Joey O’Brien, Owen Johnson star in La Salle College’s PIAA 6A championship win

Of all the meteoric talent running around Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field Saturday night, safety Joey O’Brien treated Chapman Field like his own private audition for best in show.

And a dominant performance by the Notre Dame signee is just what La Salle College HS needed to bank the program’s second PIAA football title.

O’Brien registered three interceptions from his safety position, and wideout Owen Johnson collected three touchdown receptions, as the Explorers defeated Pittsburgh Central Catholic 34-20 to close the state’s championship weekend.

The title represented the Explorers’ first in 6A and matched well with its 4A crown established in 2009 when head coach Brett Gordon’s father was leading the program.

Key elements were everywhere for La Salle (13-1), including 128 rushing ya