South Fayette preparing for much-improved South Park
When South Fayette takes on South Park in a WPIAL Class AA quarterfinal football playoff game at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Peters Township Stadium, the Lions will encounter a very different team than the one it dismantled, 59-20, in Century Conference play.
“In that last game, everything that could have gone wrong for them in the first quarter did and everything that could go right for us did,” explained SF head coach Joe Rossi. “Since then, they are a much-improved team.”
Indeed, the Eagles have won seven straight since that September 12th debacle, including a come-from-behind victory, 21-20, against Beaver Area in last week’s first round playoff. The Eagles trailed, 20-7, before wage the comeback and blocking a 20-yard field goal in the final two seconds of play to preserve the win.
In the triumph, Nick Scholle rushed for 119 yards, including 26 on a third-quarter touchdown run and five more on the game-winning score in the final frame. Although he is a quarterback, the 6-1, 208-pound senior leads the Eagles in rushing with over 900 yards. He has passed for over 500 yards on 38 completions.
“[Scholle] is a phenomenal athlete and a tremendous football player,” Rossi said.
The Lions, however, have their own superstar calling the offensive shots. Brett Brumbaugh, who has passed 9,654 career yards, propelled South Fayette to victory, 65-6, against Waynesburg in its first-round playoff game. The senior signal caller topped 204 yards in the win on just seven completions. He threw just 10 times, tossing four scoring strikes as the Lions roared to a 35-6 first-frame edge and a 49-6 halftime advantage. This fall, Brumbaugh has thrown for 2,298 yards and 30 scores.
Against the Red Raiders, Logan Sharp hauled in 21- and 29-yard TD passes. Nick Ponikvar grabbed a 58-yard score and Dan Trimbur caught a 56-yard TD aerial. On the year, Sharp has 12 TD grabs and 670 yards in receptions. Ponikvar follows with 600 yards receiving and seven scores.
In the win, Hunter Hayes rushed for 125 yards and two scores to raise his season totals to 1.060 yards and 21 touchdowns. In addition, Jasper Wolfe, Robert O’Kelly and Ryhan Culberson all ran for short touchdowns. Wolfe is SF’s second-leading rusher with 234 yards and two touchdowns.
With a tackle of the quarterback in the end zone, Rasuan Culberson was credited with a safety for the Lions, who ride a 26-game winning streak into the match against South Park. South Fayette is the defending WPIAL and PIAA state champion.
“Against Waynesburg, the kids took care of business early,” said Rossi. “They did a nice job in rainy conditions and the most important thing was we came out of the game healthy. At this time of the season that’s important because all the teams that are left are playing well.”
Count the Eagles among the Elite Eight. They are 8-2 overall after finishing third in the Century Conference behind the Lions and Seton-La Salle.
“They are good, big and strong,” Rossi said of the Eagles.
The Eagles boast a powerful offensive line anchored by Ryan Podgorski. The senior is a Division I recruit with solid offers from MAC schools. Behind Podgorski, Adam Staudt also rushed for over 100 yards and a score against Beaver Area. Staudt, who leads the SP defense in tackles, has rushed for 594 yards and seven scores this season. Ty Washington is another big ground gainer, averaging over seven yards a carry. He has scored four times.
“South Park has a tremendous line,” Rossi said. “We have to stop their running game and they have to stop our passing game. It’s two different teams with two different methods of winning football games.”