Live blog from the Post-Gazette Game of the Week - Central Catholic at Pine-Richland. For score updates and notes from other games, check to the right of this blog at @PGVarsityXtra on Twitter. If you have a score or update, tweet it with #wpial and tag @PGVarsityXtra.
FINAL: CENTRAL CATHOLIC 35, PINE-RICHLAND 28
Game report with highlights, interviews, analysis and other news from around WPIAL.
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Central wins it on a 16-yard QB sneak by Troy Fisher for a TD
PINE-RICHLAND 28, CENTRAL CATHOLIC 28
This is stuff legends are made of. Phil Jurkovec long run and then spins out of a sack and runs 6 yards for TD. PAT good by Gill.
10:15 Pine-Richland takes over at Central 32 with 3:43 left after 17 yard punt.
10:11 Ronnie Jones 90 yard punt return to P-R 5. Block in back by Central. It's coming back. First at 20.
10:08 Pine-Richland takes over at its own 47. Game is living up to billing.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC 28, PINE-RICHLAND 21
Fourth down play. 11 yard TD pass Jurkovec to Jordan Crawford.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC 28, PINE-RICHLAND 14
Pine-Richland has used quick kicks often the past few years with its QB. This one backfired. Phil Jurkovec's quick kick was blocked by Central Catholic's David Adams. Central recovered at the Pine 32. Four plays later, Damar Hamlin, noted as a top DB, caught an 18-yard TD pass from Fisher.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21, PINE-RICHLAND 14
Central driving at Pine-Richland 18.
9:38 Pine doesn't do much with turnover and then quick kick by Phil Jurkovec is blocked by David Adams. Central takes over at P-R 32.
9:35 Pass intercepted by Jimmy Graf. Pine takes over at 19.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21, PINE-RICHLAND 14
Now things are interesting. 47 yards in 5 plays for Pine-Richland. Jurkovec hits Brandon Humphrey for 25 yard TD pass.
9:23 Two possessions, two punts so far in second half.
HALFTIME: CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21, PINE-RICHLAND 7
First-half stats: Ronnie Jones 75 yards on 12 attempts. Troy Fisher 4 of 9 for 112 yards.
For Pine-Richland, Jurkovec is 16 of 25 for 141 yards and has rushed eight times for 40 yards.
Jurkovec's favorite target has been his brother. Tom Jurkovec has six catches for 95 yards.
Half ends on Phil Jurkovec 25-yard run.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21, PINE-RICHLAND 7
Pine-Richland gets a break and takes advantage. Central Catholic fumbles the ball away and Colin Shaffer recovers at the Central 11. Then on fourth-and-2, Jurkovec runs option, pitches to Jim Graf, who runs for touchdown.
8:34 Right now Central Catholic dominating.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21, PINE-RICHLAND 0
Who said Central Catholic does not have a passing game? Troy Fisher throws a beauty. 73 yards to Jake McKee. Rocchi PAT and Central takes a 21-0 lead. Maybe that Pine--Richland defense was indeed suspect.
8:24 Pine-Richland turns it over on downs. Third down pass incomplete. Critical series coming up for Pine. Run defense must step up.
8:22 Pine-Richland faces a fourth and 8 at the Central Catholic 27. Jurkovec hasn't had much room to run and that Central Catholic secondary, filled with Division I guys, is doing an admirable job.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC 14, PINE-RICHLAND 0
Central Catholic needs only five plays to go 58 yards. Has to be one of the "biggest" tight ends around. Rashad Wheeler, 6-2, 280, a Pitt recruit, catches 12-yard TD pass from Troy Fisher.
8:11 Central Catholic has a Football Jones. Ron Jones 35 yards to Pine 15.
8:10 By the way packed house here.
END FIRST QUARTER: CENTRAL CATHOLIC 7, PINE-RICHLAND 0
8:05 Pine goes three and out. Not much running room for Jurkovec tonight. Central takes over at its 31.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC 7, PINE-RICHLAND 0
Vinny where have you been? First carry for Vinny Emanuele takes it 24 yards for TD. PAT good by Rocchi. Vikings lead with 3:32.
7:58 Timeout with Central on the move. Vikings picked up their first two first downs of night. 22-yard pass from Fisher to Garner puts ball at P-R 24. First complete pass of night for Central.
7:48 Central goes three and out again. Pine-Richland takes over at own 47. Central has seemed to go to the run more the past few games. So far, 0 for 2 passing.
7:45 Mistake by Jurkovec. Throws into double coverage. Pass intercepted at 10-yard line by Gunnar Frerotte. Only second INT of the year for Jurkovec. Pine-Richland had driven to the Central 25.
7:42 Central goes three and out. Pine-Richland takes over at own 31 and already picks up first down.
Gateway in trouble. Trailing Armstrong 10-0.
7:32 Late start cause of TV.
7:31 Late start. Teams not even on field yet.
Meanwhile, are you kidding me. I just tweeted this. Never been at a refreshment stand that had Vanilla Wafer cookies. Had to get them.
Now Rob King and Chris Schneider are mooching them. Telling ya, Vanilla Wafers would be a hit at a lot of refreshment stands.
Interesting. Plum and Penn-Trafford tied, 7-7, after the first.
Important Class AA game. Apolo-Ridge and Deer Lakes tied, 7-7, after first.
7:10 Game is live on Root Sports TV. Rob King and Chris Schneider handling play-by-play and color commentary. What doesn't Rob King know about? Pirates, Pens, Pitt, ... high school. Impressive. He goes deep, just like his drives in golf.
Robby Incmikoski sideline reporter. He's usually in dugout at Pirate games. But talking to him last week, he really likes the high school stuff. Nice to hear.
And then there is Schneider, obviously the best football player of the three, right?? Ha ha. Played at Penn-Trafford and Pitt, but doesn't look as rough as he used to. Maybe getting soft with age.
Might make you think you are at a college when you look at Pine-Richland press box.
PREGAME
A lot of talk coming in about Pine-Richland sophomore QB Phil Jurkovec. But Central Catholic has a pretty good sophomore also in Troy Fisher who is 6-4, 200. He's not quite Jurkovec, but pretty good himself.
While Phil Jurkovec has thrust himself into the spotlight in his first season as a starter, let's not forget about his older brother. Geez, all you hear about is Phil. And rightly so. But what about big bro? Tom Jurkovec is a starting H-Back for the Rams and also starts at linebacker. A senior.
There is so much talk about Central Catholic's defense being able to control Jurkovec. I think key to the game is Pine-Richland's defense against Central's running game.