PITTSBURGH – McDowell put WPIAL champion Mt. Lebanon on notice early in their PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game on Friday, with Christian Santiago scoring from 27 yards out to give the Trojans an early 7-0 lead.
The Blue Devils (13-0) responded, however, rallying to take a 21-7 lead on their way to a 47-14 victory.
The loss ends the Trojans’ season at 9-3.
Navy commit Eli Heidenreich was a huge reason for the Mt. Lebanon win, accounting for 265 yards of offense (165 rushing, 110 receiving) and three touchdowns in the win.
The backbreaker for McDowell came early in the third quarter, as the Trojans drove the ball deep into Blue Devils territory before a fumble gave the ball back.
Heidenreich responded with an 80-yard touchdown run to make it 28-7. He had a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first half and Alex Tecza, who also went over 100 yards rushing, had the other first-half score for the Blue Devils.
Mt. Lebanon forced five McDowell turnovers for the game.
The lead swelled to 47-7 before an Artis Simmons fourth-quarter rushing touchdown for the Trojans.
Joey Daniels and Alex Gevaudan threw second-half touchdowns for Mt. Lebanon as well.
With the win, the Blue Devils advance to play the State College-Harrisburg winner (that game is Saturday at 1 p.m.) in the semifinals next week.
