PITTSBURGH — Playing at Carnegie Mellon’s Gesling Stadium, the Central Catholic Vikings (5-1) mauled the Seneca Valley Raiders (4-2) 35-0 on Friday, Oct. 3.
The Vikings jumped to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter, aided by a series of Raiders miscues.
Central recovered a fumble by Raiders quarterback Graham Hancox on Seneca’s first offensive play of the game. The Raiders paid the price a play later, with a pair of sophomores connecting for Central Catholic: quarterback Payton Wehner to receiver Vernon Settles, who evaded the defense for a 38 yard touchdown.
Seneca Valley went three-and-out, and an 11 yard shank by junior punter R.J. Torres set the Vikings up in plus territory once again.
Senior athlete Gannon Carothers capped the ensuing drive with a ten yard rushing touchdown to put the Vikings up 14-0.
Hancox threw an interception on the next drive, which Central defensive back Eli Drolz picked off and returned to the Raiders 33 yard line.
Wehner found senior tight end Josh Altsman downfield for a 33 yard touchdown on the next play.
The Raiders began driving, but senior defensive back Antonio Pitts recovered a strip sack fumble and returned it 70 yards for another score.
Central Catholic OL/DL Matt Aulicino, a senior with offers from Army and Richmond, made two big plays in a forgettable second quarter, a sack and a shoestring tackle for loss on back to back plays.
Vikings safety Devin Barren, a senior with offers from Navy and Youngstown State, made the next play of note, an interception early in the fourth quarter that he returned to the Raiders 11 yard line.
Pitts recorded his second score of the game, this time at running back, punching it into the end zone from four yards out to take a 35-0 lead with 8:47 to play.
