Measuring Timmy Andrasy’s ability goes well beyond a potential disagreement between PennDOT and the football roster about his height.
The Leechburg senior running back went barreling into the heart of the Jeannette defensive line 37 times Friday night at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium. Andrasy ran for 257 yards and scored four touchdowns to help the Blue Devils upend the Jayhawks, 36-27, in Eastern Conference play.
“My (driver’s) license says I’m 5-foot-6,” Andrasy said. “With shoes I’m 5-7 or 5-8.”
Andrasy’s most important moment didn’t come from the might that his 170-pound frame inflicts on opponents. Instead, Andrasy’s mental focus allowed him to make a pivotal recovery.
Andrasy was headed toward the goal line in the fourth quarter when Jeannette’s Jayce Powell jarred the ball loose. Andrasy landed belly-first beyond the goal line, while the ball rolled away.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” Andrasy said. “I didn’t know if I scored or not. I had to jump on it. It was tough, but I still got it.”
Andrasy stood up and beat Jeannette’s Dhestin Sanders to the ball. His fumble recovery put the Blue Devils (4-1, 2-0) ahead 28-27 with 10 minutes, 15 seconds remaining.
“He’s an unbelievably tough kid,” Leechburg coach Randy Walters said. “He’s got the heart of a 6-foot, 300 pound offensive tackle. He’s all power. He’s all strength.”
Leechburg used all of its strength to bully the Jayhawks (3-2, 1-1). The Blue Devils moved with deliberate runs between the tackles.
Leechburg had 306 rushing yards. The Blue Devils had only three carries of 20 yards or more.
“It’s something that is hard to do,” Andrasy said. “The trust we have in our line is out of this world. They’ll do anything for me, and I’ll do anything for them.”
One of those long runs — a 65-yard run by Andrasy — gave Leechburg the game’s opening score with 5 minutes, 53 seconds left in the first quarter. Leechburg built a 21-14 halftime lead
Walters was proud of his veteran offensive line.
“They are getting better and better,” Walters said. “They are all three-year starters. They are big, they are strong and they’ve put in the work. Now, it’s time to show it.”
Jeannette didn’t allow the battle in the trenches to temper its resolve. Jayhawks quarterback Kymon’e Brown threw up on the sideline before the start of the second half.
He then led the Jayhawks on two touchdown drives on their first two possessions of the second half. Brown’s 46-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Odorisio-Farrow and his 46-yard scoring run put Jeannette ahead 27-21 with 5:34 left in the third quarter.
“He’s a champion,” Jayhawks coach Tommy Paulone said. “There are so many stories on this team: sick, different circumstances off the field, they come to work everyday. It’s a Single-A problem with a small roster and guys giving it their all.”
Leechburg answered with a long touchdown drive that ended with Andrasy’s touchdown recovery. On Jeannette’s ensuing possession, Brown had a long touchdown run called back for holding.
Andrasy scored on a 3-yard run with 3:58 remaining to extend the lead. The Blue Devils went for a 2-point conversion, and Jaxon Vargo ran it in to stretch the lead to nine points.
“We were really exhausted trying to slow him down,” Paulone said. “You see the result.”
Andrasy anticipates the following morning being a tough one.
“We have film in the morning,” Andrasy said. “I’m going to be sore. I’ll tell you that.”