McKeesport Avoids Upset With Fourth Quarter Comeback
McKeesport trailed for the almost all Class 5A WPIAL First Round matchup against Baldwin.
The No. 6 Tigers (8-3) scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:04 left in regulation to hold off the No. 11 upset-minded Fighting Highlanders (5-6) and hold onto a 21-20 win.
Senior Davari Robinson found the end zone from 25 yards out and senior Anthony Beitko knocked in his third extra point of the night to seal the victory.
Baldwin jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half on two Mason Stahl touchdown runs. The Fighting Highlanders held that lead into halftime.
McKeesports finally cracked the scoreboard in the third quarter on a Robinson’s first touchdown of the game, an 81-yard run to cut the deficit in half.
Baldwin responded with its third touchdown of the game, a 42-yard pass from Stahl to Naseer Penn. In what would be the deciding factor, Baldwin missed the 2-point conversion to keep it at 20-7.
The Tigers dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the fighting Highlanders 14-0.
Senior Deamontae Diggs started the comeback with a 3-yard touchdown run before Robinson’s game-winning.
Robinson finished the game with 235 rushing yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns.
McKeesport will take on No. 3 Penn Hills (10-1) in the Class 5A WPIAL Quarterfinals on Friday at 7 p.m. at a site to be determined.