When most people see Rushel Shell's first name, they likely think it has to be a misprint. But as Shell showed last night, the "Rush" part couldn't be any more appropriate.

Shell rushed for 180 yards on 27 carries, and scored the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter to push Hopewell (5-2, 2-2) to a 20-17 victory against host West Allegheny (5-2, 3-2), the Post-Gazette's third-ranked team, in a Class AAA Parkway Conference contest.

Shell's touchdown jaunt to the right from 8 yards with 3:11 left capped a nine-play, 84-yard drive that put the Vikings ahead for good after trailing for most of the first half. Shell was huge throughout the game, but particularly on the final drive, as he broke a 25-yard run on the first play, and had a 51-yard touchdown scamper negated by a holding penalty.

West Allegheny moved the ball to its own 37 on its final possession, but four consecutive incompletions sealed its fate.

Shell's effort would be a tremendous accomplishment for any player, but it's much more amazing because he's only a freshman.

"I'm speechless," said Shell, who just turned 15 last month, and who is actually Rushel Shell III. "I started crying after the game. For sure this is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

He could be the best thing that has happened to the Hopewell backfield in a long time, too. Shell ran for three touchdowns in the season opener against Knoch, and 166 yards and two scores against Riverside last week, most of which was accumulated in limited carries. He has assumed the feature-back role in the past week. While it might be a bit early to throw out the Tony Dorsett comparisons, you can safely say that this 6-foot, 210-pound combination of speed, power could be very special.

"It's unusual to see a freshman do that kind of stuff," West Allegheny coach Bob Palko said. "And it's not like he's not there physically. [Heck], he looks like he's 20-years-old.

It looked like the Indians would be the ones to earn the victory. After taking 14-7 lead midway through the third quarter, West Allegheny had the momentum on its side. That was even the case after Pat Matty scored his second touchdown of the game to bring Hopewell within a point, before the Vikings had the tying extra point attempt blocked.

The Indians did, however, make what might have been a critical mistake halfway into the fourth quarter. Facing a fourth-and-1 from the Hopewell 13, the Indians decided to go it. But it went for naught when the Vikings were flagged for a false start, pushing the ball back to the 18. They were then forced to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Aaron Fleck.

Hopewell drew first blood in the contest, capitalizing on a opening-drive fumble by West Allegheny's Jake Leninsky. The Vikings took over at midfield and took eight plays -- all runs -- to march down the field in just under four minutes. Shell, of course, starred in the series, rushing five times for 35 yards, and Matty finished things off with a 2-yard run up the middle to stake the Vikings to a 7-0 lead with 4:50 left in the first quarter.

West Allegheny, however, struck back on the ensuing possession, putting together a 13-play, 66-yard drive which culminated on the first of two Chad Dillon scoring scampers -- this from 5 yards -- a little less than two minutes into the second quarter.

But as the game went on, it was all about Rushel coming out of his "Shell"

"He made some big plays," Hopewell coach Dave Vestal said.