No. 1 South Fayette routs Highlands, extends regular-season win streak to 55

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, October 21, 2017 | 12:12 AM

South Fayette, the Tribune-Review's No. 1-ranked Class 4A team, wrapped up the Northwest 9 Conference with a 49-14 home victory Friday night against Highlands.

The loss eliminated Highlands (4-4, 3-4) from the playoff race.

On the game's first play, South Fayette linebacker Noah Plack set the tone by grabbing the ball off Golden Rams quarterback Seth Cohen as he was set to pass.

Drew Saxton tossed an 11-yard pass to Johnny Beck on the following play to put the Lions in front.

South Fayette scored soon again on a 38-yard run by Beck and once more on a 31-yard pass from Saxton to Mark Trimbur, and the Lions had a 21-0 advantage with 7 minutes, 1 second to go in the first quarter.

South Fayette coach Joe Rossi was happy with the early eruption

“These Highlands guys are scary,” Rossi said. “These guys are athletic, I watched them on film, and they competed with everybody. We told the kids all week that you've got to be ready.”

It was the 55th consecutive regular-season victory for the Lions (9-0, 7-0) as they secured home field for the opening round of the WPIAL playoffs Nov. 3.

“They're outstanding,” Golden Rams coach Dom Girardi said. “They're well-coached, and they don't have a weakness anywhere. I told the kids I'm proud of them. They've come out and played hard. They jumped out on us early, and that was the difference.”

The Saxton-to-Trimbur combination accounted for another scoring pass late in the first quarter before Highlands put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive.

Cohen's pass to Romello Freeman put the Golden Rams on the scoreboard.

The Lions led 42-7 at halftime.

Both teams exchanged scores in the fourth quarter, with Highlands putting together a 67-yard drive in nine plays. A 22-yard pass from Cohen to Johnny Crise concluded the scoring.

“Against a team like that, you've got to do everything right,” Girardi said. “You have make all the blocks, all the runs and all the passes.”

Cohen passed for 107 yards Friday, giving the junior 1,741 yards on the season and 22 touchdowns.

Saxton has 6,564 career passing yards, trailing former South Fayette standout Andrew DiDonato by 9 yards on the all-time WPIAL list.

“When you build something like we have here, the players want to be the next one,” Rossi said. “We always say when you lose someone, like a tailback, someone like Johnny Beck hasn't had a chance to start until this year, and he's been tremendous. When it's your turn, the guys have stepped up.”

South Fayette will attempt to become the third school in WPIAL history to have six consecutive undefeated regular seasons when the Lions play Montour next week. Another Highlands bright spot continued to be Jaci Bowser's place-kicking. She has hit 22 consecutive extra points.

“I shouldn't, but I take her for granted,” Girardi said. “Half the time, I don't even watch her, I'm so confident.”

Tags: Highlands, South Fayette