Avonworth Cruises Past Imani Christian in WPIAL Class-3A Championship
By Joe Fitzgerald
PITTSBURGH — Many people were curious how the 2025 WPIAL Class-3A championship would unfold with both Avonworth and Imani Christian entering at 12–0, but it didn’t take long for Avonworth to show who was in control.
The Antelopes struck first when defensive end Romello Harris-Blanchard jumped a pass and took it back for a pick-six, immediately putting pressure on the Saints. Avonworth then followed up with a methodical drive that ended in a 39-yard field goal, giving them a 10–0 advantage.
Imani settled in defensively on a few possessions, but Avonworth had their number early, especially in the run game.
Gabe Jenkins, who had been averaging nearly 10 yards per carry this season, was limited to just 1.4 yards per attempt in the first half as the Antelopes consistently won at the line of scrimmage.
The Saints managed to keep the game within reach for most of the half, but in the final seconds, Luca Neal broke loose for a 67-yard touchdown run, pushing Avonworth’s lead to 17–0 heading into halftime and delivering a major momentum swing.
Imani opened the second half with a strong defensive stand, forcing a three-and-out, but any hope of a spark was short-lived. On their next offensive series, the Saints threw another pick-six, this time to Jaden Jones, extending the lead to 24–0 early in the third quarter.
Jones struck again later in the quarter when Carsen Bellinger hit him over the top for a 37-yard touchdown, stretching the margin to 30 points and firmly placing the game into Avonworth’s hands.
Imani eventually broke through offensively when Gabe Jenkins connected with North Carolina recruit David Davis, which helped set up the Saints’ lone touchdown of the game but by then, the deficit was too large to overcome.
The Antelopes controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, capitalizing on turnovers and leaning heavily on the ground game led by Luca Neal, who finished with 111 rushing yards and consistently kept the chains moving.
The victory marks Avonworth’s fourth-straight appearance in the WPIAL championship and their second-straight title, further solidifying the Antelopes dominance in Class-3A.
