Split decision: Mikes roll, Pioneers fall in football playoffs
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Carmichaels running back Nick Mundell (10) takes advantage of a hole opened up by the Mikes鈥� offensive line during a 47-yard run against Western Beaver in their WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Coaches Field on Nov. 3. The Mikes, who played in the Class 1-A Tri-County South Conference in 2017, will play in Class 2-A for the next two seasons, according to the PIAA classification report released Friday.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Carmichaels鈥� Jake Turner (78) levels Western Beaver quarterback Jeddy Young (23) after a short gain during their WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Coaches Field on Nov. 3. The Mikes, who played in the Class 1-A Tri-County South Conference in 2017, will play in Class 2-A for the next two seasons, according to the PIAA classification report released Friday.
Greene County went 1-1 last Friday in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs, as Carmichaels exorcised some postseason demons with a 28-8 victory over Western Beaver at home and West Greene fell to Rochester 39-14 on the road.
The Mikes (8-2) snapped a 13-game losing streak in the playoffs and a 12-game skid in the first round.
The last time Carmichaels won the in the first round was against Canevin in 2002. That season the Mikes defeated Fort Cherry in the quarterfinals and lost to Rochester in the semifinals.
The seventh-seeded Mikes will now play second-seeded Clairton tonight at Charleroi High School at 7:30.
Clairton has won nine of the last 11 Class A titles, including the last three. The last time these two squads met in the playoffs was in 2015 with the Bearcats picking up a 70-6 win in the first round.
Carmichaels鈥� defense forced three turnovers last Friday and the offense was led on the ground by senior running back Nick Mundell鈥檚 232 yards.
鈥淥ur first playoff win in 15 years, it鈥檚 amazing, awesome,鈥� Mundell said.
鈥淚t means a lot,鈥� said Carmichaels鈥� running back Brennen Pelzer, who rushed for 51 yards. 鈥淲e were always told we wanted to up our game every year. Even though we didn鈥檛 win the conference, we did win a playoff game.鈥�
Mikes coach Ryan Krull was happy to see his team find postseason success.
鈥淲hat a great win for them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time. This is good for the team but it鈥檚 also good for the community and good for the school. Just really happy for all our kids and all our fans.鈥�
After the Golden Beavers (6-5) went three-and-out on their opening drive, Carmichaels went up 6-0 after a 3-yard touchdown by senior Jacob Lowry.
Mundell broke through with two long touchdown runs in the second quarter of 61 and 56 yards. The Mikes led 20-0 at halftime after sophomore quarterback Kevin Kelly ran in a two-point conversion after Mundell鈥檚 second score.
Lowry added a second score with a 7-yard sprint to the end zone late in the third quarter. A two-point run by Lowry made it 28-0.
Western Beaver avoided the shutout with a touchdown and a two-point conversion pass on its next drive, as both teams were held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
鈥淲e knew they were dangerous offensively,鈥� Krull said. 鈥淲e forced some turnovers and were able to make them turn the ball over on downs a few times. I think coach (Ron) Gallagher and their staff do a great job on the defensive side of the ball. One of the things he wanted to bring to the table this year as a point of emphasis was creating more turnovers, and we have.
鈥淥ffensively, we haven鈥檛 really been a big-play team this year but we were able to hit a couple of those, particularly with Nick.鈥�
Krull was OK with his team rejoicing about Friday night鈥檚 victory a little longer than usual.
鈥淚 always tell them when we leave the field house it鈥檚 over, but tonight I told them we鈥檙e going to enjoy this one until tomorrow at noon,鈥� Krull said. 鈥淭his hasn鈥檛 been done in quite a while so we鈥檙e going to take some time and reflect back on this tonight.
鈥淚 told them if they want to, we鈥檒l keep the lights on all night and they can just stay here.鈥�
After breaking their 24-year playoff drought, West Greene鈥檚 stay in the 2017 postseason was short-lived with a first-round exit.
Trailing 16-0 in the second quarter, the Pioneers (7-4) found the scoreboard when senior quarterback Zach Petitt scored off of an 80-yard scoring run and a two-point run.
The Rams (8-2) countered with eight points in the late stages of the second quarter and led 24-8 at halftime.
Rochester tallied the next two scores, but West Greene ended the scoring in the playoff contest with a 6-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Nathan Brudnock from sophomore quarterback Gavin Scott late in the fourth quarter.
Waynesburg University won its second in a row last Saturday, as the Yellow Jackets prevailed 31-21 over Saint Vincent at John F. Wiley Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets improve to 2-5 in the Presidents鈥� Athletic Conference and 2-7 overall.
Mike Stasko scored first for Saint Vincent on an 8-yard run at 12:08 of the first quarter, but Waynesburg responded midway through the quarter on Jake Dougherty鈥檚 1-yard dive.
The Bearcats regained the lead at 3:36 on Aaron Austin鈥檚 31-yard scoring run, but Waynesburg came right back three minutes later on Austin Wilson鈥檚 4-yard touchdown run.
Waynesburg took the lead in the second quarter on Garrett Guthrie鈥檚 34-yard field goal and Justin Willkow鈥檚 44-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Hayden Belcher scored a much-needed insurance touchdown on a 1-yard run with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
Wilson led Waynesburg with 102 yards rushing on 23 carries. Dougherty carried the ball 13 times for 45 yards and completed 9-of-13 passes for 98 yards. Cole Booth caught two passes for 61 yards.
The Yellow Jackets will end their 2017 season at rival Washington & Jefferson College (9-0, 7-0) at Cameron Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Waynesburg will look to spoil the Presidents鈥� Senior Day and a chance at the PAC title.