MSA Sports Saturdays Scholastic Starz for Week Four

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, September 25, 2016 | 8:56 AM

Both of the Saturday afternoon football games in the WPIAL in Week Four matched teams with postseason expectations trying to stay near the top of their respective conferences taking on teams that were trying to snap losing skids that already have put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. In the end, the two favorites were victorious thanks to a couple large performances on the ground.

Jayvaun Shears – McKeesport

The orchestra leader this season of the famed McKeesport flex-bone offense had it rough early on. Quarterback Jayvaun Shears had little running room and was forced into some decisions that back fired because of an aggressive Plum defense for most of the first half. But once things started to roll, it was like running down hill for the red and blue offense. Shears sliced through the defense with 168 yards on the ground with four touchdown runs, the final coming on a 60-yard jaunt that put the game in the mercy rule as the Tigers pounded the Mustangs 52-24 in a Class 5-A Big East Conference Homecoming Day battle at the ‘Port.

Maleik Hemingway – Bishop Canevin

What was expected to be a challenging contest turned into a sweet autumn stroll along the river front at beautiful Riverside Park in Oakmont. Bishop Canevin’s Maleik Hemingway was leading the way on an eventually sun splashed day with 221 yards and three touchdowns on runs of 48, 1 and 50 yards as the visiting Crusaders cruised to a 35-0 whitewash of the Riverview Raiders in a Class 1-A Eastern Conference contest.

Tags: Bishop Canevin, McKeesport