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Three survive first round of WPIAL football playoffs

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 6 min read
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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Mt. Lebanon junior running back Evan Jones (10) fends off Canon-McMillan defender Dillon O’Donoghue during WPIAL football playoff action. The Blue Devils defeated the Big Macs, 38-31, and advanced to the semifinals in the WPIAL 6A playoffs. Lebo (6-5) travels to Pine-Richland (8-2) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Nov. 9. The winner advances to the championship game set for Nov. 16 at Heinz Field.

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By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Anthony Chiccitt attempts to elude a Franklin Regional defender during WPIAL Class 5A playoff action. Despite Chiccitt’s efforts, Bethel Park dropped a 56-28 decision to the Panthers and finished the season at 6-4 overall.

The quest for WPIAL championships continues this week for Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township and South Fayette as each football team won first-round playoff games Nov. 2. The stakes, however, get higher.

Lebo and the Lions battle for a spot in their respective league’s final and a trip to Heinz Field on Nov. 17 while the Indians attempt go deeper in the Class 5A tournament. Kick-offs for all Nov. 9 contests are at 7:30 p.m.

At this point, victory requires one thing of all three squads.

“We will absolutely need to play our best game Friday night, do the little things, and take care of the football,” PT head coach T.J. Plack said.

In that respect, Lebo (6-5) feels confident as they enter their Class 6A semifinal clash at Pine-Richland. The two teams met Oct. 12 with the Rams posting a 42-24 win.

Noting the Rams have only lost one league game in the past two years and dismissing the earlier defeat, Lebo coach Mike Melnyk expressed confidence in the timing of the rematch.

“We are playing our best football right now so there is no better time for us to play them,” he said.

The Blue Devils are coming off a come-from-behind victory, 38-31, against Canon-McMillan. Though they trailed, 24-10, at halftime the Blue Devils bounced back.

Seth Morgan completed 16 of 24 passes for 259 yards. He accounted for one score on a 7-yard run and another on a 19-yard scoring strike to Lucas Decaro, who caught seven aerials for 105 yards. Sam Lasota followed with six grabs for 106 yards.

Lasota also rushed for a 52-yard score. Evan Jones rushed for another TD. Casey Sorsdal kicked a 35-yard field goal and all the extra points. Cortland Peer’s punt return proved the decisive score for the Blue Devils.

“Our kids started playing with more emotion and energy to get it done. It was a complete victory with big plays on offense, defense and special teams,” said Melnyk of the C-M win.

He noted those positives are necessary factors because Pine-Richland concerns him in many ways. While the Blue Devils are focusing on preparation and performance in practice this week, Melnyk hopes their work on the little things will lead to a different outcome and a spot in the finals.

Lebo has only won one WPIAL championship in the last 34 years.

“We sure would like to have an opportunity to do that,” Melnyk said, “but one game at a time.”

Peters Township (9-2) waited a long time for a postseason victory but the Indians got their first triumph since 2003 when they defeated Armstrong, 35-7.

In the win, Ryan Magiske rushed for 122 yards and two scores of 2 and 16 yards. Seth Luksik and Michael Peyton also rushed for scores. Aidan McCall picked off a pass for a 38-yard score.

Additionally, Josh Casilli caught three passes for 60 yards. Logan Pfeuffer completed 6 of 12 aerials for 80 yards. Brian Bruzdewicz kicked all the extra points.

“Our players are handling this most recent success perfectly,” Plack said of the playoff win. “They understand there are additional distractions, but continue to remain consistent, focused, and hungry to compete. We are fortunate to have a nice mix of kids playing for us this season. They allow us to be creative with our pass game, yet effectively run the ball when needed.”

The Indians will need all their attributes when they battle Penn-Trafford in a Class 5A quarterfinal playoff game set for West Mifflin.

The Warriors enter the fray riding a 9-game winning streak. They trounced North Hills, 42-7, in their first-round playoff game. They are 9-2 overall and were runners-up to Gateway (11-0) in the Big East Conference.

“Penn-Trafford is an incredible football program. Arguably, one of the best, winning 10 playoff games in the last six years, including two trips to the WPIAL championship,” Plack said. “This year’s team is no different. They are talented, well coached and physical.”

The same can be said for South Fayette’s opponent. The Lions (10-1) will battle Belle Vernon (9-1) in a Class 4A semifinal set for Ringgold.

The Lions reached the Final Four by whipping Greensburg Salem, 42-6 while the Leopards dispatched Beaver Area, 49-11.

In SF’s win, Andrew Franklin rushed for 159 yards, 84 of them coming on a TD run. Jamie Diven tossed two, 5-yard scoring strikes to Ryan Kokoski and an 18-yard TD aerial to Nolan Lutz. Diven also rushed for a 9-yard score and Kokoski returned an interception 55 yards for another.

Diven leads SF’s offense with 2,373 yards passing and 35 touchdowns. Franklin leads all rushers with 591 yards. Mike Trimbur has 809 yards receiving and 14 TDs.

Lutz, Ben Coyne, Kokoski and Tom Elia lead a defense that has allowed just 10 points per game and has recorded five shutouts.

The Leopards, likewise, excel defensively. They allow 9.4 points per game and have registered four shutouts. Mason Pascoe powers the offense, having rushed for 1,392 yards and 17 TDs during the regular season.

Though the Leopards lost Jared Hartman to a knee injury, Nolan Labuda appears to have picked up the slack at quarterback. He passed for a 38-yard score against Beaver and rushed for three touchdowns. He also caught a 27-TD pass from Andrew Pacak, who also rushed for a 17-yard TD.

Labuda and Hunter Ruokonen, who is BV’s leading receiver with 23 catches for 267 yards and four scores, are leaders with Larry Callaway in the defensive secondary while Anthony Rebar anchors the line. He is a force on the O-Line, too, with Eric Oblock.

“Belle Vernon has a superstar running back who has power and speed. Their offensive line is big and strong. That combined with good blocking tight ends and fullbacks makes them tough. On defense, their line is aggressive and puts pressure on the quarterback. They have shut down everyone’s run game,” said SF skipper Joe Rossi.

McKeesport and Franklin Regional stopped Upper St. Clair, 13-7, and Bethel Park, 56-28, respectively ending the seasons for both the Panthers and the Black Hawks.

In defeat, Sean McGowan rushed for 130 yards for the Hawks. He rushed for two scores and returned an interception 42 yards for another. Jacob Wodarek caught four passes for 51 yards and Luke Surunis had a touchdown for BP’s other highlights.

David Pantellis caught four passes for 51 yards in USC’s loss. Antonio Orsini scored on a 33-yard run for the Panthers’ lone touchdown.

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