MCKEESPORT Pa. — McKeesport (10-1) made quick work out of Mars (6-5) on Friday night at Weigle-Schaeffer Memorial Stadium, as the Tigers put the mercy rule into effect by the end of the second quarter and went on to win 43-0. The Tigers will face Armstrong next Friday night in the second round of the WPIAL Class-4A playoffs.
The Fightin’ Planets had a promising opening drive, but it was put to an end at McKeesport’s 31 yard line after a failed conversion on fourth-and-11. McKeesport marched down the field with ease, and Da’Mier Clark capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead. McKeesport quarterback Jahmil Perryman set up the score with a 30-yard run.
After a quick defensive stop, Perryman scampered down the left sideline for a 60-yard touchdown run to increase McKeesport’s lead to 14-0 with 9:15 remaining in the second quarter. Mars really struggled to contain the Tigers’ triple option attack. And things just got worse.
The Tigers continued to pound the ball on the ground with Perryman and star running back Bobbie Boyd Jr. Perryman finished off the drive with a run up the middle on an option play for a 10-yard touchdown to put McKeesport up 20-0 with 6:07 left in the first half. The extra point was no good.
McKeesport wasn’t done racking up points, as Perryman connected to Caiden Holtzman for a 75-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a commanding 27-0 advantage. Larry Gibson rushed for a 49-yard touchdown to enhance the Tigers’ lead to 33-0. McKeesport went for two to reach the mercy rule, but the conversion was unsuccessful.
McKeesport kicker Milton Campos nailed a 22-yard field goal to put the mercy rule in play right before halftime at 36-0.
On the opening possession of the second half, Perryman rushed for a 53-yard touchdown to make it a 43-0 game with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
