Ironmen next test for Seton-La Salle
One week before the Century Conference showdown between Seton-La Salle (3-0) and South Fayette (3-0), Steel Valley served as a barometer for both teams.
The Lions dispatched the Ironmen, 42-7, last weekend while the Rebels play host to them at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Baldwin Stadium. Meanwhile, its homecoming at South Fayette as the Lions host Burgettstown this Friday at 7.
Steel Valley entered the fray with South Fayette, boasting two of the WPIAL tops rushers in D’Andre Pickens and Duane Murray. Murray, who had 406 yards, rambled for a 72-yard TD, the lone Ironmen score. Pickens, who had 517 yards coming into the contest, combined with Murray for 165 yards on 27 attempts.
Although Pickens is injured, the rushing attack remains a top concern for the Rebels, who blanked Keystone Oaks, 42-0, in their tune-up for Steel Valley.
“Their running backs are quick and elusive,” said SLS skipper Greg Perry. “They are game-changers. They can hit a home run real quick. So you have to get guys around them and gang tackle them and not give them that second effort.”
However, like South Fayette, the Rebels have their big gun calling the signals. Tyler Perone ranks among the top three quarterbacks in the district with 50 completions for nine scores and 764 yards in three games. He completed 13 of 25 passes for 214 yards and a 45-yard TD strike to Danzel McKinley-Lewis in the win over KO.
Brett Brumbaugh, the Lions’ signal caller, is not that far behind. He completed 11 aerials for 152 yards against Steel Valley. The junior has 34 completions for 556 yards and five scores this fall.
Defense and the ground game played key roles in both SLS’s and SF’s victories last weekend.
Against KO, McKinley-Lewis and Rick Mellick recovered fumbles and returned them for touchdowns of 21 and 72 yards respectively. Matt Reinmund scored on a punt return. Perone and Brandon Aiello each rushed for scores of 21 and three yards. Dom DelGreco kicked the extra points.
Against Steel Valley, the Lions rushed for all their scores. Grant Fetchet led the ground attack with 137 yards on 15 carries. He scored on runs of 25, 1 and 48 yards. On the season, Fetchet has 452 yards on 34 carries and seven scores.
J.J. Walker rolled up three scores as well. His 1-yard TDs afforded the Lions a 14-0 edge at halftime. He added the final SF score on a 15-yard run in the fourth frame.
South Fayette’s opponent Friday night is winless. The Blue Devils dropped to 0-3 overall after a 37-13 loss to South Park.
While the Lions may enter next week’s fray against Seton-La Salle unbeaten, the Rebels are completely focused on Steel Valley Friday. In past years, the Ironmen have provided a strong test for them. “They always have strong, physical kids,” Perry said. “They have always been a really good opponent for us and we have enough seniors on the team that know Steel Valley plays us tough every year.
“We can’t look ahead because Steel Valley has two backs that can put you in a deficit and then South Fayette doesn’t mean anything at all.”
Keystone Oaks looks to recovery from the SLS debacle when the Golden Eagles travel to Quaker Valley for a 7 p.m. kickoff Sept. 20.
The Quakers are also 3-0 in the Century Conference after defeating McGuffey, 35-31. They do not tangle with Seton-La Salle or South Fayette until Oct. 4 and 11 respectively. Both are road games for the Rebels and Lions.
Bethel Park looks to recover from its 38-23 setback against Woodland Hills when the Hawks travel to Canonsburg to take on Canon-McMillan at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. The Big Macs slipped to 0-3 overall after dropping a 56-0 decision to No. 2 Central Catholic.
The Vikings rolled up 394 yards of offense against the Big Macs, who were intercepted three times. Luigi Lista-Brinza rolled up 172 yards and three TDs while Riley Redman supplied 136 yards rushing and one score.
Meanwhile, penalties and Miles Sanders stopped the Hawks in their attempt to move to 3-0 in the Southwestern Conference. Instead with the loss, they slipped to 2-1 and a game behind undefeated Upper St. Clair.
Sanders rolled up 180 yards rushing and staked the Wolverines to a 7-0 lead on his 79-yard TD in the first frame. However, Jacob Murphy recovered a fumble in the end zone and Danny Christenson kicked the extra point to knot the contest.
Harry Randall exerted his presence, scoring the first of his three touchdowns to give Woodland Hills the lead, 14-7. Don Cassidy kicked a 25-yard field goal but Alex Minton registered a 2-yard score to pull the Hawks within, 17-14, at halftime.
Though Christenson tied the game at 17 with his 46-yard field goal, Randall sandwiched two 6-yard scores between a 7-yard TD strike from Levi Metheny to Danny Emma. The Wolverines sealed the victory when Daniel Gibson recovered a BP fumble in the end zone.
“Too many turnovers and too many penalties. Plus, we could not contain their speed,” said BP skipper Jeff Metheny of the Wolverines, who moved to 1-1 in the conference and 1-2 overall. Woodland Hills opened with losses to USC and McKeesport.
Both teams look to even their records when Mt. Lebanon hosts Baldwin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 in a Southeastern Conference clash.
While the Highlanders (1-2) are coming off a 37-21 loss to Penn Hills, the Blue Devils are reveling in their first win of the season after blanking winless Plum, 29-0.
Brian Ward rushed for 104 yards in the win. In addition to his 4-yard TD run, Ward returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown.
In the victory, Lebo established its passing attack. Kellan Stout, in his first season under center, completed 17 of 36 passes for 118 yards and one TD, a 62-yard strike to Troy Apke. The Penn State recruit finished with seven receptions. Shane Lefever also hauled in six passes for 54 yards.
Rob Costantino also excelled for the Blue Devils, who are 1-1 in the conference and 1-2 overall. The junior kicked three extra points and three field goals, measuring 25, 26 and 30 yards to complete Lebo’s scoring.
The Indians have the opportunity to regroup after their devastating loss to Upper St. Clair, 41-0, in Southeastern Conference action when they host Shaler in a non-league contest at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. The Titans, too, are 0-3 after their 34-6 loss to North Hills.
In the loss to USC, PT played without their starting quarterback, Cory Owen, because of a shoulder injury. Instead, the Indians relied heavily on a wildcat offense.
Marcus Ubinger rushed 31 times and gained 79 yards. He added 28 yards passing and 28 yards receiving. Freshman Tor Sehnert saw playing time at QB for the Indians as junior Tim Swoope remained out of the line-up due to a pre-season injuries.
“I thought Peters did a good job with their schemes and the kids they had,” said USC head coach Jim Render. “It’s tough to find out the night before that your QB is not playing.
“Render added, “Ubinger was a tough kid but we adjusted.”
Now the Indians adjust for a team that has not won a conference clash in 15 outings. The Titans trailed North Hills, 28-0, before registering their first score, an 18-yard TD strike from Josh Crawford to Robby Reinheimer.
Chartiers Valley escapes the Parkway Conference this Friday, Sept. 20 when the Colts host Ellwood City in a non-league clash at 7 p.m. While Ellwood City dropped a 45-13 decision to Beaver Falls in Midwestern Class AA Conference competition, the Colts slipped to 1-2 in their league when they dropped a 49-0 decision to No. 3 ranked Central Valley. In the loss, CV committed six turnovers, four of them on interceptions.
Josh Lapiana continues to be one of the quarterback threats in the district as he completed 11 of 22 aerials for 145 yards. He is 34 for 79 for 667 yards and four scores.
Bishop Canevin hosts California at Dormont Stadium in this Black Hills Conference clash set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20.
Both teams are coming off league losses; California to Clairton, 32-7, and the Crusaders to Carlynton, 37-12. In the defeat to the Cougars, Reed Relosky tossed two TD strikes. He hooked up with Zach Cortese for a 32-yard score to knot the contest, 6-6, in the first frame. He also completed a 13-yard TD aerial to Sean Fitzgerald in the third quarter. For the game, Relosky was 12 of 21 for 129 yards.
Canevin’s inability to stop the run led to its demise as Isiah Canton galloped for 190 yards and two scores on 22 carries.
In other Black Hills Conference action, Chartiers-Houston defeated Serra Catholic, 42-24.
Spencer Terling rushed for 153 yards and four scores of 2, 3, 25 and 29 yards for the Buccaneers.
Miles Williamson hauled in a 41-yard scoring strike from Kaleb Susko and Derek Hull added a 15-yard TD run. Mike Cushma kicked the extra points for CH, which lead 21-18 midway through the second stanza.