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Woodland Hills pitches another shutout
By
Paul Kogut
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Woodland Hills recorded its fourth consecutive shutout and fifth of the season by defeating Kiski Area, 33-0, Friday night in a Quad East Conference game at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek. Woodland Hills, which is ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA by the Tribune-Review, improved to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The Wolverines' win sets up a battle for the conference title at Penn Hills (6-1, 4-0) next week.
This season, Woodland Hills has allowed only 51 points, or 6.4 points per contest.
"They play real well together," Woodland Hills coach George Novak said. "We've got a lot of speed. Give a lot of credit to defensive coach Jack Neff. We had only three starters back, but they've come together very well."
Woodland Hills grabbed two interceptions. In the first quarter, senior defensive back Brandon Watters made a diving pick in the end zone to help preserve the shutout. In the fourth quarter, senior defensive back Eric Oliver returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown. The Wolverines held Kiski Area to 97 yards passing and minus-6 yards rushing.
"If they can stay within themselves, defense will probably win them a championship," Kiski Area coach Chris Heater said.
Unranked Kiski Area slipped to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in conference. Next week, the Cavaliers will host Gateway (4-4, 2-2) for a game that will decide third place in the conference.
Offensively for Woodland Hills, senior running back Larry Walker rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown, and senior quarterback Vondre Griffin ran for 64 yards and a score and passed for an 18-yard touchdown.
For Kiski Area, senior tight end Mike Andring had five catches for 47 yards, and junior defensive back James O'Quinn had two interceptions.
Going into halftime, Woodland Hills led, 14-0.
Woodland Hills scored on its first possession when Griffin hit tight end Rob Gronkowski for an 18-yard touchdown. A defender was in front of Gronkowski, but the 6-foot-7, 255-pound senior ended up with the ball. Mike Belsito converted the extra point.
Kiski Area responded by driving from its 23-yard line to the Woodland Hills' 9. However, Watters made a diving catch for an interception in the end zone on a first-and-goal play.
In the second quarter, Kiski Area was forced to punt from its 7-yard line, and Woodland Hills took possession at the Kiski Area 34. Two plays later, the slippery Griffin weaved his way for a 33-yard touchdown that gave the Wolverines some breathing room heading into the break.
Woodland Hills added 19 more unanswered points in the second half.