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Defense carries Serra Catholic to Hershey @farrellfootball @iamcoachkeem @peguesAmp @SerraCatholicFB @SerraCatholic

Tagged under: District 10, District 7, Gameday Hub, News

| December 4, 2021

Slippery Rock – For the first time since 2007, the Serra Catholic Eagles are heading to Hershey.

“These guys did a great job and came out doing everything they needed to do to win,” said Serra Catholic head coach Jose Regus. “That’s a great team we beat tonight. We’ve had our mindset to get to Hershey from Day 1.”

The address for Serra Catholic High School is 200 Hershey Drive, McKeesport, Pa. That will be temporarily be changed to 100 Hershey Park Drive, Hershey, PA.

“It’s a blessing for me to be able to go to Hershey with my boys,” said Regus.

Serra Catholic forced six turnovers and did just enough offensively to knockoff previously unbeaten Farrell 27-18 Friday night at Slippery Rock University.

Farrell struck first when Anthony Stallworth scored on a 5-yard run that capped a 45-yard drive with 1:58 to play in the first quarter.

Stallworth rushed for a game-high 177 yards on 30 carries.

The Eagles answered back when Terrell Booth scored on an 8-yard run. The big play of the drive came on Machai Brooks-Dutrieuille’s 37-yard run.

 

Things then went from bad to worse for the Steelers as a bad punt snap resulted in a 13-yard loss giving Serra Catholic the ball at the Farrell 4-yard line.

Pharoh Fisher immediately scored on a 4-yard run.

“They have a good team,” said Farrell head coach Anthony Pegues. “They can score at will and attack the ball well defense. You can’t turn the ball over and make the mistakes we made tonight and expect to win. This is one of those learning experiences for our kids.”

The Steelers then got themselves back to within a point when Trian Holden connected with Lamont Samuels on a 50-yard touchdown pass on a 4th-and-4 play.

Forcing a three-and-out, Farrell looked to take the lead on their next drive. However, Jaden Williams stepped in front of a Holden pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown.

Farrell then fumbled the ensuing kickoff back to the Eagles, but the Steelers defense held on downs.

The Steelers then went on a 12-play 59-yard drive that reached the Serra Catholic 17-yard line before Kabron Smith was sacked for a 2-yard loss ending the first half.

Serra Catholic held their 20-12 lead into the fourth quarter.

Trian Holden connected with Taidon Stickland on a 65-yard touchdown pass at 8:59 to pull Farrell to within two points. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty forced the conversion from the 18-yard line. Holden’s pass would fall incomplete.

 

Serra Catholic wasted no time responding on the next snap of the game. Max Rocco threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Jayvon Holt. The Eagles had gained minus seven yards of offense in the second half up until that point.

“That play was the turning point in my mind,” said Regus. “We needed that to stay on top because we knew they were explosive as well.”

Farrell outgained Serra Catholic 364 to 139 in total offense.

The Steelers turned the ball six times coupled with 15 penalties.

“You never think that when you come into a game that you’re going to have that many penalties and turnovers,” said Pegues. “It seemed like anytime we wanted to get something going there was either a penalty or turnover. It was a bad day, I give Serra credit. I give them all the credit and wish them the best in Hershey.”

Terrell Booth made his second big play of the game on Farrell’s next possession as he intercepted Holden and returned for a touchdown. Though a block in the back penalty negated the score, it still ended the threat as the Steelers had driven to the Serra Catholic 31-yard line.

“We were aggressive tonight and forced a bunch of turnovers,” said Regus. “Our guys did there and what they needed to do tonight.”

Farrell got one more chance trailing 27-18 late in the fourth quarter. Danny Opferman’s sack with no time left punched the Eagles ticket to Hershey.

Serra Catholic will now meet 4-time defending state champion Southern Columbia.

“We’re going to enjoy this victory tonight, then get ready for Hershey come Monday,” concluded Regus.

Farrell concludes a great season at 11-1 with a District 10 Championship.

“Our kids never gave up, they played hard until the very end,” Pegues concluded. “We’re a 12-month program, we have a lot of young guys and juniors coming back next year for us. Our seniors are a great group and proud of those guys.”

Game Highlights:

 

Serra Catholic 27 Farrell 18

Score by Quarters

Serra Catholic – 6 14 0 7 – 27
Farrell – 6 6 0 6 – 18

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

F – Anthony Stallworth 5 yd run, (rush failed), 1:58

SC – Terrell Booth 8 yd run, (kick blocked), 0:25

Second Quarter

SC – Pharoh Fisher 4 yd run, (Caden Bauer pat), 10:55

F – Lamont Samuels 50 yd pass from Trian Holden, (pass failed), 7:53

SC – Jaden Williams 43 yd interception return, (Bauer pat), 5:41

Fourth Quarter

F – Taidon Strickland 65 yd pass from Holden, (pass failed), 8:59

SC – Jayvon Holt 68 yd pass from Max Rocco, (Bauer pat), 8:43

Individual Stats

Rushing: Serra Catholic – Machai Brooks-Dutrieuille 9-56, Booth 5-19, Fisher 1-4, Rocco 2-(-6), Team 2-(-7), Holt 5-(-10). Totals: 24-56. Farrell – Stallworth 30-177, Kabron Smith 6-13, Strickland 4-7, Samuels 2-2, Holden 5-(-12), Team 1-(-16). Totals: 48-171.

Receiving: Serra Catholic – Holt 3-66, Fisher 1-11, Booth 1-8, Brooks-Dutrieuille 1-(-2). Farrell – Strickland 3-102, Samuels 3-61, Stallworth 1-13, Omar Stewart Jr. 1-9, Dwight Allen 1-8.

Passing: Serra Catholic – Rocco 5-for-11, 85 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, Holt 1-for-1, (-2) yards. Farrell – Holden 9-for-19, 193 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, Smith 0-for-4, 1 interception.

Interceptions: Serra Catholic – Booth, Williams, Jesere Young. Farrell – Allen.

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