Rochester’s running game overpowers West Greene
Mark Marietta
West Greene wide receiver Nathan Brudnock makes a catch in the Pioneers鈥� 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 缅北禁地 Touchdown Club to record at least one touchdown, one two-point conversion and one extra-point kick. (Photo by Mark Marietta)
West Greene鈥檚 Kolin Walker returns a second-quarter kickoff Friday night against Rochester.
West Greene鈥檚 Kolin Walker is met at the line of scrimmage by Rochester鈥檚 Kadin Mersing during Friday night鈥檚 WPIAL playoff game.
West Greene defensive lineman Brock Bedillion attemots to sack Rochester quarterback Zaine Jeffers during Friday night's game.
WAYNESBURG 鈥� Fourth-seeded West Greene鈥檚 bid for its first playoff win since 1993 was run into the ground by a Rochester team that was coming into Friday night鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 final play of the night 鈥� becoming the sixth player from Greene County to reach the feat.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great feeling. I feel like I would feel a little better if we would have won, but we lost the game,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚t honestly does feel great. I鈥檓 humbled, I have a great line 鈥� they really pushed me to it.鈥�
West Greene head coach Rod Huffman praised Jackson鈥檚 willpower to push through and suit up for the game knowing he wasn鈥檛 nearly 100 percent healthy.
鈥淭here aren鈥檛 words to describe what (Jackson) did tonight,鈥� Huffman said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 on one leg. For him to go out there and to even dress up 鈥� he鈥檚 a warrior. I鈥檓 so proud of him and I鈥檓 glad he got the 4,000-plus (yards). Hopefully, he can stay healthy next year and hopefully we can get back (to the playoffs).鈥�
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鈥檚 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鈥� 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.
鈥淲e came in and we were a focused football team tonight. These kids are hungry, and they鈥檝e been staying with the process,鈥� Matsook said. 鈥淚 know Jackson didn鈥檛 play too much, but I thought our defense played pretty well whether he was in or out.鈥�
Rochester moves on to the semifinals Friday night to face top-seeded Jeannette.