WILKINSBURG, Pa. — Serra Catholic routed Imani Christian, 47-12, on Friday night at Graham Field. Imani Christian trailed just 7-6 at the end of the first quarter, but things unraveled in the second, as the Saints were out-scored 20-0. That trend continued in the second half. The Saints just couldn’t maintain drives and stop explosive plays on defense. There was also a slew of penalties and turnovers. Imani Christian dropped to 2-3, while Serra Catholic improved to 4-1. Penn State recruit David Davis of Imani Christian suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return.
Serra Catholic struck first on its opening drive with a 25-yard touchdown run by quarterback Elijah Ward. Ward compiled most of the yards on the scoring drive, as he had two 10-plus yard runs off quarterback power plays.
Following a three-and-out, Serra Catholic muffed the punt and Imani Christian took over at the Eagles’ 34-yard line. Imani Christian capitalized off the turnover, as Dayshaun Burnett connected to Isaiah Arrington for a 24-yard touchdown to make it a 7-6 game. Imani Christian failed on its two-point conversion attempt.
Late in the first quarter, Davis ripped off a few big runs to set Imani Christian up in Serra Catholic territory, but the promising possession came to a halt after a bad snap, which resulted in Burnett getting tackled in the backfield.
On the following drive, Imani Christian almost scored a 60-yard touchdown, but Arrington couldn’t haul in the deep pass from Burnett. Burnett escaped pressure and threw the ball 50 yards.
On a designed run, Ward scampered for another touchdown to give Serra Catholic a 13-6 advantage. Imani Christian blocked the extra point. Mike Schanck had two 10-plus yard runs and Ward completed a pass to Truth Penn for first down yardage to set up the 6-yard score.
After a forced three-and-out by Serra Catholic, Quadir Stribling found Amiri Spencer for a 60-yard touchdown to put the Eagles up 21-6. Serra Catholic faked the extra point and converted for two points. Serra Catholic switched Stribling and Ward at quarterback throughout the game.
Imani Christian had Serra Catholic in a first-and-40 situation but surrendered all the yards back. Serra Catholic proceeded to march down the field and Daiquan Chatfield capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a commanding 27-6 lead.
Ward had a one-handed interception off Burnett to end the half.
To begin the second half, Burnett took a sack on a fourth down play and Serra Catholic took over at Imani Christian’s 31-yard line. The Saints came up with a big defensive stop and Serra Catholic turned the ball over on downs.
Imani Christian got into Serra Catholic territory but got backed up due to a personal foul penalty and on the following play, Burnett got strip-sacked and the Eagles came up with the loose ball.
Imani Christian got another defensive stop and the Saints answered this time with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Burnett to Chevon Allen to cut Serra Catholic’s lead to 27-12. Allen caught a middle screen and exploded upfield for the score. Burnett got stopped short of the end zone on the two-point attempt.
Serra Catholic responded with a 52-yard touchdown pass by Stribling to Spencer to give Serra Catholic a 34-12 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. It was the second 50-plus yard touchdown pass by Stribling to Spencer on the night.
Late in the third, Stribling connected to Spencer for a third touchdown. Spencer ran a slant and found paydirt. Stribling rushed for a 5-yard touchdown to enhance Serra Catholic’s lead to 47-12 with 8:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
