Jeannette fights through adversity to roll past Reynolds in PIAA semifinal Friday
Written by: Dan Flickinger
November 21, 2020
Tags: Brad Birch Toby Cline Noah Anders Roberto Smith Jimmy Sanders Jaydin Canady Ryan Kimmel Brandon Penn Basil Wilson
Roberto Smith Jr., Jimmy Sanders and Elijah Binakonsky following the Jayhawks PIAA semifinal win over Reynolds.
It certainly wasn't an ideal week for Jeannette to prepare for a state semifinal game.
The Jayhawks were dealt a blow when they learned that their dynamic freshman quarterback Brad Birch would miss the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury he suffered in the WPIAL championship game against Clairton. They then found out later in the week they would be without key players Toby Cline and Noah Sanders due to COVID protocol. A two-hour bus ride only made things more challenging.
But Jeannette overcame.
Despite shuffling players into different positions, the Jayhawks (10-1) exploded for 27 points in the third quarter to earn a 48-12 mercy rule victory over District 10 champion Reynolds in the PIAA semifinals at Reynolds High School.
After a bit of a slow start, the Jayhawks got their first big play of the game late in the first quarter as Roberto Smith Jr., who started at quarterback in place of Birch, fired a pass down field on 3rd-and-10 and Jimmy Sanders made a nice over the shoulder grab. The 60-yard gain helped set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Smith Jr. and Jeannette led led 7-0 after one.
Reynolds, primarily a running team, responded with a 47-yard drive capped off by a 2-yard run by quarterback Brayden McCloskey. The extra point attempt was no good and it was 7-6 with 5:07 left in the second quarter.
What turned out to be the game-winning touchdown came just a minute later as Smith Jr. found Sanders open over the middle and he weaved his way down the field for a 67-yard catch-and-run score to extend Jeannette's lead to 14-6 at halftime.
The third quarter was completely dominated by the road team as Smith Jr. figured in on his third touchdown, giving up some ground before charging towards the end zone and bowling over a Raiders defender as he crossed the goal line from 12 yards out to make it 21-6.
After a three-and-out by Reynolds, Jeannette quickly converted on a short 2-yard plunge by Jaydin Canady for a touchdown to give the Jayhawks a 28-6 advantage with 7:38 left in the third quarter. Smith Jr. tacked on a 4-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 34-6.
With just 27 seconds left in the frame, Jeannette's opportunistic defense stepped up as Ryan Kimmel sacked McCloskey and jarred the ball loose. Brandon Penn scooped it up and returned it 37 yards to the end zone which extended the lead to 41-6.
Jeannette's Basil Wilson added a 10-yard scoring jaunt in the fourth quarter and Cole Toy capped off a great career for Reynolds, which was playing in only its second ever PIAA semifinal, by scoring from two yards away late in the game to set the final score.
Smith Jr. finished 6-of-14 for 274 yards and one touchdown through the air. On the ground he rushed for 34 yards and three scores. Sanders caught three passes for 192 yards and a touchdown while Brett Birch made three receptions for 82 yards. He also intercepted two passes on defense while leading the team in tackles with 8.5.
"We had people playing out of position.. we only had just 24 players dressed today," Jeannette coach Roy Hall said. "I'm proud of them like I've been proud of them all year."
The Jayhawks advance to the PIAA championship for the fourth time in school history and will face District 3 champion Steelton-Highspire on Friday at Hersheypark Stadium at 11 a.m. Steelton defeated Bishop Guilfoyle 16-14 Saturday on a 34-yard field goal with just 38.7 seconds left in the game.
"I hope we are able to play next week with everything going on, Hall said alluding to COVID-19 issues. "Chocolatetown U.S.A. let's go."
PIAA 1A Semifinal
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th |
F |
| Jeannette Jayhawks |
7 |
7 |
27 |
7 |
48 |
| Reynolds Raiders |
0 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
12 |