Rochester’s running game overpowers West Greene
Mark Marietta
West Greene wide receiver Nathan Brudnock makes a catch in the Pioneers无毛视频� WPIAL playoff game against Rochester. Brudnock was the second-leading scorer among Greene County players this season with 54 points and was the only player in the 无毛视频-Standard Touchdown Club to record at least one touchdown, one two-point conversion and one extra-point kick. (Photo by Mark Marietta)
West Greene无毛视频檚 Kolin Walker returns a second-quarter kickoff Friday night against Rochester.
West Greene无毛视频檚 Kolin Walker is met at the line of scrimmage by Rochester无毛视频檚 Kadin Mersing during Friday night无毛视频檚 WPIAL playoff game.
West Greene defensive lineman Brock Bedillion attemots to sack Rochester quarterback Zaine Jeffers during Friday night's game.
WAYNESBURG 无毛视频� Fourth-seeded West Greene无毛视频檚 bid for its first playoff win since 1993 was run into the ground by a Rochester team that was coming into Friday night无毛视频檚 match-up on a six-game winning streak.
The fifth-seeded Rams (10-1) compiled 539 rushing yards and eight touchdowns en route to a convincing 52-14 win in the opening round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs at Waynesburg Central High School.
West Greene无毛视频檚 standout running back Ben Jackson did not start the game but played sparingly throughout the night on an injured leg that has kept him from playing the past two weeks.
The biggest bright spot for the Pioneers (7-4) was Jackson surpassing the 4,000-yard mark for his career on a 30-yard touchdown on the team无毛视频檚 final play of the night 无毛视频� becoming the sixth player from Greene County to reach the feat.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a great feeling. I feel like I would feel a little better if we would have won, but we lost the game,无毛视频� Jackson said. 无毛视频淚t honestly does feel great. I无毛视频檓 humbled, I have a great line 无毛视频� they really pushed me to it.无毛视频�
West Greene head coach Rod Huffman praised Jackson无毛视频檚 willpower to push through and suit up for the game knowing he wasn无毛视频檛 nearly 100 percent healthy.
无毛视频淭here aren无毛视频檛 words to describe what (Jackson) did tonight,无毛视频� Huffman said. 无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 on one leg. For him to go out there and to even dress up 无毛视频� he无毛视频檚 a warrior. I无毛视频檓 so proud of him and I无毛视频檓 glad he got the 4,000-plus (yards). Hopefully, he can stay healthy next year and hopefully we can get back (to the playoffs).无毛视频�
The Rams came out hot and scored on each of their first four drives to build a 28-0 lead, notching a pair of rushing touchdowns each from Noah Whiteleather and Darius Goosby.
West Greene finally scored when Jackson, who entered the game on the team无毛视频檚 second offensive possession, escaped for a 22-yard touchdown run. Following a missed PAT, West Greene trailed 28-6 late in the second quarter.
The Rams accumulated 293 yards rushing in the first half, including 218 on 19 carries by Whiteleather.
The Pioneers got the ball back to start the second half but fumbled it away on their first play. Rochester capitalized as Goosby punched in his third touchdown less than two minutes later to extend the Rams无毛视频� lead to 34-6.
Goosby added a fourth rushing score on the next drive, and Rashawn Reid had late touchdowns of 59 yards and 78 yards to round out the scoring for the Rams. Whiteleather finished with 255 rushing yards while Goosby and Reid each went over 100 yards.
Jackson rounded out the night with his 30-yard rushing touchdown as regulation was winding down.
无毛视频淲e came in and we were a focused football team tonight. These kids are hungry, and they无毛视频檝e been staying with the process,无毛视频� Matsook said. 无毛视频淚 know Jackson didn无毛视频檛 play too much, but I thought our defense played pretty well whether he was in or out.无毛视频�
Rochester moves on to the semifinals next Friday night to face top-seeded Jeannette.
WPIAL Class A Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Rochester 20-8-18-6 无毛视频� 52
West Greene 0-6-0-8 无毛视频� 14
First Quarter
R: Darius Goosby 4 run (Declan Eaton pass from Tyreek Sherod)
R: Noah Whiteleather 32 run (kick failed)
R: Goosby 1 run (pass failed)
Second Quarter
R: Whiteleather 34 run (Goosby run)
WG: Ben Jackson 22 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
R: Goosby 20 run (run failed)
R: Goosby 24 run (run failed)
R: Rashawn Reid 59 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
R: Reid 78 run (kick failed)
WG: Jackson 30 run (Austin Geho run)
Records: Rochester (10-1), West Greene (7-4).