Aug 26, 2022 5 min read

Bret Fitzsimmons rushed for three touchdowns and defending Class 3A state champion Central valley spoiled Dan Knause’s debut as Trinity’s head coach as the Warriors rolled to a 43-20 season-opneing victory over the Hillers on Friday night.

Fitzsimmons scored on runs of 24, one and 50 yards as the Warriors extended their winning streak to 28 games.

With Trinity saddled with poor field position in the first half, Central Valley took advantage and scored touchdowns on three possession to build a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. Se4rafino Desantis kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Warriors a 24-0 edge.

Trinity scored with eight seconds remaining in the first half when freshman quarterback Jonah Williamson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jadon Dobich that pulled the Hillers to within 24-6 at the break.

Central Valley scored on the first offensive play of the second half. Following a long kickoff return, Antwon Johnson passed 14 yards to Jayvin Thompson to push the CV lead to 30-6.

Fitzsimmons added a 50-yard TD jaunt and Central valley recovered a Trinity fumble in the end zone for a TD that made it 43-6.

Trinity closed the scoring with two touchdowns in the game’s final six minutes. Williamson capped one drive with a two-yard plunge and scored again on a five-yard run with 2:48 remaining.

Peters Township 56, Fox Chapel 0

Rich Woods and Brendan McCullough combined for seven touchdowns and led Peters Township to a 56-0 beat down of Fox Chapel in the season-opening games for both teams.

Woods scored on runs of 1, 10, 12 and 62 yards for the Indians.

McCullough and quarterback Chris Cibrone connected on TD passes of 44, 14 and 92 yards for Peters Township.

Mark Ripepi returned a fumble 24 yardss for a score in the fourth quarter of this Mercy Rule game.

Mapletown 42, Avella 0

Landan Stevenson rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns, A.J. Vanata added two scores and Mapletown blanked Avella, 42-0.

It was the first of two meetings between the teams in the season’s first three weeks.

Stevenson, who is approaching 4,000 career rushing yards, scored on runs of 45 and three yards to help Mapletown forge a 2-0 halftime lead. The Maples tacked on 22 points in the third quarter.

Stevenson, who carried 14 times, scored on a 53-yard jaunt in the third quarter.

Vanata opened the scoring with a five-yard run less than two minutes into the game. He had a 14-yard TD in the third quarter.

Brody Evans had a two-yard scoring run and tossed a pair of two-point conversions.

Mapletown outrushed the Eagles 315-12 and outgained them 317-12.

South Fayette 35, Chartiers Valley 0

South Fayette exploded for three touchdowns in the second quarter on the way to a 35-0 victory over Chartiers Valley in the season opener.

Nate Deanes scored twice, snagging a 4-yard pass from quarterback Drew Welhorsky in the first quarter and on a 1-yard run in the second.

Christian Brandi made it 21-0 on 16-yard run in the second quarter. Welhorsky busted over from two yards right before halftime.

Welhorsky sparked the Mercy Rule in the third quarter when he hit Michael Gimigliano with a 29-yard scoring pass.

Welhorsky completed 14 of 17 passes for 195 yards and two TDs.

Chartiers Valley plays at Trinity next Friday night in the Hillers’ home opener.

Fort Cherry 69, Northgate 20

Matt Sieg had an hand in five touchdowns as Fort Cherry rolled to a 69-20 thumping over Northgate at Jim Garry Stadium.

Sieg threw three touchdown and ran for two others, helping the Rangers to a season-opening win.

For Cherry scored three touchdowns in each of the first three quarters.

Running back Nate Heirendt ran for 111 yards and 12 carries and scored one touchdown.

Elizabeth Forward 33

, Ringgold 0

Marcus McCullough’s head coaching homecoming was not what he had in mind.

McCullough, the first-year football coach for the Ringgold Rams, was handed a 33-0 defeat by Elizabeth Forward in a season-opening non-section game that ended early because of weather.

The game was delayed at halftime by a lightning strike. The game was called in the third quarter because of more possible strikes.

EF built a 33-0 lead at halftime on two touchdown runs and two touchdown passes and an interception return.

The two runs came first, 25 yards by John Dinapoli and 6 by Jordan Wilmore. In the second quarter, Kelly Rush pulled in a 30-yard scoring pass and Zach Boyd connected with quarterback Zion White for an 87-yard score.

Rush finished off the scoring when he returned an interception for a score.

Ringgold did not generate a first down until 8:00 was left in the half.

In other games

California scored 47 first-half points and rolled over host Frazier, 65-13. Bentworth was a 50-12 winner over host Brownsville. No game details were made available to the Observer-Reporter by press time Friday night.