The WPIAL Class 4A and 6A title games were played at Norwin High School Saturday.
4A Championship: Thomas Jefferson 28 McKeesport 7
In the 4A championship, Thomas Jefferson and McKeesport were scoreless with 4:30 to play until halftime. Thomas Jefferson scored 21 points to close out the half.
Tyler Eber opened the scoring with a two yard rushing touchdown. Then Luke Kosko connected a 53 yard touchdown pass to Brayden White to make it 14-0 Jaguars.
McKeesport had the ball with one final play before the half. White intercepted the pass and took it 85 yards to the house for the touchdown to close out the first half.
Eber added another score in the second half for TJ. He finished the game with 33 carries for 158 yards and two touchdowns. McKeesport got on the scoreboard on an 8 yard rushing touchdown from Anthony Boyd.
It's the eleventh WPIAL Championship for Thomas Jefferson and Bill Cherpak's tenth as the head coach. Cherpak now stands alone for the most WPIAL championships for a head coach. He passed former West Allegheny and Mount Lebanon coach, Bob Palko.
"They're all special, but they're special because of the kids," said Cherpak to KDKA Radio's Donny Chedrick. "I'm so excited for the kids, how much hard work they put in, the coaching staff. That's what it's all about."
Thomas Jefferson faces Clearfield in the PIAA 4A Quarterfinals next weekend.
6A Championship: Pittsburgh Central Catholic 45 North Allegheny 14
The nightcap saw Pittsburgh Central Catholic and North Allegheny for the third year in a row in the 6A Championship game.
In the previous two, North Allegheny came out on top. This time, Pittsburgh Central Catholic didn't give them a chance to get anything going.
The Vikings scored four touchdowns in four possessions in the first quarter to take a commanding 28-0 lead. The first offensive play for Central resulted in a a 45 yard Bradley Gompers touchdown. Jy'Aire Walls punched it in on the next possesion. He finished 10-17, 213 yards, 3 touchdowns. He rushed 19 times and scored 2 touchdowns on the ground.
On the third possession, Walls connected to Xavier Thomas from 13 yards out, extending the lead to 21. Walls threw his second touchdown of the quarter, this time to Maceo King-Watkins for 32 yards.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic outgained North Allegheny 322 to 13 in the first half.
Eli Faulkner opened the second half up with a rushing touchdown to enable the mercy rule. He rushed for 190 yards in the game, as Central Catholic took care of the Tigers 45-14 for their 9th WPIAL Championship.
"It's awesome. I'm so happy for these kids and these coaches, the familes, the administration of Central Catholic," said coach Ryan Lehmeier to KDKA Radio's Donny Chedrick. "This is an awesome night for the Central Catholic community and these kids, this is their championship, they won it. They were the guys that went out here. I couldn't be more proud of a group of kids."
The Vikings will face State College in the 6A PIAA Quarterfinals next weekend.
