High-powered Jeannette follows script in win vs. Leechburg

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 12:09 AM

Jeannette did what the No. 2-ranked team in WPIAL Class A would expect to do in its conference opener: hit the gas and not look back.

The Jayhawks started fast and kept the pace up in a 49-6 victory over Eastern conference opponent Leechburg on Friday night at McKee Stadium.

“There were things that we wanted to work on offensively,” Jeannette coach Roy Hall said. “We couldn't have scripted it out (any better).”

Jeannette (3-0, 1-0) continued its offensive assault with three of five offensive scores in the first half coming through the air.

Junior receiver Marcus Barnes opened the scoring with a 7-yard strike from senior Robert Kennedy.

Kennedy connected with junior receiver Isaiah Winters for a 26-yard score, opening a 14-0 lead after one quarter. Kennedy added another, a 56-yard touchdown to sophomore Imani Sanders.

Kennedy factored in on all six of Jeannette's first-half scores. He finished 7 of 9 passing for 156 yards.

“When (Kennedy) has the ball in his hands, he's electric,” Hall said. “Any time he touches the ball, you never know.”

Barnes had three catches for 55 yards, and Winters grabbed two passes for 39 yards.

“When you have four or five receivers who are 6-foot-3 or taller, and they can run too, we just spread the ball around,” Hall said. “Sometime there aren't enough balls to be spread around. I'm hoping our kids are understanding that, and they're team players.”

Kennedy also led all ball carriers with 90 yards on five attempts with two rushing touchdowns and a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown. Jaden Crosby had 83 yards on three carries.

Jeannette is making the most of its available weapons.

“One thing I learned from Joe Paterno at a coach's clinic is you evolve your offense around your players,” Hall said.

Although Leechburg (0-3, 0-2) surrendered points in the first half, mostly on big plays, there were encouraging signs from the defensive unit.

Aside from the touchdowns, Leechburg surrendered only three plays of more than 10 yards in the first half.

“In the first half, it was the passing that got us,” Leechburg coach Mark George said. “They're a little taller than we are. We're were playing tougher, but they were playing their size.”

Leechburg got on the board in the third quarter on a 5-yard fumble return from lineman Dalton Hamm.

Dave Yohe is a freelance writer.

Tags: Jeannette, Leechburg