PLUM, Pa. — In the first round of the WPIAL 1A playoffs, Greensburg Central Catholic held off a late rally by West Greene at Plum Senior High School to advance to the quarterfinals on a 41-22 victory.

A short kick by West Greene gave Greensburg Central Catholic great field position to start the game at their own 45-yard line. Greensburg Central Catholic was able to drive down the field and score an opening touchdown behind star running back Samir Crosby, a target of UNLV. Crosby was used on all but two plays on the drive and got the bulk of the 55-yards on the drive, including the touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good, and Greensburg Central Catholic had a 6-0 lead to start the game.

West Greene methodically drove down the field to try and tie the game up. Starting from their own 20, West Greene ended up at the Greensburg Central Catholic five-yard line after a 39-yard pass from Lane Allison to Seth Burns. However, the Greensburg Central Catholic defense held strong and stopped West Greene at the two-yard line on fourth down. The 78-yard, approximately six-minute long drive ended without points for West Greene.

Greensburg Central Catholic further capitalized on the strong defensive stop by completing a 98-yard touchdown drive. This drive was punctuated by a 79-yard touchdown pass from Tyree Turner to Aidan Allison. That score made it 13-0, with about nine minutes left before halftime.

After getting the ball back, Turner led Greensburg Central Catholic down the field again to extend their lead. After a 30-yard pass set them up within the red-zone, Landon Honick finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown run. Greensburg Central Catholic went up 20-0 and that’s where the score sat at the half.

In the second half, Greensburg Central Catholic didn’t let up as their first play of the third quarter resulted in a 52-yard touchdown pass from Turner to Crosby. West Greene responded with their first touchdown of the game, a short run by Billy Whitlach, to make the score 27-8 with approximately five minutes left in the third quarter.

West Greene got the ball back and ran down the field on another long drive. However, for the second time of the game, West Greene turned the ball over within five yards of the end-zone. This time, a fumble on the one-yard line gave Greensburg Central Catholic the ball back.

All was not lost for West Greene though, as a holding call in the end-zone on Greensburg Central Catholic resulted in a safety. West Greene scored a touchdown behind Whitlach on the ensuing possession, and were back in the game at 27-16 with 8:37 left.

It was Turner and Crosby who then sealed the deal for Greensburg Central Catholic. After Turner extended the drive on a 10-yard first down run, he found Crosby on the very next play who broke off a 60-yard touchdown reception. The touchdown made the score 34-16 with just seven minutes left, essentially sealing the victory for Greensburg Central Catholic.

Both teams would score prior to the final whistle with Turner breaking off a 26-yard touchdown run and Whitlach returning a kick for 98-yards and the touchdown.

The final score was 41-22 in favor of Greensburg Central Catholic. They will next take on South Side Beaver, who defeated Monessen tonight with the game’s the location to be decided in the second round of the 2023 WPIAL Playoffs.

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