Several WPIAL players displayed elite performances at the PIAA football finals

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, December 11, 2017 | 6:09 PM

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Here’s a look at some of the top performances by WPIAL players at the PIAA football championships Thursday-Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium.

Anthony Cerminara

Pine-Richland

The junior linebacker made a team-high 10 solo tackles for a Pine-Richland defense that held St. Joseph’s Prep to just three touchdowns in Saturday’s 41-21 victory in the PIAA Class 6A championship.

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Jordan Crawford

Pine-Richland

The senior running back rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, but also made plays on special teams and defense that were crucial. Crawford returned the opening kickoff 62 yards to the St. Joseph’s Prep 31-yard line. From there, the Rams needed just three plays to take a 7-0 lead. He was credited with a forced fumble in the fourth quarter that led to the Rams’ sixth touchdown drive.

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Phil Jurkovec

Pine-Richland

Jurkovec rushed for four touchdowns and threw for a fifth in Pine-Richland’s 41-21 victory over St. Joseph’s Prep in the PIAA Class 6A final. The Notre Dame-bound quarterback scored on runs of 1, 17, 13 and 6 yards as Pine-Richland (16-0) won its first state title.

@pjurkovec Congrats to Phil Jurkovec, Pennsylvania's 2017-18 Gatorade State Football Player of the Year. #GatoradePOY @PRRamsFootball pic.twitter.com/BJHZ9ANLMT

— Hudl (@Hudl) December 11, 2017

Robert Kennedy

Jeannette

The senior rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns, passed for 143 yards and two scores and also caught a 46-yard pass in Jeannette’s 42-12 victory over Homer-Center in the PIAA Class A final.

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Ethan Moore

Quaker Valley

The junior wideout stepped into a featured role Saturday and made five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. The Quakers’ top receiver, Isaiah McNair, was out with an injury.

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Jordan Taylor

Quaker Valley

The junior rushed for 147 yards and scored twice on touchdown runs of 34 and 35 yards. As a linebacker, Taylor had four tackles and a sack, and was pressuring Middletown’s quarterback when teammate Andrew Seymour returned an interception for a touchdown.

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Travis Thompson II

Gateway

The senior receiver provided a bright spot for the Gators with five catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns Saturday in a Class 5A loss to Archbishop Wood.

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Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Gateway, Jeannette, Pine-Richland, Quaker Valley