McKeesport Knocks Out Defending WPIAL and PIAA Champion, Penn Hills
Last year, Penn Hills made easy work of McKeesport in the Class 5A Quarterfinals en route to a WPIAL and PIAA championship.
Fast-forwarding a year, the two teams found themselves in the same position at Hempfield on Friday night.
McKeesport made sure the result would be different as the No. 6 Tigers (9-3) toppled the No. 3 Indians (10-2), 35-20.
After a scoreless first quarter, senior Devari Robinson took over the game scoring three of his five rushing touchdowns in the second quarter. Robinson scored from 2, 35 and 12 yards for a 21-0 lead.
Penn Hills scored first in the third quarter on a 9-yard run by Derrick Topeck, but that would be as close as the Indians would get.
Robinson put the game on ice with touchdown runs of 34 and 44 yards. Senior Anthony Beitko converted on all five of his extra point.
Robinson finished the game with 197 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He had the second highest rushing total throughout the WPIAL on the night.
McKeesport will get another shot at Gateway, who defeated the Tigers to close out the regular season, 36-7, in the Class 5A WPIAL semifinals on Friday at a site to be determined.