Seneca Valley Off to a Winning Start in WPIAL Playoffs With Victory Over Penn Hills

players on Friday proved why they belong in the playoffs. 

The No. 9—seeded Raiders had a 30-13 victory over the No. 8 Penn Hills Indians at a cold Plum High School Stadium for the first round of AAAA WPIAL football playoffs. The decisive win included picking off six Penn Hills passes.

It also was the first time in nine years the Raiders have won a playoff game. 

Seneca Valley was in control from the beginning as quarterback Jordan Brown, the WPIAL's leading passer, connected with junior running back Forrest Barnes less than two minutes into the game. 

Barnes finished the night with a hat trick of touchdown runs. Kicker Michael Denny supplied the other 12 points with a trio of extra points and another three successful field goal attempts.

The aggressive Raiders defense plagued the Indians throughout the night. SV's Jonathan Dorogy, Brad Gresock, and Ryan McCauley all had interceptions on Penn Hills quarterback Jaquan Williams in the first half. The Raiders logged three more interceptions—another by Gresock and two by Tyler Bommer—in the second half.

Williams had several key plays to wide receivers Chaz Whittaker, Corey Jones, and Chuck Bradley. Whittaker's touchdown and extra point got the Indians on the board with 1:06 left in the first quarter. 

By halftime, the Raiders led 23-7.

An interception by Williams in the third quarter gave Penn Hills another six points. SV linebacker Carson Kessler, stopped an attempted 2-point conversion, keeping Penn Hils to 13 points for the game. Kessler also sacked Williams twice Friday night.

Penn Hills' defense kept the game alive for the Indians. Torreek Hester, Treyvon Hester and Donovan Murray wreaked some havoc on Brown, Barnes, and senior running back Troy Witt, keeping the Raiders scoreless in the third quarter. 

Final score: 30-13

Next up, the Seneca Valley will face the rival North Allegheny at North Hills High School. This will be the second time the teams meet. The Sept. 30.