Nov 1, 2016 By Eleanor Bailey 7 min read

After David Harvey rushed for 207 yards and scored all five touchdowns, including one on a 61-yard fumble return, during Mt. Lebanon’s conference-clinching victory against Bethel Park, 35-14, the senior tailback was asked if he was the best among his seven other siblings, including James, a standout on the Blue Devils’ 2000 squad.

“I don’t know about that,” he said. “Not unless I win the WPIAL championships like James did. So, I’m always going to have that over me.”

An honors student, who is being courted by schools from the Ivy and Patriot leagues as well as the service academies, Harvey has been successful on the gridiron so far.

He ranks among the WPIAL leaders in rushing with 1,354 yards on 198 carries for a 6.3-yard average and 18 TDs. Harvey hopes to continue that trend when Mt. Lebanon begins its bid for a WPIAL title. The Blue Devils host Seneca Valley (6-3) at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 in the first round of the Class 6-A playoffs.

Of his workhorse and go-to-guy status, Harvey said, “I love that. I want to be able to hopefully carry my team to another championship. When my number is called, hopefully, I can get it done.

“Hopefully, we can keep doing what we are doing. I think we are peaking at the right time. We know that we can play with any team, if we play our game.”

Lebo skipper Mike Melnyk agrees. His Blue Devils have won four games in a row and six of their last seven contests.

“Our team is playing well right now and we hope to keep it going against the quality opponents we will face from here on out.

“We put our win over Bethel Park and our conference championship in the rearview mirror because we have our sights set on something else. We have a group of guys who can go all the way. We have known it all yar. Against Bethel Park, we just took one more step up the ladder. We have three more steps to get to where we want to go.”

In tackling the Raiders, the Blue Devils will rely on more than just Harvey. Quarterback James Stocker has passed for 1700 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jack Young is the top target with 50 receptions for 764 yards and seven scores followed by Edgar Parrilla (30 grabs for 390 yards and 4 TDs) and Patrick Moeller (28 catches, 2 TDs).

The defense, which forced six BP fumbles, will be focused upon containing Hank Royal, who has rushed for 1039 yards and 12 scores as well as Jack Cook, who has passed for 1,334 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Bethel Park

The Hawks use their loss to Mt. Lebanon, 35-14, as a learning experience as they head into their first-round playoff game against Pine-Richland (6-4). Bethel Park (5-4) hosts the Rams at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4. The Rams represent one of BP’s four losses, 31-14, this season. Then Pine-Richland started Phil Jurkovec. The Notre Dame recruit is out for the year due to an injured thumb that required surgery. Max DeVinney is the replacement.

“We have a lot of respect for our opponent. They have a great coaching staff and they run good schemes and their quarterback can throw it. Plus, they have good receivers and a running back,” said BP skipper Jeff Metheny. “They are a good football team and battle-tested from a tough conference.

“The teams that we lost to, including Lebo, all were very similar. They have weapons on the outside and a great running back. They don’t make mistakes.”

Mistakes led to BP’s downfall against Lebo and cost them the outright conference championship. The Hawks finished 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference just as the Blue Devils did. In the loss to Lebo, BP turned the ball over six times. Penalties also hurt the Hawks, who scored on TD aerials of 13 and 26 yards from Cole Rogers to Brandon Greco and Luke Mattola.

“We have to hang onto the ball and run the ball better than we did against Lebo. You can’t fumble the ball six times and expect to win,” said Metheny. “Hopefully, we learn from that game. If not, then we are not going to stick around long but we expect to play better. Our kids are tough and resilient.”

South Fayette

The Lions are also anxious to see how the remainder of the campaign plays out now that they have capped another perfect regular season by thumping Montour, 42-20, in Northwest Nine Conference action. It is the fifth straight year that South Fayette (8-0, 10-0) ran the table in conference play.

Drew Saxton passed for 271 yards, completing 16 of 23 attempts. He has thrown for 2,361 yards this season. Noah Plack had two TD receptions of 17 and 22 yards. Luke Meindl excelled on special teams, returning two punts for 88- and 78-yard touchdowns. Geavonie Love scored on two, 1-yard dives to ice the contest. Jared Renz converted the extra points.

The Lions, who were Class AA runners-up last season, embark on post-season play against New Castle (6-2, 6-4) at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at South Fayette stadium. The Lions beat the Hurricanes, 37-13, on Oct. 7 in Northwest Nine Conference action.

Upper St. Clair

The Panthers suffered a 28-21 loss to Woodland Hills in their final tune-up before the 5-A playoffs. USC enters the playoffs with a 6-3 record and as the third-place team out of the Allegheny Nine Conference.

In the loss to the Wolverines, Jack Hansberry completed 12 of 26 passes for 163 yards. Jackson Geisler caught five of those aerials for 101 yards and a 26-yard score. Matt Kissinger and Anthony Rhad grabbed scoring strikes of 12 and 11 yards.

The Panthers trailed 28-0 at halftime before rallying in the second half.

Before their losses to West Allegheny, McKeesport and Woodland Hills, USC had one of the top defenses in the WPIAL.

The Panthers take to the road Nov. 4 to face McKeesport at 7:30 p.m. The Tigers defeated USC, 28-20, in a non-conference game back on Oct. 14.

Keystone Oaks

The Golden Eagles (8-1) look to continue their record-breaking season when they host Apollo-Ridge at 7:30 p.m. at Dormont Stadium in the first-round of the Class AAA playoffs. Keystone Oaks defeated Apollo-Ridge (5-2, 7-3) back on Oct. 14, 49-21.

Other games

Four other area football teams wrapped up their seasons. Highlights from their final outings in 2016 included:

• Peters Township (4-6) scoring a 41-27 triumph against Shaler (0-10). Jake Cortes tossed three TD strikes of 81, 73 and 52 yards to Alan Snyder. Josh Casilli and Albert Calfo also caught scoring passes from Cortes. TJ Kpan rushed for an 8-yard TD for PT’s other score.

• Chartiers Valley (2-6, 3-7) whipping Baldwin, 42-14, in Allegheny Nine Conference action. Reed Bruggeman completed five passes for 123 yards and scoring strikes of 47 and 18 yards to Steve Alauzen and Anthony Onomastico. Dom Pocci rushed for two scores of 1 and 4 yards. Griffin Beattie had a 17-yard TD run and Reilly O’Neill returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown. Tanner Cyprowski and Alauzen from Connor Barrett on a conversion accounted for the Colts’ other points.

• Seton-La Salle (4-3, 5-4) succumbing to cross-street rival Keystone Oaks, 42-7, in Allegheny Conference action. For the Rebels, Christian Weyrich pulled in a 6-yard TD reception from Matt Banbury. Cullen Vereb kicked the extra point.

• Canon-McMillan (5-5) blasting Butler, 31-17. Bryan Milligan rolled up 212 yards on 34 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns on 9-yard rushes. Jordan Castelli completed 11 of 19 aerials for 169 yards and scoring strikes of 60 and 14 yards to Rahmiere Knight and Cuyler Rancher. Josh Byers converted the extra points as well as a 25-yard field goal.