No playoffs for WG after falling to Cal
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter California’s Jonathan Wood picks up yards during a game against West Greene at West Greene’s Kennedy field on Friday, October 28, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter California’s Jonathan Wood picks up yards during a game against West Greene at West GreeneþÄôs Kennedy field on Friday, October 28, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter California’s Cochise Ryan picks up yards against West Greene during a game at West Greene’s Kennedy field on Friday, October 28, 2016.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter West Greene’s Benjamin Jaskson breaks the hold of CaliforniaþÄôs Tim Sheehan during a game at West GreeneþÄôs Kennedy field on Friday, October 28, 2016.
ROGERSVILLE – The drought continues for West Greene.
California made sure the Pioneers’ streak of not making the WPIAL football playoffs was extended for another season after a 41-0 victory over the Pioneers in a Tri-County South Conference game on a crisp Friday night in Rogersville.
West Greene was looking to break the drought that has lasted since 1993. That final playoff berth in the conference goes to Avella.
West Greene quarterback Zach Pettit wasn’t cleared to play after suffering a concussion and freshman Gavin Scott took over.
“He went through the protocol test and couldn’t pull it out,” said West Greene head coach Rodney Huffman.
“We had a freshman quarterback under center who hadn’t taken a snap except for a few JV games. That was big.”
Scott did his best but California knew the Pioneers were going to have to depend on another freshman, Ben Jackson, on offense. The Trojans dominated the line of scrimmage and created the turnover they needed in the third quarter when freshman Cochise Ryan returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-0 and, for all intents and purpose, put the game out of reach.
“They’re a good team,” said Huffman. “Line play is where it’s at and they took care of business up front. Their line controlled the line of scrimmage and we weren’t tackling very well, so that doesn’t bode well for us.”
Cal’s line opened some big holes on the edge and sprung Jonathan Wood free for 186 yards on 13 carries.
“We’re finding out that we’re really a run team,” said California head coach Darrin Dillow. “We’re starting to run the ball more. The line is coming on. We’re in full swing right now. Halftime adjustments? We didn’t need any. We just needed to stop making penalties. Last week was a good week for us. This week was a good week for us. We got a little momentum going into the playoffs so we’ll see what’s going on.”
Wood scored on runs of 34 and 44 yards. Junior quarterback Colin Phillips scored on a one-yard sneak and Ryan had a 25-yard run to open the second-half scoring.
“It was a big game for us,” said Wood. “It was the last (regular) season game and a conference game. Putting a zero up on the board will help us for the playoffs, maybe get us a better seed. All the Gardner Points we needed, we put up on the board. The offensive line was blocking. They come in every week and put the work in. Without them, we couldn’t get the job done.”
Phillips was efficient, completing four of nine passes for 69 yards and hit junior Ben Bilitski on a 32-yard touchdown 1:40 before halftime.
Jackson finished with 109 yards on 18 carries, with 42 coming on a run that ended the first half.
“Sometimes, you have too accept the fact that there are teams better than you out there,” said Huffman. “(Cal) is a good team.”