Jeannette had won 24 straight games entering Saturday night’s showdown with Class AA Interstate Conference rival, Greensburg Central Catholic. But in the final game of the 2008 regular season, a different script was written. In a battle of two unbeaten teams, Central used a powerful rushing attack and stifling defense to upset Jeannette, 28-14, at Spartan Stadium in Hempfield.
“It’s the greatest thing that happened here,” Central head coach Muzzy Colosimo said. “I couldn’t ask them to do any more. “We’re happy to get away with a win.”
Colosimo said the team practiced with a confident mindset this week.
“The team is just awesome,” Colosimo said. “We talked about being focused before the game all week. I told them all week they could do it and they did.”
Central’s defense prevented Jeannette’s vaunted offense from any sustained momentum. One of Central’s strongest defensive mechanisms was its offense, including controlling time of possession and conducting several sustained offensive drives.
“They made the plays,” Jeannette head coach Ray Reitz said of Central’s effort. “We were outplayed tonight.”
Reitz said the game was a learning experience for his players.
“We got knocked down,” Reitz said. “It was a life lesson tonight.”
Central led Jeannette 14-7 entering the third quarter. Jeannette wouldn’t get any closer. On its first possession of the quarter, Jeannette’s quarterback Cameron Baradziej threw an interception to Central’s Adam Palcic. Palcic returned the pass 26 yards for Central’s third touchdown of the game, giving Central a 20-7 lead after a missed extra point. Baradziej completed only two passes for 40 yards in the game, including two interceptions.
But Jeannette wouldn’t surrender. Running back Mariell McGowan rushed for an 11-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 20-14. From that point forward, Central’s defense clamped down on Jeannette’s offense en route to victory. Central running back David Miller rushed for a 32-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining to seal the victory and Central’s undefeated 2008 season. Miller led all Central running backs with 156 yards on 31 carries.