For the seventh straight season, Central Catholic will play for a WPIAL Class 6A championship next weekend after a dominating 47-7 win over Canon-McMillian at West Mifflin on Friday night.
The top-seeded Vikings (10-1) have won four WPIAL titles since the classification was formed in 2016, including a title last season, and have been runner-up four other times.
“This is a great group of kids,” Central Catholic coach Ryan Lehmeier said. “Every year and every game has a life of its own, but this group has had a bunch of experience. I am just really excited for our kids, the coaches and our school.”
The Vikings and Big Macs met just two weeks ago in a Week 9 game in which Central Catholic rolled to a 45-10 win. No. 4 Canon-McMillian (4-7) got off to a good start this time, forcing a three-and-out on Central Catholic’s opening possession.
The Big Macs offense moved the ball past midfield on both of its first two possessions, only to stall both times, and the game held scoreless until late in the opening quarter.
With the Vikings driving into Big Macs territory on their second possession, running back Jayden Alexander fumbled at the Canon-McMillian 26-yard line and Big Mac defensive back Matt Hirsch recovered the ball and ran 76 yards for the first score of the game to give Canon-McMillian an 7-0 lead with 3:46 left in the first quarter.
Central Catholic then got to work, scoring 24 unanswered points in the first half on its way to 44 unanswered points in the game.
Vikings sophomore quarterback Owen Herrick took a shot deep with a pass to a wide-open Colsen Gatten for an 80-yard touchdown. The Vikings hit on a two-point conversion as Ty Kovalcin hit Jordan Day to give Central Catholic an 8-7 lead with 3:22 left in the first quarter.
Roman Thompson extended the Vikings’ lead on their next offensive possession on a 9-yard touchdown run with Herrick connecting with Aiden Nasiadka for another two-point conversion. Central Catholic led 16-7 with 1:09 left in the first quarter.
With 1:21 left before halftime, the Vikings scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Thompson, which was set up by a big 78-yard run by Chrys Black. Herrick connected with Nasiadka for the two-point conversion and Central Catholic had the momentum back after a tight first half, leading 24-7 at halftime.
“I thought we came off the ball well tonight, and we did a really good job at the line of scrimmage,” Lehmeier said. “Our four guys up front on defense sucked up a bunch of blocks tonight, and that helped our linebackers make plays.”
Herrick connected with Maceo Watkins on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:59 left in the third quarter and after a unsuccessful two-point conversion pass attempt, the Vikings took a 30-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Thompson scored his third rushing touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run at the start of the final quarter with 11:16 left. Central Catholic had a 37-7 lead.
The mercy rule went into effect with 10:18 remaining after a Black 10-yard touchdown run made it 44-7.
The Vikings defense held the Big Macs’ offense scoreless with 117 total yards.
“I am very proud of that group when we can pitch a donut on defense like we did tonight.” Lehmeier said. “That unit is playing really well for us right now.”
Central Catholic was led by Herrick, who completed 9 of 17 passes for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Black added nine carries for 168 yards rushing with a touchdown, and Thompson finished the night with eight carries for 54 yards and three scores.