GCC, Jeannette resident Crosby spoil Jayhawks’ homecoming

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, October 13, 2023 | 10:55 PM

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Jeannette celebrated homecoming Friday, but it was a Jeannette resident who spoiled the party.

Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore Samir Crosby, who lives in Jeannette, scored three touchdowns to rally the Centurions to a 42-24 victory at McKee Stadium.

“This is a big game, especially for me,” Crosby said. “I don’t want to come home and hear what happened. We have that chip on our shoulder and got the win.

“It’s a huge rivalry. It is family against family, and you play against guys you grew up with.”

Jeannette running back Noah Sanders is Crosby’s cousin.

The Centurions rallied from an 18-7 deficit in the third quarter and scored on five consecutive possessions in the second half to snatch the victory.

Greensburg Central Catholic senior quarterback Tyree Turner also had a big game. He rushed for 110 yards, scored two touchdowns and threw for two scores.

After being held to 7 yards in the first half by the Jeannette defense, Turner got his number called numerous times in the second half to spark the offense.

“Sometimes we’re a first-half team,” GCC coach John Thompson said. “Sometimes we’re a second-half team. That’s one thing I talked to them about this week was putting together four quarters.

“We were getting there in the first half, but in the second half we put it together. I told them in the locker room to keep doing what they were doing. We were fine.”

Injuries hurt Jeannette’s chances of staying unbeaten in the WPIAL Class A Eastern Conference. Already down one offensive lineman, the Jayhawks lost two more during the third quarter. The Jayhawks also lost kicker Austin Emery for the season with a lower-body injury during a soccer game.

“Losing those players definitely changes some things for us,” Jeannette coach Tommy Paulone Jr. said. “We had to move players around. They had some wrinkles in the second half. They are a well-coached team. I’m not going to make any excuses.”

Jeannette grabbed a 6-0 lead on its first possession by running the ball down GCC’s throat. Sanders, who rushed for 143 yards, finished off the drive with a 5-yard score.

GCC answered with Turner finding Crosby on an 8-yard score. Crosby’s 39-yard kickoff return set up the score.

The Jayhawks then made it 12-7 in the second quarter as quarterback Payton Molter connected on a 29-yard score to Jayce Powell. Molter completed 9 of 16 passes for 135 yards.

GCC (5-3, 3-1) threatened to reclaim the lead in the final minute, but the Jeannette defense stopped Turner 2 yards short of the end zone.

Jeannette made it 18-7 early in the third quarter when Molter and Jeremiah Williamson connected on a 36-yard touchdown.

That’s when GCC’s offense started to click. Turner hit Luke Semelka on an 11-yard score to make it 18-14, and, after a Jeannette turnover, Crosby scored on a 2-yard run to make it 21-18.

“I tell Samir to stay grounded and play within himself,” Thompson said.

A short punt set up the Centurions’ next score, a 44-yard jaunt by Turner on the second play of the fourth quarter.

Jeannette (6-2, 3-1) didn’t quit. The Jayhawks drove 65 yards and got a 1-yard plunge by Michael Mason with 6:45 left to make it 28-24.

But the Centurions were just too much. Turner scored on a 3-yard run after Crosby’s 53-yard run. And after another Jeannette turnover, Crosby scored on a 14-yard run,

Crosby finished with 89 yards rushing.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Jeannette