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The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League is the most storied high school sports league in all of America, especially in football. The league has produced over a dozen Pro Football Hall of Famers. That includes the likes of Joe Montana, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, and many others. The football played here has always been as good as anywhere in the country, and the local pride is only matched in Texas.
The WPIAl was the backdrop for Friday night’s matchup between Pittsburgh Central Catholic, home of Dan Marino and Damar Hamlin, and Penn Hills, home of Aaron Donald and Bill Fralic. These are two of the top programs in the state of Pennsylvania and the game did not disappoint. The ending, though, will be remembered forever.
Central Catholic High School picked up their own blocked field goal and returned it for a touchdown
The game was close throughout. But, Penn Hills looked to win the game when they scored to make it 27-26, Central Catholic, with 18 seconds left. Penn Hills went for two, and Julian Dugger, a 2024 quarterback who already has power 5 offers, ran it in to his team up 28-27.
But, Central Catholic fought back. They got the ball down to the Penn Hills’ 32-yard line. Then, they sent out their kicker to try to win the game. What happened next will be remembered forever.
This might be the most insane finish to a football game I’ve ever seen. Central down 1, no time left, attempts a long FG, gets it blocked.
While Penn Hills celebrates, Central lineman recovers and advances the blocked kick for a TD.
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) October 15, 2022
The kick was blocked, and Penn Hills thought they had won. But, Central Catholic lineman Anthony Shovlin smartly picked it up and ran it in, shocking everyone in attendance. It
The rule on blocked kicks like that is the offense can advance it as long as the ball doesn’t cross the line of scrimmage. Go back and look at the play again. It’s very close to passing the line of scrimmage if it hasn’t anyways, and the officials may have missed the call.
Either way, it will go down as a 33-27 win for Central Catholic. Both teams now sit at 4-4. But, that play will live on in the lore of both schools forever.