Central Catholic Crushes McDowell In PIAA Quarterfinals
The Central Catholic Vikings marched into the PIAA Semifinals with a dominating 48-7 defeat of the McDowell Trojans on Saturday afternoon at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium. As it has been all season, the Vikings recipe for success was a staunch defense and a power rushing attack that never gave the Trojans a chance. Central Catholic outgained McDowell on the ground, 221-25, and sacked Trojans quarterback Jake Tarasovitch four times.
Vikings quarterback J.J Cosentino had a much easier time moving the football and scored on runs of 1 and 7-yards in the first half. The closest McDowell came to being in the game against Central Catholic was late in the second quarter with the ball at Vikings 38-yard line. After an illegal procedure penalty backed up the Trojans five-yards, Tarasovitch completed a short pass to Jame Szymczak who was leveled by Cody Troesch and fumbled. Vikings linebacker Niko Thorpe scooped up the loose ball and raced 52-yards for a touchdown to give Central Catholic a 21-0 lead at intermission.
In the second half, Central Catholic put the game away with touchdown runs by Luigi Lista-Brinza, Riley Redman and Grant Foster. Lista-Brinza was the team leader on the day with 72 yards rushing on 19 carries. Redman toted the ball for 70 yards and Foster added 35 yards. McDowell’s on score came late in the third quarter on a touchdown pass by Tarasovitch to Tyree Spearman from 26-yards out. That was immediately followed by a 42-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Central Catholic’s John Petrishen.
Central Catholic improves to 14-0 on the season and will face Lower Dauphin (13-1) in the PIAA Semifinals next weekend. McDowell’s season comes to an end with a 7-6 record. (Photo courtesy of Central Catholic Athletics)