Woodland Hills coach Brian Tarrant had tears in his eyes as he hugged his players and assistant coaches. They were tears of joy, because a vision he had for the program was completed.
Scoop Smith scored three touchdowns, and backup quarterback Prince Tarrant put in a gutsy effort to help the Wolverines clinch their first conference title since 2009 with a 27-17 win at Franklin Regional in Class 5A Big East play Friday night.
“We set a goal when I got the job that we were going to restore the roar here,” said Tarrant, who is in his second season coaching the Wolverines. “This is one big, huge step putting Woodland Hills back as conference champions. I’m just so grateful.”
Woodland Hills (7-2, 5-0) had to battle through some adversity to earn its first conference title in 15 years.
Starting quarterback and all-time leading passer in Woodland Hills history, Cam Walter, was injured on the second play of the game after taking a hit while sliding after a short run.
Walter did not return, and Prince Tarrant took over at quarterback.
He ended up throwing the go-ahead touchdown pass to Smith in the third quarter, which made the score 14-10.
“It was complete chaos,” coach Tarrant said about losing Walter. “We’re so used to having Cam back there and his voice. Prince didn’t dazzle anybody, but he just maintained consistency. We moved the football and found some ways to score. Tip your hat to Prince for helping put 27 points on that board, because he hasn’t played quarterback all year.”
Franklin Regional trailed 7-3 at halftime but got the ball out of the break, ran seven straight times and Kyle Dupill scored on a 12 yard run
That put the Panthers (6-3, 3-2) up 10-7, but after that, it was all Wolverines.
Following the Tarrant-to-Smith connection that put Woodland Hills back in front, Franklin Regional was forced to punt on its next drive, and that’s when disaster struck.
Joey Bayne’s punt attempt was blocked by Lenair Butler, and he returned it to the Panthers’ 4-yard line. Elijah Nesby scored two plays later, and the lead swelled to 21-10.
“We imploded,” Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy said. “We had things that were open and didn’t take advantage of it. We got pinned deep and had penalties that put us behind the sticks. That stuff is killing us right now.”
The Wolverines took the lead late in the first half after a turnover. Franklin Regional quarterback Chase Lemke threw a pass down the left sideline that was picked off by Tymir Walker.
Woodland Hills took over at the Panthers’ 40 and, after long runs by Tarrant and Elijah Nesby, had first-and-goal on the at the 2.
Three plays later Smith, who typically plays receiver, lined up at quarterback and weaved his way into the end zone on a 3-yard run to make it 7-3.
Franklin Regional’s only points of the first half came on a Bayne 29-yard field goal in the first quarter.
Bayne also attempted a 50-yarder on the final play of the first half, but it was blocked. He also missed a 40-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
Smith put an exclamation point on Woodland Hills’ night with a dazzling 82-yard touchdown run late in the fourth. He spun around in the backfield before breaking free.
Dupill, the WPIAL’s second-leading rusher had 208 yards.
The loss, coupled with a Latrobe win, means Franklin Regional failed to clinch a playoff spot but can do so next Friday with a win over Armstrong.
“We just have to stay focused,” Getsy said. “We don’t have to be more physical or anything. Our kids play hard and physical, but we just have to be mentally focused.”