KITTANNING, Pa. — The McKeesport Tigers took a trip to visit the Armstrong Riverhawks in a quarterfinal matchup of the WPIAL Class-4A playoffs. Both teams averaged over 34 points per game and both featured stingy defenses. This matchup was expected to be highly competitive and close throughout due to how well the teams matchup against one another. The game was deeply affected by the heavy rain experienced throughout the night. The Tigers went on to beat the Riverhawks by the score of 41-21.
The weather shifted the advantage to the side of the Tigers due to the fact that they rarely pass the ball and run a triple-option offense. As far as Armstrong’s offensive game plan, they like to air it out with Penn-commit Cadin Olsen.
On Armstrong’s first drive, Olsen would zip the ball down the field in a hurry and threw a 35-yard touchdown to Isaiah Brown. Unfortunately for the Riverhawks, this was their best possession of the first half.
The Tigers would go and answer after Jahmil Perryman scrambled for a 61-yard run that helped set up a 6-yard touchdown by senior Larry Gibson, tying the game 7-7.
The offensive struggles of Armstrong began to show with the rain heavily affecting the throwing performance of Cadin Olsen. The Riverhawks would go on to punt four times over their next six possessions, this also included an interception and a lost fumble.
As for the Tigers, it was the complete opposite as they scored on four straight possessions. Jahmil Perryman entered halftime with 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also recorded an interception on the defensive side of the ball. Bobbie Boyd added another 97-yards of rushing for the Tigers.
The Riverhawks managed to cut into the Tiger’s lead with another Olsen to Brown touchdown. This made the score 28-14 heading into halftime.
The Tigers would add two more touchdowns in the third quarter after Bobbie Boyd returned a 53-yard punt for a score and Perryman punched in his fourth of the game.
In the fourth quarter, the Riverhawks looked to score early in the quarter but Perryman intercepted the ball in the endzone and looked to return it the other way. That was until Olsen tracked him down and stripped the ball resulting in possession sticking with the Riverhawks. Later in the drive, Olsen and Brown would connect for their third touchdown of the game.
The Tigers will take on Aliquippa next week in the Class 4A semifinals.
