Charleroi still winless after falling at Keystone Oaks

Noah Pletcher’s 55-yard run provided the Cougars’ only touchdown in a 14-7 loss.

MVI Sports

Charleroi came up just short in Century Conference play Friday night, dropping a 14-7 decision at Keystone Oaks.

KO’s Billy Bricker scored both touchdowns as he had 159 rushing yards on 30 carries. His second score in the fourth quarter was the game-winner.

Charleroi’s Noah Pletcher scored on a 55-yard run and Braedin Lunger made an extra point to give the Cougars a 7-6 advantage in the third.

The Cougars (0-5, 0-2) will look to get in the winning column next week at Sto-Rox.

Upper St. Clair 31, McKeesport 14

McKeesport faced another Class 5A challenge in non-conference play and couldn’t keep up with Upper St. Clair.

The Panthers went up 21-0 before the Tigers (1-4) got on the board when Anthony Cromerdie scored an 80-yard rushing touchdown. He added a 23-yard receiving score on a pass from Brady Eastman.

USC’s tandem of Dante Coury and Julian Dahlem in the backfield combined for 309 yards and three touchdowns.

McKeesport will begin its Greater Allegheny Conference slate next week at Hampton.

Elizabeth Forward 40, Baldwin 0

The Warriors went to Baldwin and left with a dominant shutout win as Ryan Messina tossed five touchdown passes and ran for a 65-yard score.

Charlie Nigut scored on passes of 61 yards and 27 yards for the Warriors (2-3) while Brendan Stroeschein scored on passes of 78 and 15 yards. Connor Stokes also caught a 20-yard touchdown.

The Warriors took a 33-0 lead into the halftime break and scored one more time in the third quarter.

EF will begin Interstate Conference play next week against Greensburg Salem.

Clairton 60, Frazier 0

Drahcir Jones, Mike Ruffin and Deon Pompey each scored two touchdowns as the Bears rolled out to a 54-0 halftime lead in an Eastern Conference win at Commodores Stadium.

Clairton scored 29 first-quarter points in the final 6:34 of the frame.

Jeff Thompson added a rushing touchdown and Donte Wright caught a touchdown for Clairton (5-0). Freshman Brandon Murphy scored another touchdown for the Bears on a punt return.

The Bears host Jeannette next Saturday at Thomas Jefferson’s Jaguars Stadium. The Commodores will travel to Brentwood.

Southmoreland 32, Ringgold 15

The Rams scored first, but Southmoreland dominated the second and fourth quarters to hold off Ringgold (1-4).

Amoni Ward connected with Demetri Lowe for a 49-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, but Southmoreland put up 18 points in the second to make it 18-7 at halftime. Ward hit Lowe for another touchdown in the third quarter to make it 18-14, but Southmoreland separated with two more scores in the fourth.

Ward went 7 for 18 with 136 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Lowe caught four passes for 112 yards and the two scores.

Up next for Ringgold is Big Six Conference action at Trinity.

California 40, Avella 0

The Trojans took a 34-0 lead into halftime as they dismantled Avella in Tri-County South Conference play.

Lee Qualk and Malachi Peak wreaked havoc on the ground for California (3-2, 2-0). Qualk continued his phenomenal season with 137 yards and two scores on 14 carries while adding a receiving touchdown. Peak has started the season well and took nine carries for 124 yards and a touchdown of his own.

Quarterback Logan Hartley also tossed three touchdowns as he found Qualk, Adin Keyes and Vinny Manzella for scores in the win.

California will look to stay flawless in the conference next week when it hosts Mapletown.

Blackhawk 57, Yough 6

Yough closed its non-conference slate with its third straight loss in a long trip to Blackhawk.

Raidon Kuroda found Ryan Sarver for a 10-yard score to make it 14-6 in the first quarter, but Blackhawk rattled off 43 unanswered points to win in a landslide.

Kuroda posted 139 passing yards and a touchdown along with three picks while Blackhawk’s Stephen Knallay went 13 for 23 with 189 yards and a touchdown. Brayden McCarthy scored three times for Blackhawk while Ryan Prisuta scored twice.

Yough (2-3) will look to get back on track next week when it begins Interstate Conference play against Mt. Pleasant.

Volleyball Belle Vernon 3, Albert Gallatin 1 The Leopards rebounded from an early week loss to upend the Colonials in Section 3-3A play Thursday.

Game scores were 25-18, 14-25, 25-11 and 26-24.

Standing out for the Leopards were Hailey Lazur, Gigi Wiegand and Mia Roebuck.

The Leopards host West Mifflin Monday in a non-section game.