stepped it up,无毛视频� Woods said. 无毛视频淲e came out and played (defense) the way we can play. They are getting more confident. We无毛视频檙e playing the type of defense we thought we could.无毛视频�
California quarterback Jake Layhue scored three touchdowns and accounted for the extra points. Spencer Petrucci rushed for two touchdowns and 131 yards.
无毛视频淵ou have to give credit to California,无毛视频� Pioneers coach Beau Jackson said. 无毛视频淭heir players were dialed in and ready to play. Our guys didn无毛视频檛 respond to the speed of the game very well.无毛视频�
Both teams entered the game with 3-0 conference records and were 5-1 overall. Next week, West Greene goes to Beth-Center and California will travel to Carmichaels.
West Greene had its spirits when Layhue caught a fumble from Brady and went 88 yards for a touchdown with 6:26 left in the quarter. Pioneers fullback Johnny Lampe had just made a gorgeous catch of a pass by quarterback Lane Allison but Layhue spoiled their chances.
West Greene wide receiver Parker Smith caught a 6-yard touchdown for the Pioneers无毛视频� only second-half score.
California unleashed a torrid running attack that produced a 22-6 lead at halftime.
On their second possession, the Trojans covered 54 yards in 10 plays. Layhue scored his first touchdown of the game on a one-yard dive. Layhue took care of the two-point conversion, running it in to take an 8-0 lead.
California made it 16-0 when Spencer Petrucci scored from two yards out. Layhue hit Caden Monticelli with the two-point conversion pass. Layhue added another one-yard touchdown run to give the Trojans had a 22-0 lead with 7:52 left before halftime.
West Greene finally broke through before halftime when Allison hit Brady with a short pass and he took it 40 yards for a touchdown. Allison无毛视频檚 pass for the two-point conversion was too high in the back of the end zone.
Petrucci finished the half with 121 yards on 17 carries while California无毛视频檚 defense held Brady to zero rushing yards and the 40-yard pass reception.
Allison completed 10 of 24 passes for 118 yards with two TD passes and one interception.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e going to take this as a learning experience,无毛视频� Jackson said, 无毛视频渁nd use it to improve.无毛视频�
Rob Burchianti contributed to this story.