Bethel Park upends Upper St. Clair, 21-14
Bethel Park scored the decisive points with 45 seconds to play and then held on to beat Upper St. Clair, 21-14, for its first victory in WPIAL Quad-A Southeastern Conference football action.
“This was a big win,” said BP head coach Jeff Metheny. After last week’s disappointing loss, 33-31, to Woodland Hills, Metheny noted, “others would have folded. But this is why you stick together,” he continued telling his players in their post-game huddle.
“We showed a lot of heart and a lot of guts. I’m proud of you.”
Metheny had to be particularly pleased with Alex Minton. Not only did he dominate the Hawks’ ground game, he came up big on several occasions defensively. In fact, with USC inside the BP 32-yard line, he ended the game with a sack.
“Alex ran the ball well,” Metheny said. “He’s a real good football player. He works so hard you have to cheer for the guy. He gives you everything he’s got. He’s the one payer that you want to coach because of his work ethic and because he’s so polite. He’s one of the finest players and persons. He’s consistent and a good defender, too.”
Not only did Minton record the final sack, he made a defensive stop after Dan Trocano connected with Andrew Bartusiak for an aerial that put the ball deep in BP territory. Minton also had an important fumble recovery that set up one of BP’s first-half scoring strikes.
“I like them both but offense is my preference,” Minton said. “It just seems like when it all comes together and clicks, it’s a good feeling.
“But,” he continued, “I was nervous until the defense stepped up. In a way it was kind of cool to go out on the last play and make the final play. Coach is always saying ‘finish, finish, finish’ and we did.”
BP did finish off USC but it was not without drama.
The Hawks had mounted a 13-0 first-half lead when Levi Metheny hooked up with Charlie Davis for two TD aerials, one for six yards with 11 minutes to play in the half and one for 33 yards with 9:55 to play in the second stanza.
USC, however, roared back by taking advantage of two BP miscues.
After Jesse Slinger recovered a fumble, two big receptions by Doug Wagner set up Gunnar Lund’s 5-yard touchdown. With 4:51 left in the third quarter, USC trailed BP, 13-7.
After another BP fumble, Trocano connected again with Wagner for a 37-yard reception that put the ball at the 1-yard line. Marcus Galie plunged into the end zone and Max Herold connected on the extra point, vaulting USC into the lead, 14-13, with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter.
Mainly on rushes by Minton, BP marched to the USC goal line where the Panther defense stopped the Hawks with 5:46 to play. But the Hawks’ defense forced USC to punt from its end zone, affording good field position. BP started its winning drive at the USC 41 and with 3:57 to play. Metheny connected with Jake Lewis for a 10-yard score before sprinting the distance for the two-point conversion.
“I felt good when Jake made that catch and Levi ran for two. I was nervous until that point,” said Minton, “and our defense stepped up.”
With the win, BP stepped up in the standings. While Mt. Lebanon (3-0), Woodland Hills (3-0) and Penn Hills (2-1) share the league lead with 2-0 records, the Hawks followed with a 1-1 mark. Peters Township and USC follow at 1-2 while Baldwin and Canon-McMillan are both winless in the division.
“I’m happy we finally won one,” said Metheny of the triumph over USC. “We have gotten better. We are doing some nice things. After the meat grinder we have been in,” he continued referring to opening games against the top-ranked teams in Quad-A, that also happened to be the WPIAL champion and runner-up in 2013, “this team could be in the thick of things. We can still win this thing,” he added enthusiastically to his players huddled around him.
Metheny earned one follower. “I believe it now,” said Minton. “We have a good shot. It’s a tough conference. We can’t look past Canon-Mac but the way we have been playing the last two week, we’ll be in it.”
The Hawks must correct one thing however. Eliminate the turnovers. “You can’t do that,” Metheny said. “Teams will make you pay. That was the one disappointing thing [against St. Clair] but we played good defense and we made them punt.”
BP also got a good effort out of Connor McGinnis. “He does a nice job,” Metheny said. “He gave us some good reps and he blocked well.”
Up front James Gmiter, Marc Dunlap, Joshua Sosnak, Chris Pauley and Sean Davis blocked well. Davis also excelled on defense recording two key sacks, one at the end of the game and one on USC’s fourth-and-six play at the goal line with 5:12 to play in the first half.
“Defense came up big. Team defense,” said Minton. “That’s what it’s all about. While I like them both, offense is my preference. But, it seems like when it all comes together and clicks, it’s a good feeling. This was a huge win. We came up big.”
Other games
Other teams came up big in their games also Friday night.
Mt. Lebanon whipped Baldwin, 54-14, while Peters Township defeated Canon-McMillan, 27-14, in other Southeastern Conference play.
South Fayette waxed South Park, 59-20, while Seton-La Salle blanked Carlynton, 37-0, in Century Conference action. However, Keystone Oaks dropped another close one, falling to East Allegheny, 26-21.