Pioneers upended by Eagles, 21-20
West Greene鈥檚 Corey Wise (43) breaks free on a run against Avella during Thursday night鈥檚 game at Kennedy Field. (Photo by Mark Marietta)
Mark Marietta
Mark Marietta
West Greene defensive back Brayden Mooney (22) breaks up a pass from Avella鈥檚 K.J. Rush intended for Matt Kidwell (10), tipping the ball to teammate Dalton Lucey for an interception in the end zone during Thursday night鈥檚 game at Kennedy Field.
Mark Marietta
West Greene running back Corey Wise receives congratulations after his 65-yard touchdown run against Avella at Kennedy Field on Thursday night.
Avella wide receiver Tanner Terensky evades West Greene鈥檚 Corey Wise during Thursday night鈥檚 game a Kennedy Field. (Photo by Mark Marietta)
Avella running back Tyler Cerciello (34) breaks away from a tackle attempt by West Greene鈥檚 Josiah Tagaro during Thursday night鈥檚 game at Kennedy Field. (Photo by Mark Marietta)
ROGERSVILLE 鈥� It wasn鈥檛 pretty but Avella will take it.
Wins over West Greene don鈥檛 come very often for the Eagles so their 21-20 nail-biter last Thursday night was something to celebrate, even if you had to keep a social distance.
It also brought their record to 3-0, the first time that has happened since 2013.
It was the first victory for the Eagles over the Pioneers since 2016 when Avella won 32-26. Since that game. West Greene has outscored the Eagles, 160-7.
鈥淭his is huge,鈥� said Avella coach Ryan Cecchini. 鈥淟ast time we got this far and played them, it propelled us to something bigger. Two undefeated teams; they are a very good team. We knew we would have a dogfight coming in here. Nothing was going to come easy.鈥�
Quarterback KJ Rush had a love-you, hate-you type of game. He threw four interceptions but also two touchdown passes, including an 11-yarder to Gabe Lis that turned out to be the game-winner, and added an interception and fumble recovery on defense.
鈥淲e were a dollar late and a day short all game but credit them,鈥� said West Greene coach Brian Hanson. 鈥淭hey are a much better football team. We saw it on film. We knew not to take them lightly.鈥�
Trailing 21-14 in the fourth quarter, West Greene pulled within one on an eight-yard run by Wes Whipkey with 5:12 to play. West Greene went for two and Avella stopped the run.
Colin Brady鈥檚 43-yard run gave West Greene a 14-6 lead in the third quarter. But Avella tied when Rush found Tanner Terensky for a 19-yard pass late in the third quarter.
Avella entered the game with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2013, when the Eagles finished 6-4. That was a playoff year and Avella lost in the WPIAL first round to Sto-Rox.
The Pioneers, who were forced to postpone their Week 2 game at California because of a positive coronavirus test at West Greene, is off to a 1-1 start.
West Greene led 8-6 at halftime but the Pioneers had to feel fortunate to hold that lead.
On the second play of the game, Corey Wise and Wes Whipkey connected on a beautiful 65-yard touchdown pass for an 8-0 lead. Wise broke two tackles on the play.
West Greene appeared to make it 14-0 when Wise ripped off a 31-yard run down the left side of the field. But the Pioneers were called for an illegal block on the play. Two plays later, Rush intercepted a Whipkey pass at midfield.
Avella put together an eight-play, 48-yard drive that Rush capped with a one-yard run. The run for the two-point conversion failed.
Rush recovered a fumble on West Greene鈥檚 next possession and came within a yard of taking the lead. Avella had a first-and-goal at the one but West Greene held and preserved the lead for halftime.
Rush completed nine of 18 passes for 165 yards. Whipkey connected on seven of 10 throws for 141 yards.