Steel Valley uses quick scores to defeat Washington

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 9, 2018 | 10:54 PM

In a flash, it was over.

Steel Valley took just 47 seconds to score three touchdowns late in the first half and effectively dispatch Washington from the WPIAL football playoffs Friday night.

In a rematch of the 2017 Class 2A championship, Todd Hill scored three touchdowns, and No. 3 seed Steel Valley capitalized on Washington’s mistakes for a 39-7 victory at Elizabeth Forward.

Steel Valley (10-1) will face No. 7 seed Freedom in the semifinals Friday at a site to be determined.

“Give our players the credit,” Steel Valley coach Rod Steele said. “When they started to get into a rhythm and started to execute, we were firing on all cylinders.”

Leading 13-7 with 3:17 remaining in the second quarter, Steel Valley went on a rampage to seize a 33-7 advantage at halftime.

“It was big from a momentum standpoint and from a psychological standpoint,” Steele said.

Hill, a Howard recruit who finished with 165 yards on 20 carries, scored on a 6-yard touchdown run at the 1:33 mark.

On Washington’s first play on the next series, Dionte Williams intercepted a pass by Zack Swartz and returned it 23 yards for a score at 1:23 remaining.

Hill then scored again on an 8-yard run with 46 seconds left after Joseph Kraft recovered a fumble by Swartz at the Washington 35.

“It was brutal,” Washington coach Mike Bosnic said. “I take the blame for all of that. It was poor play-calling on my part, and it put the team in a bad position.”

What’s more, No. 6 seed Washington failed to score twice in the first half after advancing deep into Steel Valley territory.

“We couldn’t block them, and we couldn’t tackle,” Bosnic said.

The victory extended Steel Valley’s winning streak to eight. Washington (10-2) saw a nine-game winning streak end.

Steel Valley struck first with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Kameron Williams’ 8-yard touchdown run with 1:44 left in the first quarter.

The Ironmen upped their lead to 13-0 three minutes into the second quarter on Hill’s 57-yard run to the end zone.

Washington took advantage of a blocked punt by Swartz at the Steel Valley 33 to get on the board, with Dan Walker carrying the final 7 yards for a touchdown to cut the Little Prexies’ deficit to 13-7.

Then, Steel Valley struck with a trio of touchdowns in a matter of seconds.

“I have a lot of respect for Washington’s program and their coaching staff,” Steele said. “They took our belt from us last year, but the breaks just went our way tonight.”

Steel Valley won WPIAL and PIAA championships in 2016 before falling to Washington in last season’s WPIAL title game.

After a scoreless third quarter, Steel Valley added its final touchdown in the fourth on a 14-yard scoring pass from Ronnell Lawrence to Eshawn Carter.

It was Hill’s hard running behind a strong effort from Steel Valley’s offensive line that highlighted the Ironmen’s offensive explosion.

“Todd is a special kid,” Steele said. “He pays attention to details, and he’s always in the weight room. He comes to work every day.”

Dave Mackall is a freelance writer.

Tags: Steel Valley, Washington