TURTLE CREEK, Pa. — It’s a rarity for Central Catholic to start the season 0-2. In fact, it has not happened dating back at least 20 seasons. That’s why a matchup with Woodland Hills was as pivotal as ever for the Vikings.
Winning the previous six meetings against Woodland Hills, Central Catholic continued that trend with a dominating 54-14 victory over the Wolverines at the Wolvarena.
On the initial drive, Central Catholic rode its starting senior quarterback Jy’Aire Walls as the Vikings moved 80 yards in a hurry. Walls topped it off was an impressive 10-yard run, bouncing off of defenders to make it 6-0 Vikings.
After Central Catholic forced a safety, nothing was going in favor of Woodland Hills until the Wolverines made a splash play on defense.
A deep return from Xxavier Thomas set up the Vikings on the door step, but it was Wolverines defensive back Malik McCloud who stepped in front of a Walls pass and took it 96 yards to the house. Woodland Hills brought the game within one point, 8-7. However, that would be all of the offense for the Wolverines in the half as they only mustered 27 total yards in the first half.
Woodland Hills just could not get out of its own way as Central Catholic’s potent potential woke up. Walls quickly worked down field again and connected with 6-4 receiver Bradley Gompers for a 38-yard pitch and catch to make it 15-7 Vikings.
With Roman Thompson and Gompers stuffing the Wolverines on offense, Walls turned good field position into another Vikings score, this one coming on a two-yard dive into the end zone.
Erros continued to mount up for the Wolverines as punter Jacob Mroz dropped the snap, allowing for Vikings sophomore Zac Gleason to drop him in a hurry to set up Central Catholic at the Wolverines’ 15. Walls wasted no time on the first play hitting junior Maceo Watkins with a quick pass as he took off for the 15-yard touchdown.
By the time the dust settled, Central Catholic led Woodland Hills 35-7 at the half with 287 total yards on offense.
Central Catholic picked up where it left off in the second half as it cruised down the field 44 yards in six plays with Chrys Black hitting pay dirt with a tough 14-yard run.
As Central Catholic’s defense continued to stuff Woodland Hills, the Wolverines yet again cost themselves with an unforced error. Midway through the third quarter, Woodland Hills muffed another punt snap as the Vikings’ Ashton Blatt fell on it in the end zone to make it 48-7.
Woodland Hills would finally find the end zone again on a sequence that just summed up the contest but fell in the favor of the Wolverines. Quarterback Cam Walter was hit and fumbled as the Vikings Thompson picked it up hoping for another score. However, it dropped it before the goal line and it was picked up by D’Jarrard Dutrueille and returned for a 100-yard score.
Jayden Alexander added a late five-yard score for Central Catholic to put an exclamation on the matchup.
With the win, Central Catholic moves on to play Mt. Lebanon at West Mifflin High School. Woodland Hills travels to Penn-Trafford for a 7:30 kick next Friday.
