Penn Hills survived a home upset in a rollercoaster game against Moon Area to open the WPIAL Class-5A playoffs, squeezing out a 30-27 win after safety Darrell Banks intercepted a double pass trick play with just over two minutes to play.
Penn Hills running back Naytel Mitchell proved key in the win, racking up more than 250 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound junior also led the No. 7 seeded Indians in tackles.
The No. 10 seeded Moon Tigers made a statement on their first play of the game, with Braeden Stuart going around the left end and breaking into the secondary, sprinting 80 yards for a 7-0 lead 12 seconds in. Penn Hills drove deep into Tigers’ territory in response, facing first-and-goal from the four after a pass interference penalty in the end zone. Moon sacked quarterback Jaymere Ellis on first down, and the Indians went away empty-handed after a 24-yard field goal try went wide.
Tigers’ linebacker Ryan Culligan snagged a pick midway through the first quarter, returning it to the Penn Hills’ 4-yard line, then senior running back Nicholas Prozzoly put Moon ahead 13-0 on a three-yard tote out of the wildcat. The Indians answered 38 seconds later when running back Naytel Mitchell legged out a 55-yard touchdown, fighting through contact on his way into the end zone.
The fireworks continued with the fourth touchdown of the first quarter as Moon continued to reach into the bag of tricks. This time running back Kyden Kulvanish was the beneficiary, scoring from 19 yards out thanks to the hidden ball trick.
Late Game Heroics
Penn Hills pulled within a score at the end of the half, with a 54-yard deep catch from Banks setting up a 14-yard touchdown connection from Ellis to Power Four prospect Carter Bonner. The Indians continued to roll in the second half, taking the lead with a 14-play, 73-yard drive that burned six minutes and 50 seconds off the clock, capped with a two-yard touchdown from Mitchell.
Moon went three-and-out, and a mishandled snap on the punt attempt rolled out the back of their end zone for a safety.
Kulvanish picked up 51 yards on another hidden ball trick early in the fourth quarter, setting Moon up at the Penn Hills 1. It took the Tigers four plays, but they finally punched it in with a one-yard tote from Andrew Cross to take a 27-23 lead with 8:55 to play.
Mitchell responded with gusto, completing a two-play, 80-yard drive all alone and breaking loose for a 69-yard touchdown that gave Penn Hills the lead just 51 seconds later.
The Tigers did their best to burn clock on the ensuing drive, working downfield methodically until Banks intercepted the failed double pass at 2:17.
Penn Hills head coach Charles Morris Jr. said his team spent all week preparing for the Tigers’ trickery, which helped set up the game-sealing play.
“We saw a lot of those things on film when we were watching some of the games against Peters, Upper St. Clair,” Morris said. “I know they’re very creative with the things that they do, so we were making sure our kids were sound and reading their keys. Our guys read their keys well and they made a play when it counted… [Banks] played it perfect, exactly how we went over it in practice.”
After the game, Banks broke down how the play developed, crediting Bonner for forcing a high throw that he could get under.
“Over the week in practice we’ve been running plays, watching film. I saw it coming, stayed disciplined,” Banks said. “All game I was waiting for it. My corner [Carter Bonner] kinda helped me because he bit on the short route, and the quarterback just threw it up, I had to go get it.”
Moon managed to force a punt, getting the ball back at their own 46 with no timeouts and 36 seconds to go, but Penn Hills survived by forcing a turnover on downs.
Penn Hills advances to face No. 2 Upper St. Clair on the road at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 8.
