South Side rolls to 48-21 win over Greensburg Central Catholic in heated matchup

MCMURRAY —South Side head coach Luke Travelpiece did not mince his words after the Rams defeated Greensburg Central Catholic 48-21 Friday evening in the WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinals at Peters Township High School.

With South Side up 42-7 entering the fourth quarter of play, Travelpiece began to sub-out his starters to give his second and third-team reps in a game that was for the most part decided.

On the other side, Centurions head coach John Thompson decided to not sub his starters out of the contest when Travelpiece did and his offense scored 14 points to end the game.

“They [Greensburg Central Catholic] talked in the paper about coming out and punching us in the mouth. We came out punched them in the mouth, got up 42-7, started subbing, got great experience for our third-team starters.” “I want that [in the paper,]” Travelpiece said as he walked off the field. “It was horse crap what he did not subbing out his starters at the end of the game.”

Even though it seemed like a sour ending to the game, Travelpiece’s squad used a sweet rushing attack that would propel the Rams into the WPIAL Class 1A semifinals.

After getting the first score of the contest, the Rams seemed to be on the ropes as Tyree Turner and Greensburg Central Catholic answered the bell. After marching the ball down the field, Turner found Samir Crosby deep in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown reception.

Following the Centurion’s score, Ryan Navarra coughed up the football on the first play from scrimmage for South Side in the second quarter.

But after the lapse, the Rams fired back and kept its foot on the gas pedal scoring 21 unanswered points heading into halftime.

“We just had to stay the course,” Travelpiece said. “That is the benefit of having a veteran team that has been here before. This team did not get flustered and did not try to do too much. There were a couple of setbacks for Greensburg Central Catholic, but then Andrew Corfield got the blocked punt.”

The rushing attack was clicking for South Side but a major key to the rushing attack's success for the Rams throughout the game was the play from Brody Almashy and his receiving core which set up the team deep in Greensburg Central Catholic territory.

Almashy missed Andrew Corfield deep over the middle in the second quarter, but the senior went right back to the air as he found Slayton Williams down the side line to set up a quarterback keeper for the score.

The passing game was effective in setting up the run game on the ensuing offensive drive for the Rams as well as Carter Wilson weaved his way through the Centurion secondary to the 4-yard line which set up a Navarra 4-yard touchdown run.

“He [Brody Almashy] does a great job in all areas,” Travelpiece said. “When Slayton Williams scored the first touchdown, Brody called that from the line. He understands the offense and what is happening on the field and is not selfish. He made great throws tonight so when you can throw like that and remove players from the box, it opens up a world of difference for our run game."

Outside of the fumble, Navarra picked up right where he left off after his stellar game against Monessen the week prior. In Friday evening's contest, he once again found the end zone three times while rushing for 118 yards and hauling in a 29-yard reception in the win.

“Ryan Navarra is a hard-nosed football player. He is a throwback type of player that you don’t see all that often,” Travelpiece said after the game. “He fits our offense perfectly. There was a point in the game where one of the coaches kept saying to give the ball to Ryan because he is angry and they are not going to stop him and it was outstanding to watch that.”

On the defensive side, South Side’s defensive group held up strong after giving up the receiving touchdown early in the second quarter to Crosby. After the strong offensive drive for the Centurions, the rush defense was stout stopping the Greensburg Central Catholic rushing attack for a multitude of losses throughout the game.

The Rams' aerial defense would also lock in as they would intercept Turner two times in the contest and locked down the Centurion receiving core while the starting defensive group was in the game for South Side Friday night.

“We told our defense at halftime that Greensburg Central Catholic has some incredible athletes and their team made plays,” Travelpiece said. “The catch on their first touchdown drive was incredible. If we give up a big play, we have to play the next play and it just comes back to the maturity that we have seen and how much this group has grown over the past several years and you saw that in the way that we responded.”

South Side Beaver will now set its sights on the WPIAL Class 1A semifinals as the Rams will face off against Clairton who defeated Union Friday evening. Kickoff time and location for the semifinal contest are still to be determined.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: South Side rolls to 48-21 win over Greensburg Central Catholic in heated matchup