Back-Up Quarterback Leads USC to a Win Against Central Catholic, 28-14

Dakota Conwell couldn't have been more proud. 's back-up quarterback Pete Coughlin ran for 204 yards—including a 73-yard score early in the fourth quarter—leading USC in Friday night's 28-14 victory over Central Catholic in the semifinals of the WPIAL playoffs at . He had everybody in the stadium shaking their heads asking if it just happened.

Coughlin figured last Saturday he would be USC's starting quarterback in this game after Conwell's injured his ankle.

"His composure, people asked me what I said to him, I didn't say anything, he's a confident man, our players weren't worried, and if they were worried they hid it very well from me," USC head coach Jim Render said.

"Dakota's been such a leader. He gave me tips on how to game plan, and he instilled confidence in me," Coughlin said.

Following the win, Render would not dismiss the chance that Conwell will be able to play next Saturday in the championship game. Conwell will be re-evaluated on Monday.

"It's Dakota's team, it's his job," Coughlin said.

The past week leading up to the game was a rollercoaster ride for the Panthers. One day after , they found out Conwell would not be able to play. They may not have shared that news with any of the media, but the team knew the difficult task ahead.

"We had a great week of practice. They lifted me. I was a little shaken, I've never had a team lift me up like that," Render said.

Central Catholic got great field position off the opening kick when star running back Damian Jones-Moore returned the ball all the way to the USC 30-yard line. It was ultimately be his lone highlight as the USC defense held him to 36 yards on the day.

In a seven-play drive, which saw Perry Hills complete all three of his passes, the final one being a seven-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Nixon, the Crusaders led 7-0 just four minutes into the contest.

From there, both teams traded punts before USC got the ball back for their second possession of the game.

Coughlin drove his Panthers 95-yards in 12 plays resulting in an A.J. McGuire eight-yard score that tied the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter. It was a drive that had to do wonders for Coughlin's confidence as he proved to himself and his teammates he could lead this team on game day.

USC kicker Killan Mulkern kicked a 23-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the half that put the Panthers up 10-7 at the break. It set up a memorable second half of football.

USC marched the ball down the field in 12 plays to open the third quarter and when the drive stalled at the nine-yard line, Mulkern kicked his second field goal of the game putting the Panthers up 13-7.

Ryan Boyd intercepted a pass on Central's next possession and USC's defense was playing spectacular without Conwell, without Matt Paxton who also missed the game with an injured hand and without James Southern much of the second half due to injury (he recovered a huge fumble in the first half).

Two plays later Coughlin made his only mistake in the game. He fumbled the snap and the Crusaders recovered the football late in the third quarter. Central Catholic parlayed that fumble into a five-play drive and when Hills ran in from 15 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter, Central Catholic led once again 14-13.

The Panthers returned the ensuing kick to their own 27-yard line. The next play would be one that arguably will go down in history as the best play in Upper St. Clair football history.

Coughlin took the snap, ran to his left 15 yards, then ran to his right 15 yards, then when everybody thought the play was over, he darted back to the left side and emerged from a myriad of defenders much like that of a surfer emerging from a huge wave that was about to swallow him up.

He out-ran the entire defense 73 yards for a touchdown that would put the Panthers in the lead for good. Remember, he had played every snap in this football game on offense and defense up to this point, but still had the stamina to run about 120 yards total on the play and remain the fastest player on the field during the entire play. The USC sideline erupted with excitement and coaches headsets were flying in the air. It was a moment you had to see to believe. A.J. McGuire scored on the two-point conversion that gave USC a crucial 7-point lead, 21-14.

Again the Panthers defense rose to the occasion forcing Central Catholic to punt after three futile plays. USC had the ball again at their own 16-yard line with still more than eight minutes remaining.

The Panthers milked the clock beautifully with 10 straight running plays on the drive. The 10th play was another amazing Coughlin 18-yard run on 3rd and 9. Time was running out on Central Catholic, and on the next play, their season was for all intents and purposes about to end.

What could Coughlin do for an encore? How about throwing a 25-yard dart to Mike Wilcox in the back corner of the endzone that was the final nail in the coffin and sent the Crusaders packing. USC won 28-14 and their miraculous season continues next Saturday at Heinz Field.

Sure Coughlin wasn't the only reason USC won the game, but it was his day.

North Allegheny scored late in their contest against Gateway to reach the WPIAL class AAAA championship game setting up a rematch of .

"People predicted we'd meet again," Render said.

North Allegheny quarterback Mack Leftwich played a big part in that victory over USC earlier this season. Leftwich's father came over to coach the Pitt Panthers with Todd Graham moving from Oklahoma before the season. They talked with some local coaches, including Rende,r this past offseason deciding where Mack would play his football. Ultimately, they decided on North Allegheny.

"His (Mack's) father called me and was going to look at USC ... he didn't fulfill that obligation," Render said.

Their rematch at Heinz Field for the WPIAL Class AAAA championship next Saturday scheduled for 8 p.m.

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