Avonworth's pass-first offense continued to produce big plays in a 28-20 victory over visiting Shenango on Friday.
Senior quarterback Zach Chandler completed 16 of 30 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns, and Jamal Hughley finished with 360 total yards as the No. 2 Antelopes (4-0) recorded a signature Class A nonconference victory over the No. 4 Wildcats.
Chandler, who once again is among the WPIAL's passing leaders after missing most of last season because of injury, connected with Hughley on touchdowns of 88, 63 and 57 yards. He also threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Garret Day in the fourth quarter.
Hughley caught seven passes for 247 yards and three scores, and added 114 rushing yards on four carries.
Shenango proved to be tough test for Avonworth, which advanced to the Class A title game for the first time in 55 years last season.
“It's a big win,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said. “We knew they had a good football team and it would be a dogfight. We wouldn't want to play them again.”
The Wildcats tied the score twice on touchdowns by Hunter Waskin but were done in by the Chandler to Hughley connection and three third-quarter turnovers.
“We shot ourselves in the foot in the third quarter,” Shenango coach Mike Commesso said. “We did a great job in the first half of making them feel uncomfortable.”
The Wildcats (3-1) lost despite another strong performance from Waskin, who scored two touchdowns for the second consecutive week. The senior running back rushed seven times for 70 yards and caught three passes for 23 yards.
Waskin followed Chandler's first scoring pass to Hughley with a 43-yard run that tied the score at 7-7. He then caught a 17-yard touchdown from Evan Kendall in the third quarter after the Chandler and Hughley hooked up on a 63-yard score.
“Those two are pretty special players,” Johncour said. “They have the talent to do this in college.”
Chandler broke a 14-14 tie with a third touchdown strike to Hughley for 57 yards.Day's 26-yard touchdown catch increased the lead to 28-14.
Jason Wallace added a 1-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter for Shenango, but the Wildcats were unable to stop Avonworth on the ground.
“It feels amazing,” Hughley said, “but there are other players on the field making plays. We just took it to them.”
Brian Duermeyer is a freelance writer.
