Pittsburgh Central Catholic looked like a well oiled machine offensively as they hammered Williamsport 62-21 Saturday afternoon at Altoona’s Mansion Park Stadium. The state’s #2 ranked 6A team scored seven touchdowns in the first half and led 49-14 at the break invoking the ‘Mercy Rule’ of a constant running clock for the second half. J.J. Younger, the diminutive, but speedy Viking tail back was at the forefront of the first half surge by scoring four TDs and rushing for 212 yards on only ten carries.
Central Catholic opened the scoring when Justice Evans returned a Williamsport punt 59 yards giving the Vikings a 7-0 lead. The Millionaires punched back driving 65 yards and scoring on QB Isaiah Hankins’ 13 yard scramble to tie the game at seven. The Vikings had punted on their first possession before Evans’ score, but then the offense scored on its next eight drives to put the game away. PCC head coach Terry Totten was asked if he thought they had an advantage up front. “Not at all,” he said. “It’s surprising. On film they’re a very physical team. We had it going today.”
They had it going indeed as the huge Viking line opened gaping holes that allowed Younger to score on four of five touches and pull away from Williamsport 35-7 at the 6:49 mark of the second quarter. “It was just great blocking up front. They played seven on the line and just two linebackers so it was just one or two men to beat,” said JJ Younger.
Younger’s successive touchdown runs covered 48, 52, 18, and 48 yards. To the Millionaires’ credit they continued to play hard. Treyson Potts found the end zone from ten yards out to cut Central’s lead to 35-14 with 4:15 remaining in the half. “We were not expecting that size. They were just super duper big,” said Williamsport Head Coach Charles Crew. The Vikings answered that score with two more of their own in the last 1:17 when David Adams rumbled three yards and QB Troy Fisher pitched a 46-yard strike to Evans.
In the second half, Fisher hit Evan Frazier with a 74-yard bomb and Jack Rielly scurried 25 yards to increase the Viking lead to 62-14 before Williamsport’s Marty Clark closed out the game’s scoring with a three-yard run, setting the final at 62-21. “I credit them (Williamsport). They never quit,” said Totten, “They should be proud of what they’ve accomplished.” When asked about his team, Totten said, “We’ve gotten better (since that first game loss to St. Johns, D.C.) and it’s a veteran group that knows they’re pretty good.”
Game Notes: Besides Younger, Fisher had a nice game pitching the pigskin to the tune of 142 yards and two TDs on only four completions. Reilly ended up with 68 yards rushing. The Vikings out gained the Millionaires 499-247. Potts led Williamsport with 71 yards rushing on 12 carries. Hankins chipped in 65 yards and was 11 for 20 passing for 88 yards. Totten was asked how the defense always seemed to be positioned in the right places. “We worked all week on keeping #22 (Hankins) inside of us,” he commented. “There’s no way to account for someone who can make plays like that.” Coach Totten was also asked how the Vikings counteracted the speed of the Millionaires and he simply replied, “We’re pretty fast too.” Williamsport ends their season with a 12-2 record. Central Catholic is now 13-1 and advances to the state 6A semi-final against Wilson West Lawn next Saturday in Altoona.
