California high‑school football fans celebrated a hard‑fought 24‑18 win for the Trojans over Avella on Friday night. The victory kept the Trojans unbeaten at 6‑0 in the Class A Tri‑County South Conference and set up a first‑place clash with Beth‑Center this Saturday.

The win also marked head coach Ed Woods’ 62nd career victory at California, moving him past Pete Petroff for the most wins in the program’s history. Woods downplayed the milestone, saying his focus was on the team’s performance, not personal records.

Game highlights

Avella led 12‑6 at halftime and tied the game at 18‑18 late in the fourth quarter after a 93‑yard touchdown drive. With the game on the line, California answered with a rapid 58‑yard drive in four plays: an 18‑yard run by Chase Shemansky, a 15‑yard pass to Brayden Crockett, a 23‑yard pass to Carter Frank, and a 2‑yard touchdown run by Shemansky.

The Trojans’ defense held firm on the final play, securing the win. The victory improved Woods’ overall record at California to 62‑21 in his eighth season, and his career record to 175‑81 over 25 years, including a previous 17‑year stint at Beth‑Center.

Looking ahead

California has already clinched a WPIAL playoff spot, marking the 21st consecutive season Woods has guided a team into the postseason. He will seek his 10th conference championship when the Trojans travel to Beth‑Center for the showdown.

When asked about his record‑breaking win, Woods credited the players, coaches, and supportive parent organizations, emphasizing that success is a group effort. He dismissed any distraction about facing his former team, stating the focus should be on the upcoming game.

Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.