Football: Archbishop Wood bows to Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 20-17
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Football: Archbishop Wood bows to Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 20-17
Rick O'Brien, Inquirer Columnist
ARCHBISHOP WOOD NIPPED BY PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC
On the wrong end of a highly questionable last-minute judgment call, Archbishop Wood fell to Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 20-17, Sunday afternoon in a nationally televised football opener at Gateway High in Monroeville.
With 1:14 to go, it looked as if Nick Visco had converted a 40-yard field-goal attempt. However, the referees ruled the boot was just left of the mark. Visco stood at the 32-yard line with his hands up in the air, surprised at the call.
For TV watchers, it certainly looked as if the ball sailed inside the left upright.
With 2:58 to go, a 57-yard connection between QB Joey Monaghan and Benji Abercombrie put the ball at the Central Catholic 13-yard line. Following a 30-minute delay due to lightning, Wood failed to notch a first down.
For Wood, senior Brandon Peoples, a versatile Rutgers, commit, scored on runs of 29 and 19 yards. Visco booted a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Wood (13-1 last season) came into the season ranked No. 1 in the state in Class AAA by The Inquirer; Central Catholic (11-1 last year) was No. 1 in AAAA.
Wood senior tailback Desmon Peoples was slowed by a left ankle injury.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 6 7 7 0-20
AW: B. Peoples 29 run (Visco kick)
PCC: Jones-Moore 51 run (kick blocked)
AW: FG Visco 35
PCC: Jones-Moore 70 run (Maczura kick)
PCC: Nixon 27 pass from Hills (Maczura kick)
-Rick O'Brien
So Wood loses, LaSalle blows out a PA "powerhouse". I guess LaSalle is now the area's #1?— RickyPrior- Yea Rick I gotta tell ya controversial really is not the word. I'm on my way back home to Bucks county with a bitter taste in my mouth seeing how that game was taken from Wood. I found out after the game that a bolt of lightning was seen before the final wood drive even began yet they decided to go into a weather delay after wood had central catholic on their heels with 258 left stalling woods momentumm. it looked to me that Visco booted that 40 yarder through the uprights and I see wood begin to celebrate.. But the fools call it wide left... Than I start to receive texts from friends watching on tv telling me the kick was definitely good.I guess someone couldn't stomach the fact of a little 3A team coming in and taking it to their big 4A Pittsburgh boys. just wish I didn't have to sit in the car for the next 5 1/2 hrs with this eating away at me. Hope u enjoy that one Pittsburgh cause u sure as hell didn't earn it !— Bprie25
- Yea Rick I gotta tell ya controversial really is not the word. I'm on my way back home to Bucks county with a bitter taste in my mouth seeing how that game was taken from Wood. I found out after the game that a bolt of lightning was seen before the final wood drive even began yet they decided to go into a weather delay after wood had central catholic on their heels with 258 left stalling woods momentumm. it looked to me that Visco booted that 40 yarder through the uprights and I see wood begin to celebrate.. But the fools call it wide left... Than I start to receive texts from friends watching on tv telling me the kick was definitely good.I guess someone couldn't stomach the fact of a little 3A team coming in and taking it to their big 4A Pittsburgh boys. just wish I didn't have to sit in the car for the next 5 1/2 hrs with this eating away at me. Hope u enjoy that one Pittsburgh cause u sure as hell didn't earn it !— Bprie25
- Yea Rick I gotta tell ya controversial really is not the word. I'm on my way back home to Bucks county with a bitter taste in my mouth seeing how that game was taken from Wood. I found out after the game that a bolt of lightning was seen before the final wood drive even began yet they decided to go into a weather delay after wood had central catholic on their heels with 258 left stalling woods momentumm. it looked to me that Visco booted that 40 yarder through the uprights and I see wood begin to celebrate.. But the fools call it wide left... Than I start to receive texts from friends watching on tv telling me the kick was definitely good.I guess someone couldn't stomach the fact of a little 3A team coming in and taking it to their big 4A Pittsburgh boys. just wish I didn't have to sit in the car for the next 5 1/2 hrs with this eating away at me. Hope u enjoy that one Pittsburgh cause u sure as hell didn't earn it !— Bprie25
- Yea Rick I gotta tell ya controversial really is not the word. I'm on my way back home to Bucks county with a bitter taste in my mouth seeing how that game was taken from Wood. I found out after the game that a bolt of lightning was seen before the final wood drive even began yet they decided to go into a weather delay after wood had central catholic on their heels with 258 left stalling woods momentumm. it looked to me that Visco booted that 40 yarder through the uprights and I see wood begin to celebrate.. But the fools call it wide left... Than I start to receive texts from friends watching on tv telling me the kick was definitely good.I guess someone couldn't stomach the fact of a little 3A team coming in and taking it to their big 4A Pittsburgh boys. just wish I didn't have to sit in the car for the next 5 1/2 hrs with this eating away at me. Hope u enjoy that one Pittsburgh cause u sure as hell didn't earn it !— Bprie25
- So the refs lost it for you.— RickyPrior
- How many yards did Central's Damion Jones-Moore run for against Arch Bishop Wood? 192 yards? That is a lot of yards! It was also nice how the ESPN announcers kept talking about the excellent grades of the Central Catholic players. Too bad they did not mention any of the grades from AB Wood. 192 yards! Wow, that is a lot of yards.— footyfan11
