BURGETTSTOWN — With a 7-0 lead at halftime during Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's first-round WPIAL playoff game against Burgettstown, Trojans coach Jason Gildon knew his team needed a spark.

Will Gipson was just that, coming in as quarterback in the second half and throwing the go-ahead touchdown, as well as providing the game-sealing interception, for the 14-7 win Friday at Burgettstown Field.

“When I put (Gipson out there), I put him out there to out there to provide a spark for us,” Gildon said. “The majority of the time, that's what he does. He brings that to the table for us. He brings the flash, he brings the excitement.”

Burgettstown opened the second half by picking up momentum with a 56-yard strike from Brad McLaughlin to Ryan Lounder to even the score at 7 with 10:28 left in the third.

The Blue Devils built on that momentum by stopping the Trojans on their next possession. However, Cardinal Wuerl (6-4) forced a fumble on Burgettstown's next possession, taking over at the 20.

Two plays later, Gipson found Joey Porter Jr. in the right corner of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. With 6:09 left in the third, the Trojans led 14-7.

Gildon commented on Porter's play.

“He's extremely talented, but you have to factor in the emotion,” Gildon said. “You have to get those guys out there and let them know you can't get too high with the highs and you can't get too low with the lows.”

The touchdown proved to be all they needed. Neither team was able to get much going throughout the rest of the third and through much of the fourth.

However, Burgettstown had the ball on 3rd and 16 on its own 2 with around four minutes to play when McLaughlin found Jarred John for a 41-yard strike. From there, McLaughlin carried the ball four straight times to the Trojans' 30.

That's when the drive ended, though, as Gipson picked off McLaughlin's pass and the Trojans were able to run out the clock for the win.

“At first I thought (Lounder) was just going to run a streak, but I saw he was breaking so I broke,” Gipson said. “And the ball magically ended up in my hands.”

The only score of the first half came on an 11-yard pass from Ryan Maziarz to Porter Jr. as time expired in the first quarter.

Burgettstown finished its season at 4-6. Coach Mark Druga was proud of his team's play this season.

“We've re-established Burgettstown football,” he said. “When people come down here now, they're not going to be laughing at us thinking this is going to be a cake-walk. They're going to be in for a fight.”