Football - Penn-Trafford vs McKeesport

September 13, 2019

Penn-Trafford Gets Record-Tying 83rd Win for Coach in Beating McKeesport 29-12

Losing your top running back to injury early in the game, against a tough conference foe, would be enough to rattle most teams. Not Penn-Trafford. And losing the backup to the top running back to an injury just a few minutes later would have most teams backed up against the wall. Not Penn-Trafford. It's "next man up" and get on with your business for the Warriors, who overcame an early deficit and key injuries to beat McKeesport 29-12 on Friday, September 13, at Warrior Stadium in Harrison City. The win was number 83 for head coach John Ruane, who ties Art Tragesser's record for all-time wins at Penn-Trafford.

McKeesport took the opening kickoff and moved the ball well early, getting on the board first as quarterback Devari Robinson hit a leaping Deamontae Diggs in the front corner of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown at 4:33 of the first quarter. The extra point kick was blocked and the visitors set up to kick off with a 6-0 lead.

But the Tigers were soon ready to pounce again, successfully executing an onside kick recovery, yet they were unable to mount a sustained drive on the possession and were forced to punt. Penn-Trafford finally got their offense on the field and made hay quickly, with Gabe Dunlap finishing their drive with a touchdown run on a keeper with 17 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. When a second chance for the PAT was awarded after a Tigers penalty, the Warriors went up 7-6 on the kick by Nathan Schlessinger.

Penn Trafford's lead didn't last long as McKeesport's Devari Robinson call his own number and scampered 91 yards for a touchdown as the first quarter clock hit all zeroes. The two-point conversion failed and the teams went into the second quarter with the Tigers leading 12-7.

The second quarter was costly for the Warriors, as they lost top running back Caleb Lisbon for the rest of the night to a possible leg injury, and his replacement Sam Fanelli suffered the same fate just minutes later. But the Warriors are deep in talent, and the team didn't get deflated as they mounted their second scoring drive which was capped by Dunlap's 19-yard touchdown pass to Cole DeFillippo with 2:49 left in the half, then holding on for a 14-12 lead as the teams headed into the locker rooms and let the bands have the field.

The second half was all Penn-Trafford as they never let the Tigers seriously threaten again. When Dunlap put the Warriors on the Tigers' 1 yard line with a 44-yard run late in the second quarter, then carried it in the end zone on the next play, Penn-Trafford was out to a two-score lead at 21-12 with 11 seconds left in the third.

The Warriors closed out scoring when Brad Ford scored around left end from 23 yards out, after his previous run around right end was called back on a penalty, and Dunlap kept it for successful the two-point conversion run with 2:20 to play, as Penn-Trafford held on to take the win.

Penn Trafford's Gabe Dunlap rushed for 188 yards and two TDs in victory for the Warriors, with McKeesport's signal caller Devari Robinson having 167 yards and a TD on the ground for the Tigers.

Penn-Trafford's takes their 2-0 conference record, 3-0 overall, to Massillon, Ohio next week for a non-conference game to fill the schedule spot vacated by Albert Gallatin. McKeesport, 1-0 in conference, 2-0 overall, plays at Plum next week.

Watch this link for a full gallery of action photos available for purchase or sharing the day after the game.

Keywords: boys, football, high school, mckeesport, penn trafford, westmoreland county