Football - Mount Pleasant vs Greensburg Salem

October 01, 2022

Fourth Quarter Outburst Powers Mount Pleasant to 45-28 Win over Greensburg Salem

A late-game Mount Pleasant scoring frenzy broke open a close contest as the Vikings celebrated homecoming with a 45-28 win over Greensburg Salem on Friday, September 30, at Viking Stadium in Mount Pleasant.

Greensburg Salem received the opening kickoff and was forced to start on their own 1-yard line after muffing the return under good kick coverage by the Vikings. Greensburg Salem worked the ball into Mt. Pleasant territory on a drive that included a 56-yard Cody Rubrecht to Jerome Wallish pass reception, and the Golden Lions appeared to have the Vikings back on their heels. But the Vikings reversed the field, pressuring Rubrecht into a fumble, and Mt. Pleasant took over at midfield with 7:11 on the first quarter clock.

Mt. Pleasant got on the scoreboard at the 2:52 mark of the quarter when senior Lane Golkosky carried it in from 4 yards out. The ensuing PAT kick failed and they led the Lions 6-0.

The Lions came up empty on their next drive and were forced to punt at the 10:05 mark in the second quarter. Following a drive that started on their own 20, Mt. Pleasant made it a double-digit lead when Robbie Labuda scored from the 2 yard line, and the PAT made it 13-0 with 6:28 remaining in the half.

Greensburg Salem got on track and on the scoreboard after Kai Brunot got loose and scampered 44 yards to the 1 yard line, where Rubrecht punched it in for the touchdown. Daishaun Alexander's PAT kick was good and the Lions trailed 13-7 with 3:46 left in the half.

Following a Mt. Pleasant punt on their next possession, Cody Rubrecht gave the Lions their first lead with his 70-yard touchdown run at 1:35 of the half. Alexander's extra point kick gave the Lions a 14-13 advantage at halftime.

Following a performance by the Golden Lions band, Mount Pleasant's homecoming court was introduced to the crowd, and Sierra Probst was crowned as homecoming queen.

Trailing 14-13 at halftime, the Vikings scored in the opening minutes of the third quarter to take a 19-14 lead on Golkosky's 43-yard touchdown run and a failed two point conversion.

Greensburg Salem went back on top when Rubrecht hit Julian Stevens in the end zone on 4th-and-goal from the 2 yard line. Alexander's kick made it 21-19 with 5:04 remaining in the third.

The Vikings answered with Cole Chatfield carrying 34 yards to the 1-yard line, where Labuda carried in for the score. Another failed PAT kick had the Vikes leading 25-21 with 1:16 showing on the third quarter clock.

Greensburg Salem's attempt to answer was stopped when a pass was picked off by Camden Moore at the Vikings 29 yard line at 9:16 of the fourth quarter. The Vikings turned it into points with Golkosky going left side for 18 yards to paydirt. Labuda carried in for a two-point conversion and it was 33-21 with 5:18 left in the game.

A pair of major penalties called on Greensburg Salem after the touchdown had the Vikings kicking off from the 30 yard line. An attempted onside kick was recovered by the Lions but it all went south for them quickly after that. Lions backup quarterback Peyton Chismar was intercepted by Tyler Reese, who returned it 34 yards for the touchdown. Another failed PAT had the Vikings on top 39-21.

But the carnage wasn't over yet for the Lions. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff set Mt. Pleasant up for another quick score when Golkosky ran 31 yards, diving to the pylon for a touchdown. The PAT failed again but the damage had been done, with Mount Pleasant scoring three touchdowns on the Lions in a span of only 34 seconds.

Greensburg Salem got one back late in the game as Julian Stevens caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Chismar with 2:26 to play. Alexander's kick made him 4-for-4 on PATs, and the game ended with Mt Pleasant claiming the 45-28 victory in their Class 3A Interstate Conference opener.

Mount Pleasant (4-2, 1-0) goes on the road to Elizabeth Forward next Friday, while Greensburg Salem (3-3, 0-1) will host conference powerhouse Belle Vernon at Offutt Field.

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

Keywords: boys, football, greensburg salem, high school, mt pleasant, westmoreland county