Greensburg CC pulls away from Riverview to move to 2-0

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, August 31, 2018 | 11:12 PM

It could be easy to overlook your opponent with perennial powerhouse Clairton on your horizon. However, Greensburg Central Catholic made sure to handle business at home against Riverview.

In the early going, it looked like the Centurions were going to pull away. But the Raiders kept the game close, heading into halftime down only seven points.

The second half was a different story as the Centurions (2-0, 1-0) scored 28 points to defeat the Raiders, 35-0, at home in Class A Eastern Conference action.

“It showed our team that we could play with these other guys. I think we have a better team this year. I think experience is a major thing. We had a lot of young guys who played for us last year,” Centurions head coach Aaron Smetanka said.

“All those kids had a full year in the offensive system and defensive system. They are more comfortable in the schemes. It has shown these two first games, and I hope it continues as the season goes on.”

Senior quarterback Max Pisula, who made his impact felt under center and on defense, led the Centurions.

Pisula finished 9 for 20 with 112 yards passing and two touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 99 yards on 15 carries.

Pisula started the scoring with a sneak from 1-yard out to cap off an 11-play opening drive. On the drive, the Centurions converted a fourth down after Pisula connected with junior wide receiver Ben LaCarte on a 13-yard pass.

After both teams were unable to move the ball effectively for the next couple of drives, Riverview (0-1, 0-1) strung a drive that reached Centurion territory heading into the second quarter.

The Raiders reached inside the Centurion 30-yard line but the drive stalled after the Raiders had three penalties in a row.

After the half, the Raiders turned the ball over on the opening possession as Pisula recovered the fumble at the Raiders 39-yard line. Four plays later, Pisula rolled to his left and connected with junior wide receiver Brandon Brown on a 36-yard touchdown pass.

The Centurions capitalized on another Raider turnover as Pisula connected with senior wide receiver Jacob Reihart for a 14-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.

On the ensuing Raider drive, Brown intercepted Riverview senior quarterback Jared Massack and returned it to the Raider 15.

Two plays later, Pisula took the keeper and ran 10 yards down the left side for his second rushing touchdown.

“At half, I told them we have to start putting these drives together. We had to finish it out,” Smetanka said. “Defensively, I told them they needed to continue to get stops. They did it the majority of the game. They did it at the end with the four turnovers, which is huge.”

Later in the fourth, junior Luke Mazowiecki returned an interception 27 yards for the Centurions’ final score on the night.

The Centurions will travel to Clairton next week.

Last year, the Bears defeated Greensburg Central Catholic, 38-0.

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Riverview