Oct 27, 2012 3 min read

McDONALD – Having a playoff spot clinched for a while now, South Fayette High School’s football team had two goals remaining: finish with an undefeated regular season record, thus securing another conference championship, and earn as high a seed in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs as possible. The undefeated part proved to be relatively easy. Brett Brumbaugh and the South Fayette offense carved up visiting South Allegheny to the tune of 322 yards and a 42-0 victory Friday to wrap up sole possession of the Class AA Century Conference championship. It’s the third such title for South Fayette in the last four years, and they don’t get old. “I was a part of the other two, but being a senior and having those reins on your back, it’s something special,” said senior Zach Challingsworth. Challingsworth hauled in two touchdown passes from Brumbaugh and caught six passes for 83 yards. He’s part of a senior class that, in addition to those three conference titles, posted a 33-3 regular season record. “It’s crazy,” Challingsworth said. “We’ve got a great group of guys.” Aliquippa is the odds-on favorite to earn the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs, leaving South Fayette (8-0, 9-0) and Washington for the Nos. 2 or 3 seeds. Both teams have had impressive seasons behind standout offensive stars, the Lions fueled by Brumbaugh and Challingsworth and the Prexies led by Shai McKenzie. And South Fayette’s defense has been just as good as the offense. The Lions’ shutout Friday was their sixth of the season and fourth straight. They’ve also not allowed a passing touchdown this season. “We’d like to keep it that way,” said Challingsworth, who also is a defensive back. “Four shutouts in a row is unbelievable and six in a season. You don’t see that a lot.” “Best defense in the WPIAL,” added Lions coach Joe Rossi. “They pride themselves on running to the football and getting there.” South Fayette punted just once in the first half. And that impressive defense held the Gladiators (6-2, 7-2) to just 57 yards of offense and four first downs. South Allegheny’s inability to move the ball, plus punting into a strong wind in the first quarter, consistently gave South Fayette short fields to work with. Only once did the Lions start inside their own 35-yard line in the opening 24 minutes. Also hurting the Gladiators was playing without quarterback Dustin Anderson. Ty Cook started in his place, but the change meant South Allegheny’s offense was more one-dimensional. Cook attempted just four passes in the first half. South Fayette’s offense, meanwhile, was its usual potent self. Brumbaugh completed 15 of 18 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Brumbaugh now has 2,124 passing yards on the season. He also rushed for a score. “He’s had a tremendous sophomore season,” Rossi said. “But he’d trade all the stats for a WPIAL championship.” Grant Fetchet rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown for the Lions, who scored on their first four possessions. J.J. Walker scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground. The Gladiators had only 72 yards of offense going into the fourth quarter. South Allegheny had won seven straight games, not losing since being blanked by Seton-La Salle in Week 1, and is in the playoffs for the first time since 1986.