Pisula leads Greensburg Central Catholic past undermanned Mapletown

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 5, 2018 | 9:54 PM

With a running clock for most of the game and 8-minute quarters in the second half, Greensburg Central Catholic dominated Mapletown from start to finish, winning 42-6.

The final score fails to capture the Centurions’ thorough dominance in the nonconference game.

Greensburg Central Catholic jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. After one quarter, it led 21-0. By halftime, the score was 35-0.

Centurions senior quarterback Max Pisula was nearly flawless in the first half, completing 5 of 6 passes for 184 yards and three scores. He added another touchdown rushing. Pisula was pulled at halftime to give sophomore David Altimore reps.

“(Pisula’s) been doing a great job. He’s made great strides from where he was last year, and I think tonight was his best decision making all year,” Greensburg Central Catholic coach Aaron Smetanka said. “Our goal was to come out and to play physical from the start, but to execute. And we clearly did that the whole first half.”

It wasn’t all gloom for visiting Mapletown.

Early in the 4th quarter, the Maples scored on a 72-yard trick play: a pass from receiver Lance Stevenson to receiver Brandon Donley. It was the Maples’ first touchdown since Sept. 7 against Jefferson-Morgan.

“(Donley’s) been a team leader for us for four years. He’s a first-class act,” said Mapletown coach George Messich, who was an offensive lineman on Pitt’s 1976 national championship team. “He deserved that more than anyone on our team or anyone we played all year. He’s just a great kid.”

Mapletown is a small, youthful team. They start five freshman and only three seniors. With only 13 players, substitutions are rare, and the team forfeited an Aug. 31 game against Clairton because of low numbers.

Despite the 0-7 start, there’s reason for optimism. Messich was quick to point out the 7th and 8th grade team is 5-0. Messich, who has been Mapletown’s coach the past 31 years, said there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Next week, Greensburg Central Catholic plays at rival Jeannette. It’s a rivalry the Jayhawks have dominated the past few years.

“They’re a great football team. They’ve always been a rival, even though it hasn’t been close these past few years,” Smetanka said. “I’m hoping we can close the gap this year.”

Nathanael Gabler is a freelance writer.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Mapletown