Trinity tops Greensburg Salem, gains leverage toward playoff spot

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Friday, October 20, 2017 | 11:27 PM


One team played like it was headed to the WPIAL playoffs and the other must wait at least another year.

Trinity virtually clinched a berth in the Class 4A playoffs with a 42-14 victory against Greensburg Salem on Friday in a Big 9 Conference game at Offutt Field.

Trinity (5-3, 4-3) scored on five of its first six possessions and rolled over a Greensburg Salem squad that was playing without four starters, including quarterback Jacob Hoyle.

It was also a record night for the Hillers as quarterback Dylan Kern and running back Joey Koroly set milestones.

Kern was 10 of 17 for 202 yards and three touchdowns, giving him a school-record 13 touchdown passes in a season. Koroly entered the game 8 yards shy of the 4,000-yard career mark and surpassed the mark on his second carry of the game.

Koroly finished with 161 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown, giving him 1,153 yards on the season. He left the game late in the second quarter with an apparent ankle injury and did not return.

“They executed a lot better than we did,” Greensburg Salem coach Dave Keefer said. “We needed to make plays on defense and couldn't get a stop. They had a nice game plan.”

Koroly scored on a 1-yard run to open the scoring and then Kern tossed a 22-yard scoring strike to Cole Bair for a 14-0 lead.

“We talked all week that if we protected the ball, we'd be OK,” Trinity coach Jon Miller said. “Other than the one interception, we did the job.

“In most of our games, if the offensive line plays well, we play well. They did a great job creating running lanes for Joey.”

Miller said he kept Koroly out because the game was out of hand.

Kern tossed two more touchdown passes in the second quarter (9 yards to A.J. Mauro and 54 to Bair) and scored from the 2 as Trinity opened up a 35-0 lead.

Greensburg Salem (3-6, 3-4) got a 33-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Trent Patrick to Tyler Williams to make it 35-7 at halftime.

“We couldn't get them off the field,” Keefer said. “I thought we played hard, but at times we were out of control and over pursuing. They blocked us well.

“Their quarterback also made some key plays. They forced us to defend the entire field and he made some clutch throws.”

With Koroly sidelined in the second half, Trinity's offense bogged down.

The Hillers took a 35-point lead when Tanner Hudak scored on a 7-yard run.

Patrick scored on a 7-yard for the Golden Lions to make it 42-14.

Greensburg Salem finishes the season at home against winless Uniontown next week.

“We'll go back to work and try to get a win and finish 4-6,” Keefer said. “The seniors on this team deserve that.”

Trinity can clinch a playoff berth win a win over Ringgold in Week 9, but a loss will complicate the Hillers' chances.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

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