Trojans rally, but lose in final minute

By JONATHAN GUTH

MVI Sports

Jaeden Zuzak showed why he came into Friday’s game as the second-leading rusher in the WPIAL.

However, the California senior’s 193 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns weren’t quite enough, as the Trojans were doomed by three turnovers in Shenango’s 28-21 victory in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class A playoffs at California Stadium.

California trailed 21-7 before Zuzak broke free and scored on a 44-yard run for a touchdown with 3:21 left in the game. Connor Vig added the second of three PATs to cut the Wildcats’ lead to seven.

Shenango fumbled the ensuing kickoff return and the Trojans (6-1) recovered.

Zuzak scored his third touchdown, a 41-yarder, to tie the game with 3:09 left.

“This game shows the type of player that Jaeden is,” California coach Ed Woods said. “He will have success wherever he goes in college and plays. 

“I am proud of what the kids accomplished this year, and I was proud of what they did tonight. They didn’t have any quit in them and they fought to the end. I am hoping our underclassmen learn from it, and hopefully we continue to have the success that we’ve had, and I believe that we will. As far as the seniors go, I told them that I am real proud of what they’ve accomplished in the two years I have been here.

“I thought we bottled him (Zuzak) up for most of the game, but big-time players make big-time plays, and he did that tonight,” Shenango coach Jimmy Graham said. “He kept them in the game. We are pretty excited to get out of here with a win. A little bit of a hostile environment here and it was a long drive.”

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Saturday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.