Jeannette football team looks to finish sweet run in PIAA championship

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, December 3, 2017 | 7:54 PM

The silver things raining down on the Jeannette football team Friday night weren't ice pelts. They were Hershey Kisses thrown by excited Jayhawks fans.

That's what happens when your team qualifies for a PIAA championship in Hershey.

Jeannette punched its ticket for the Class A title game at 1 p.m. Thursday at Hersheypark Stadium against District 6 champion Homer-Center, which is 32 miles east in Indiana County.

The Jayhawks (14-1) and Wildcats (13-1) have followed similar paths.

Jeannette has been a different squad since its second-half rally against Rochester in the WPIAL quarterfinals, and senior Robert Kennedy has elevated his game since his 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second Clairton game.

Homer-Center claimed the District 6 title by shocking Bishop Guilfoyle, 20-14, to end its 59-game winning streak.

Both teams earned solid victories Friday.

Jeannette's defense shut down District 10 champion Farrell, which was averaging 43 points, en route to a 17-6 victory.

Homer-Center rushed for 322 yards and beat District 3 champion Steelton-Highspire, 20-14.

Entering Friday's game, Farrell quarterback Isaac Clarke had thrown 30 touchdown passes and only one interception. Jeannette picked off Clarke three times, two by Kennedy, and three other potential interceptions slipped through the fingers of Jayhawks players.

“I wouldn't call it our best defensive effort of the season. It was probably only just a little behind how we shut down Clairton,” Jeannette coach Roy Hall said. “I believe we took Farrell out of its game.”

Farrell was in Jeannette territory all night but only got as close as the 15-yard line. Meanwhile, Jeannette's offense struggled early.

Things changed late in the first half. Jeannette junior defensive end Anthony Johnson crunched Clarke, who was attempting to pass, and the hit caused a fumble Jeannette recovered.

On the next play, junior quarterback Seth Howard hit Kennedy for a 51-yard touchdown.

Farrell then drove to the Jeannette 30, and when Clarke tried to connect with Jourdan Townsend, a hit by Kennedy forced an incomplete pass. Kennedy was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the hard hit seemed to set a tone.

Jeannette dominated the second half.

“I believe those hits had an adverse effect on them,” Hall said. “They didn't try to run their normal plays.”

Hall said the team has found its swagger since losing to Clairton, 40-6, in Week 10.

“(Kennedy) is playing at a different level, and the team is following his lead,” Hall said. “The biggest thing people don't realize is getting these guys up week after week after beating Rochester, Clairton, Imani Christian and Farrell.

“Now we're going to ‘Chocolate-town, Pa.,' and I don't think we have to do much to get them up. It's going to be sweet taking these guys to Hershey.”

Jeannette is making its third trip to Hershey, the first since 2007 when Terrelle Pryor led it to a win against Dunmore. Homer-Center is going for the school's first state title.

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

Tags: Jeannette