Playing next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where alum Dan Marino is enshrined, Central Catholic used a big performance from its current quarterback to roll to a win against a WPIAL rival.
Owen Herrick accounted for four touchdowns to lead Class 6A No. 1 Central Catholic to a 58-20 win against Class 5A No. 4 Woodland Hills at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
The matchup between Western Pennsylvania powers served as the middle game of a Pro Football Hall of Fame High School Classic triple-header that included four Ohio schools. All six participating schools have a Hall of Fame player as an alumnus. Marino was inducted in 2005, while Woodland Hills’ Jason Taylor was enshrined in 2017.
Central Catholic (2-1) raced to a 20-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Herrick, a sophomore, had scoring tosses of 76 yards to Maceo Watkins and 36 yards to Max Roman in the first quarter while also adding a 1-yard touchdown run. Herrick tacked on a third touchdown pass — 27 yards to Aiden Nasiadka — in the third quarter.
Roman Thompson ran for three touchdowns for Central Catholic, scoring on runs of 35, 2 and 1 yard. Thompson also scored three touchdowns in a win against Pine-Richland a week earlier.
Cam Walter and Scoop Smith hooked up for a pair of touchdowns for Woodland Hills (1-2). Walter connected with Smith for scores of 6 and 46 yards.
OTHER GAME
Kaden Bailey scored touchdowns three different ways to help Freedom (2-1) roll to a 43-16 win at Summit Academy (0-3). Bailey scored on a 42-yard pass from Karter Brown, a 60-yard punt return and a 13-yard run. Brown also ran for a score, while Mason O’Donnell scored touchdowns on a 29-yard interception return and a 2-yard run.
SCOREBOARD
Central Catholic 58, Woodland Hills 20
Freedom 43, Summit Academy 16
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.