Westinghouse throws fourth shutout with 30-0 win over University Prep (Gallery included)

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Alex Fydryszewski | October 16, 2020

Westinghouse made it clear on Friday night that they’re here to stay as a power player in the City League, pitching their fourth shutout in a row to start the season, 30-0 over University. It was a game they dominated in every aspect from start to finish and now stand one win away from winning the City League regular season championship.

THE GAME

Westinghouse began with advantageous positioning after Bruce took the kickoff out to the 46. After a 34 yard run by Malik Harris, Keyshawn Morsillo hit a receiver(un-announced by the press box, and unconfirmable either) for a 30 yard TD pass to put the House up 6-0. The Conversion failed.

On their first drive, University was able to get to midfield but no further. Westinghouse took the punt back for a touchdown, 85 yards by Darius Bruce, extending the lead to 12-0 with 6:39 to play in the opening quarter. Morsillo’s keeper on the conversion was stuffed.

On their ensuing drive, University took a penalty and a sack and had to punt from their endzone. House took over from the U-Prep 30 and were driving, but after a block in the back, they faced a 3^rd and 15 from the Prep 35. Morsillo’s pass to an open receiver fell incomplete and the House had to punt. After the snap went over Malik Harvey’s head, he gathered it at his own 30 and proceeded to rumble all the way back to the University 5 yard line. On paper, a gain of 30. Khalil Taylor carried 5 yards for a touchdown and extended the House lead to 18-0. The conversion failed, and that stood the score with 1:41 to go in the first.

University’s drive stalled early in the second and the were forced to punt with 8:50 to go in the half. Morsillo’s pass on 2^nd down from midfield was pressured and was intercepted by Zymere Bibb at the 27 with 7:31 to go in the half. University was unable to mount an offense and went three and out. The punt was dropped and Robinson gathered, but only made it to the line of scrimmage, and House took over on the 29 of University up 18-0 midway through the 2^nd. After several rushes, Morsillo hit Sincere Smith for an 18 yard gain, down to the University 2. Harris would carry for a touchdown and extend the Westinghouse lead to 24-0 with 2:39 to go in the half.

The teams traded a series of 3 and outs throughout the second half with no additional scoring or threatening drives until late in the fourth when Harris tore off an 83 yard touchdown run to put an exclamation point on the Westinghouse win, finishing the day with 16 carries for 141 yards and 2 TDs and pushing the score to 30-0.

FINAL THOUGHTS

UNIVERSITY: It was difficult to get a solid read on University, which has had some very good teams over its brief existence, as the focus really lies on the dominance of Westinghouse. Almost the entire game was played in their half of the field and they struggled to mount much of an offense against a hard hitting Westinghouse defense. They came alive late in the third with a passing game—Something that appears to be their strength, and the line began to get Smalls more than “1 Mississippi” to get a pass off. I’ve only seen University once, so I don’t yet have anything to compare, though it is worth nothing, that they, like the majority of the City League, are underclassman heavy. There’s not more than a handful of seniors on the squad and that will bode well for the future.

WESTINGHOUSE: This team can flat out play. They’re young, they’re hungry. They hit as hard as a bulldozer on defense and swarm the ball. They’ve got multiple options on offense and in spite of graduating a talented senior class, including University of Pittsburgh freshman Dayon Hayes, the top player in the City League last year, they’ve just kept marching along. In many ways, I think they’re better than they were last year and with their youth movement, they’ll only keep improving.

While I understand the concerns given our current situation, it is a touch disappointing that the City League won’t be playing in the PIAA playoffs—I think this Westinghouse team is capable of winning multiple games at their classification and will only get stronger.

For The House, they’re a game away from back to back City League titles. To do so, they’ll have to manage through a trap game with a winless Carrick team. Keeping intensity high will be key for them this week, as it’s easy to look past a struggling opponent.

Final Thoughts from the Westinghouse 30-0 victory over University @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/C3EQ69ySjx

— Alex Fydryszewski (@FydSports) October 17, 2020