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Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park battle in backyard brawl

By Eleanor Bailey 11 min read
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Alex Smith coughs up the football as South Fayette’s Dom Malosh (No. 38) makes a hit on the Keystone Oaks quarterback.

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Lionel Deanes takes the handoff from Nolan Abbiatici and bolts for a 68-yard touchdown during Seton-La Salle’s 49-6 win against South Allegheny. Deanes rushed for two more scores and 295 yards during the game.

After playing the top-ranked teams in the state, Bethel Park may be thinking they are playing St. Louise de Marillac, says head coach Jim Render when the Black Hawks travel to Upper St. Clair for a Southeastern Conference football battle. “Compared to Central Catholic and Woodland Hills, we are just an outpost in the South Hills,” Render said. “Those schools have so many Division I prospects.”

While the Panthers have a few, most notably Pitt recruits Brandon Ford and Gabe Houy, they are no less an opponent for the Black Hawks. In fact, the Panthers are undefeated while the Hawks are winless as they enter this fray, fraught with history.

As USC’s head coach for nearly four decades, Render remembers many battles as does Jeff Metheny, who has managed the Hawks for 22 seasons. Render recalled the years when his now assistant coach beat his Panthers. “I remember Shawn Morton beating us. He and Larry Miles back in the early 1980s was some combination. They teamed up for a lot of victories. Then there was that semifinal WPIAL playoff win at West Mifflin in 1998,” Render added.

Metheny mentioned that contest and others in his recollections of the backyard brawl. “It was like it was yesterday,” he said. “There have been a lot of great games and we’ve lost some close ones. They have won much more than we have but it’s a great rivalry.

“No question, they have made us better. USC has been so good for so long. Their staff is great. They have real good players.”

One, Metheny recognized. Sean Lee, off course. But then he also remembered Adam Chrissis, who helped the Panthers win a PIAA title in 2006. “I noticed there is another Chrissis on their roster,” Metheny said of Kevin. “I remember when his older brother played. We’ve had a few good games with them. We didn’t always win. I think you remember those more.”

What Metheny remembers most and what he notices today is the MO that has enabled USC to start conference play on a two-game winning streak. “They play great defense,” he said.

After shutting out Penn Hills, 17-0, in their opener, the Panthers dominated Peters Township, 34-14. Eli Grape and Jack Burton led in tackles with nine and five respectively as USC limited PT to five first downs and 95 total yards. “Against Peters, we continued to play good defense,” Render said. “I was happy about that.”

Render was also pleased with USC’s passing attack. Jackson Geisler completed 7 of 10 attempts for 168 yards. He tossed two scoring strikes of 89 and 21 yards to Connor Brennan and Deonte Johnson. Brennan kicked three extra points and Jeff Howard tacked on another. Thomas Vissman rushed for 104 yards and three scores of 4, 30 and 2 yards.

“The passing game came alive,” noted Render. “We scored in a variety of ways. We’d like to build on that.”

Meanwhile, the Hawks are attempting to build off the morale they gained in tough defeats to Central Catholic, one of the nation’s top-rated teams, and Woodland Hills, the No. 2 team in the state. Against the Wolverines, Levi Metheny completed 11 of 23 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown. Charlie Davis caught seven of those aerials for 173 yards and two scores of 30 and 3 yards. Metheny also rushed for a 1-yard TD. Kelsey Tischler kicked a 31-yard field goal.

Metheny, who passed for over 1,000 yards last season and is a four-year starter, is a concern for Render as is BP’s line and skill players such as Davis and Jake Dixon.

“It’s the same at all levels. If a team has a veteran quarterback, that makes a big difference and they have one,” Render said. “They have a tight end and wide receiver he likes to throw to and that presents a lot of problems. Last year, they were inexperienced on the line and this year, they have all those guy back.

“Plus, they are coming off two tough games and they played well against two great teams. So, first and foremost, we have to play good defense.”

BP, meanwhile, needs to play error-free to win its first game of the season. The Hawks surrendered a touchdown on a fumble against Woodland Hills and one of two interceptions helped result in another score.

“We made mistakes,” admitted Metheny. “You can’t turn the ball over against good teams. Sure, our kids fought hard and played well and they showed a lot of grit, and we are a good 0-2 team but that doesn’t get you much.

“We have to get better. We have to keep from turning the ball over. Fumbles and interceptions cost us and turnovers will be key as will be special teams against St. Clair. They are always good at those. They’ve got a kid (Connor Brennan) that can kick and punt and kids that can return the ball. They are scary good on special teams.”

Regardless of how good the opponent considers USC, Render is adamant that his club isn’t yet good enough. “We need to continue to improve.”

Would a win over one of their primary rivals do the trick?

“Well,” said Render, “it’s always good to beat the neighbors but I try not to think too much about the rivalry. My job is to focus on the opponent and what we need to do to stop them. And, you know, I don’t like to lose.”

PT at C-M

Something has to give here and somebody will walk away a winner when these two winless teams clash in another backyard brawl in the Southeastern Conference. Peters Township is coming off a loss to Upper St. Clair while Canon-McMillan succumbed to Penn Hills.

In the loss to USC, T.J. Kpan and Nicky Phelps rushed for 5-yard scores. Reagan Lawlor kicked the extra points.

The Big Macs hung tough against Penn Hills, trailing 14-13, before the Indians reeled off five unanswered scores to widen the margin, 43-13, by the end of the third quarter. Bryan Milligan rushed for C-M’s first two touchdowns and late in the game, Mulligan finished with 100 yards rushing. Rhamiere Knight caught a 37-yard TD strike from back-up signal caller Jordan Castelli.

Dom Eannace completed 9 of 21 attempts for 157 yards for the Big Macs.

Baldwin at Lebo

After non-league contests, these two teams return to Southeastern Conference action. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.

“This conference game is a pivotal game for both squads,” said Lebo skipper Mike Melnyk. “We will work extremely hard to improve our play in all three phases this week.”

Both teams are coming off big wins and top performances in the passing game.

In Baldwin’s 45-22 win versus Butler, Brandon Schliecher rushed for 131 yards. He also completed 16 of 25 passes for 264 yards. Nick Altavilla caught five passes for 148 yards and three scores. Phil Harding caught eight passes for 105 yards.

“Baldwin found its identity last week,” Melnyk said. “Their quarterback is very skilled and is a dual threat. They play sound defense and are disciplined.”

Lebo, likewise, is disciplined. In thrashing Moon, 48-14, Eddie Jenkins completed 9 of 14 passes for 284 yards and five TDs. Jack Young was the top target as he hauled in four receptions for 184 yards and four scores, measuring 24, 75, 33 and 50 yards. Nick Tommasi hauled in a 74-yard scoring strike and Patrick Moeller managed a 10-yard TD reception. David Harvey rushed for a 2-yard touchdown and the Lebo defense recorded a safety.

“Eddie is also benefitting from the emergence of some new weapons on the offensive side of the ball,” Melnyk said. “Jack Young had a stellar game. Patrick Moeller had a couple great catches. Nick Tommasi, last years top receiver had a couple catches. We also have a four-headed monster at running back, with David Harvey, Emmanuel Komolafe, Edgar Parrilla and Eric Kraus. They all are getting significant carries.”

CV at Montour

The Colts look to recover from a 49-7 loss to West Allegheny. In the defeat, Jake Collins accounted for the lone score, a 5-yard TD run. Logan Scott added the extra point.

The Spartans are coming off a 41-25 win against New Castle. They are ranked No. 2 in Class AAA behind West-A.

South Park at SF

This will not be the same game as last year’s WPIAL quarterfinal playoff game where the Eagles were winning until a fourth-quarter rally by the Lions. South Park lost many key players from that team and long-time head coach Tom Loughran has moved on to Fox Chapel. Plus, the Eagles are headed in the opposite direction as the Lions, winless in their first two starts.

Yet, they are “gaining experience,” says SF skipper Joe Rossi, who is expecting to see a defense the Lions have seen too often. “That will pose a challenge,” he said. “They attack the ball and swarm on defense.”

The Eagles, like the Lions, boast a young quarterback and their primary target is Brandon McMurray. He will put pressure on the SF corners all game. But, Drew Saxton applies his own pressure. In last week’s win against Keystone Oaks, 51-7, the sophomore signal caller completed 7 of 8 passes for 111 yards and a pair of scoring strikes to Nick Ponikvar of 32 and 25 yards and a 9-yard TD aerial to Dan Trimbur.

Hunter Hayes rushed for 121 yards and two scores. Plus, Mike Speca and Jon Beck added 24- and 15-yard TD runs for the Lions, who ride a 34-game winning streak into the contest.

KO at East Allegheny

Keystone Oaks was SF’s latest victim and Golden Eagle head coach Greg Perry doesn’t see too many teams matching up well with the Lions after his team’s 51-7 thrashing.

“SF is going to be a tough out in the playoffs,” he predicted. “They have so much depth that no one can match at our level. They are very strong on both lines and (Hunter) Hayes is a quality back who can carry a game if weather is a factor. (Nick) Ponikvar gives them a deep threat, which keeps teams out of loading the box. You need to play mistake-free football and execute or they will swarm you.”

Despite being swarmed, Alex Smith survived to complete eight passes for 101 yards and the lone KO scoring strike, a 45-yard TD to Leo Palmer.

Against the Wildcats, KO’s task is simple. “We need to execute better,” Perry said. “We had some breakdowns and need to eliminate self-inflicted mistakes.”

Regarding the Wildcats, who enter the fray coming off a 60-0 loss to Steel Valley, Perry noted their team speed. “We need to contain that or they will run over us. We are in a crucial stretch so we need to buckle up and play better football like we are capable or it’s going to be a long season. We got to get after it this week.”

SLS at Carlynton

Lionel Deanes certainly got after South Allegheny. The sophomore tailback raced 295 yards on nine carries and scored three touchdowns as Seton-La Salle coasted to victory, 49-6, against South Allegheny.

Also in the win, Liam Sweeney, Paris Ford and Cullen Baker rushed for scores of 5, 88 and 18 yards respectively. Nolan Abbiatici connected with Daluan Samuels for a 13-yard TD strike. He also made good on a two-point conversion. Leo Wilson kicked the other extra points for the Rebels, who are looking to improve to 3-0 in the Century Conference when they take on the Cougars, who lost to Sto-Rox, 14-13, last week.

Canevin at Northgate

The Flames are 1-1 overall after beating Vincentian, 32-14, while the Crusaders are 1-1 after upending Union, 31-6.

In the triumph, Amaan Bridgett rushed for 157 yards on 17 carries. He also scored two TDs on 38- and 36-yard runs. Maleik Hemingway also rushed for a score on a 30-yard run. Austin Scott caught a 55-yard scoring strike from Dom Palmosina and Austin Liebro returned an interception 51 yards for another Canevin touchdown.

C-H at W. Beaver

The Buccaneers dropped to 0-2 in the Black Hills Conference after falling to North Catholic, 35-7, but look to rebound when they travel to Western Beaver for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. kickoff.

In the loss to the Trojans, T.J. Johnston completed 18 of 27 for 128 yards. A.J. Meyers hauled in eight of those aerials for 59 yards. Myers also returned an interception 20 yards for a TD.

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