Bethel Park’s Minton mows down USC
Alex Minton brushes off a tackler on his way to a 205-yard rushing game during Bethel Park’s 21-14 victory against Upper St. Clair.
Alex Minton celebrates after recording a sack to end the game and preserve Bethel Park’s 21-14 victory over Bethel Park.
Instead of feeling like the truck that rolled over the Upper St. Clair defense in Bethel Park’s 21-14 victory, Alex Minton felt like the pavement the following morning. A little roughed up.
“You are always sore, especially when we play a team as good as St. Clair,” said the 5-8, 188-pound senior tailback, “but it’s just the nature of the game. When you wake up the next morning after a game it’s tough but we usually lift on Saturday, and that helps a lot.”
So does treating the aches and pains with an ice bath. On Sundays, Minton always relaxes and maybe, he says, by evening he’s starting to get back to normal. “By Monday, I’m feeling good again.”
That statement may be bad news for Canon-McMillan come Sept. 19. The Big Macs are Minton and Bethel Park’s next opponent in Southeastern Conference football action. With the way the Hawks and Minton are playing, they believe they have a shot at the conference championship.
“We know it’s a tough conference, but I’m believing it now,” Minton said after the win against USC and the previous week’s down-to-the-wire loss to Woodland Hills.
“While a personal goal for any running back is rushing for over 1,000 yards, the team comes first,” said the 18-year-old son of Paul and Sharon Minton. “Our goals are the set ones. Win the conference and get in the playoffs. From there, see how far you can go and keep working hard.”
BP head coach Jeff Metheny is certain Minton will keep working hard. He does not shy away from exertion.
“[Alex] is a real good football player because of how hard he works. You cheer for a kid like that. He’s the one player that you want to be on your team and to coach because he gives you everything he’s got. He’s one of our hardest-working kids, one of our finest players and persons on the team.”
Minton is the total package as a student-athlete. In addition to football, he competes in track and field to improve his speed and stay in shape during the off-season. Minton runs the 100-meter dash, long jumps and races a leg on the 4-by-100 relay, which won a WPIAL medal his sophomore season. In the classroom, he owns a 4.1 GPA. He hopes to pursue a career in medicine while playing football in college. Lafayette, Allegheny and Case Western are interested in his talents. Minton also belongs to National Honor Society and PACS Pals, an organization that works with special-needs youth.
“Alex is a great guy. So polite,” Metheny added. “He’s always there for you. A confident, poised young man.”
Minton says that’s because he has a strong support system, from his parents, to his siblings, Justin, 25, and sister, Meghan, 20. Plus, his grandparents, Al and Susan Marthinsen, provide guidance.
“They all help keep me confident but grounded,” Minton said. “They are my big fan base and even though my sister is at Ohio University, she always texts me before every game. They are a great source of confidence for me and they remind me to work hard and keep doing the right thing. That sticks with you.”
Minton stuck with the running pattern that wore, not only him down, but the Panthers as well. In last week’s victory, Minton rushed for a personal-record 205 yards on 40 carries. His previous high was 120 yards against Peters Township last season.
“By far, 205 yards is my high,” he said. “It felt good. Especially doing it in such a big game was awesome.
“It was working. We were all in sync, getting five to six yards a pop, pounding them,” Minton continued of the team’s offensive strategy. “Coach wanted to run and it worked.”
Because of the men up front, Minton admitted that he succeeded. He doffed his hat to right tackle James Gmiter, a freshman, right guard Marc Dunlap, center Joshua Sosnak, left guard Chris Pauley and left tackle Sean Davis.
“Without the team, without my O-lineman, I am nothing. Nothing happens without them,” Minton explained. “They do all the work and they get no credit. They are great guys. They lead me to and through the holes.”
The offensive line also provided the protection Levi Metheny needed to complete nine of 13 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns against the Panthers. Metheny hooked up with Charlie Davis for 33- and six-yard scoring strikes that stake BP to a 13-0 halftime lead.
Minton’s fumble recovery on defense set up the second score, which came 11 seconds before intermission. Minton’s play on defense also preserved the victory after Metheny connected with Jake Lewis for the game-winning score, followed by his two-point conversion with 52.3 to play. Minton made two stops on USC’s last-ditch drive that ended at the BP 32-yard line. He and Sean Davis recorded sacks on the final two plays of the game.
The defensive stops took a bit of the sting out of Minton being stopped by the USC defense at the 1-yard line with under six minutes to play and the Panthers’ clinging to the lead, 14-13.
“The fourth-and-one was disappointing but you have to have a short memory because for me, I have to get back on defense,” Minton said. “We had to step up on defense or it would be over. We did step up.”
Minton remembers Connor McGinnis, Lewis, Chris Papalia and Davis stepping up to make the stop and forcing the Panthers to punt from their own end zone. “Our defense gave us great field position,” said Minton of BP’s final scoring drive that started at the USC 41. “We had a good opportunity to get the ball in good field position so we did what we were told,” Minton said of not getting to close to Jesse Slinger as to incur a roughing-the-punter penalty.
“Coach talks about being smart. Limit penalties. Limit mistakes. That’s why we are so successful. We listen.”
One of Metheny’s philosophies Minton and his teammates have taken to heart is unity. Despite losing Jake Dixon to an elbow injury on the first offensive series and Chiante Pryor to a sprained ankle in the game, BP bonded to beat USC. Evan Yarder stepped up in place of Dixon at tight end while the other receivers picked up the load for Pryor.
“We played for those guys. We wanted to win for them,” Minton said. “Coach always tells us team first. These are your brothers. Play for them. Win for them. It hit home for us. We’ve bought into it and it has drawn us closer. The team chemistry and bonding on this team is great.”