Central Catholic’s Xxavier Thomas puts on a show in win over Hempfield

By: Jerin Steele
Friday, September 20, 2024 | 11:52 PM

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With Penn State football coach James Franklin in attendance, future Nittany Lion Xxavier Thomas showed he can make an impact in every aspect of the game

Thomas caught two touchdown passes, returned a punt 83 yards for a score and had an interception on defense all in the first half as Central Catholic raced past Hempfield, 42-0, in a Class 6A game Friday night at Spartan Stadium.

“He’s a special talent. … There’s no doubt about it,” Central Catholic coach Ryan Leheimer said of Thomas. “Going into his senior year, what we talked about a lot was impacting the game in all three phases and I think you saw that tonight.”

Central Catholic used a blistering pace on offense, sometimes snapping the ball as soon as the umpire set it down, and it was certainly effective.

The Vikings (3-2, 1-1) scored four touchdowns in 16 plays on their first four possessions and their defense forced three turnovers by Hempfield (1-4. 0-2)

Vikings quarterback Jy’Aire Walls hit Thomas on a 28-yard pass for a score on the first possession.

The next drive ended with a 22-yard Walls to Max Roman touchdown.

Then came Thomas’ punt return. He fielded the ball just inside the 20, made a move and then bolted down the left sideline, going 83 yards untouched.

Following an interception on Hempfield’s next possession by Central Catholic defensive back Zach Gleason, Walls connected with Thomas again on a 53-yard touchdown.

Walls later added another score on a 2-yard run and Elijah Faulkner capped off the half with a 14-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the second quarter.

“That’s our DNA,” Leheimer said of the Vikings’ fast-paced offense. “I thought we were really efficient on offense tonight. That’s the way we operate. We practice that way and it kind of comes out organically in the game.”

Walls finished with 172 yards passing and three touchdowns. He and the rest of the starters on the Central Catholic offense did not play in the second half.

Hempfield got into Central Catholic territory on several occasions, but a critical penalty or turnover stalled each drive.

“To beat a team like Central Catholic or North Allegheny last week, you have to play crisp, perfect football,” Hempfield coach Nick Keefer said. “I was proud of some of the things we were doing. I thought we were moving the ball OK, but then we had a penalty and were behind the sticks. They’re a great team that’s so well-coached and has studs everywhere. I thought we made some plays tonight, but not enough of them.”

Central Catholic hosts North Allegheny at Baldwin next Friday in a first-place showdown.

Hempfield, meanwhile, will look to get back on track when it travels to Canon-McMillan for a conference game.

“We knew these two games back-to-back against (North Allegheny and Central Catholic) were going to be a challenge,” Keefer said. “You have to look forward now. We’ll learn from the film tomorrow and get on to Canon-McMillan, who’s another well-coached team.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Central Catholic, Hempfield