Bethel Park visits Chartiers Valley
Jeff Metheny’s last visit to Colt Country with his Black Hawks still stings.
“We got beat a few years ago over there,” Metheny said.
It is with that memory of defeat that Bethel Park prepares for this Allegheny Eight Conference showdown at 7 p.m. Oct. 5. The Hawks are 2-1 in the league and 3-2 overall after their 38-14 win at Moon last week while the Colts slipped to 0-3 in the division and 3-3 overall after a 20-14 loss to Baldwin.
“We don’t know a whole lot about those guys but they have a running back that’s a good kid and a quarterback that puts the ball on the numbers. They are sound in what they do and disciplined,” Metheny said. “So, we have to be prepared. The big thing though is we need to take care of us.”
Against Moon, the Hawks did just that.
Powered by Sean McGowan, they snapped a 14-14 deadlock. McGowan rushed for 202 yards and two scores of 31 and 2 yards on 14 carries. Luke Surunis tacked on three more scores of 23, 3 and 2 yards. John Gummo kicked the extra points and a 22-yard field goal.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Connor Barrett (No. 8) of Chartiers Valley breaks a tackle during a scrimmage against South Fayette earlier this season. He will lead the Colts into battle as they host Bethel Park in a key Allegheny Eight Conference clash on Oct. 5.
The backs have picked up the slack in the wake of an injury to Jehvonn Lewis. The senior tailback had 10 TDs and 454 yards on 56 carries before getting hurt. He may return to the lineup this week.
Regardless of his availability, the Hawks must continue to do what they have been doing.
“We have to keep growing and putting together sound football,” Metheny said. “We are at mid-season and no, we are not perfect, but we’ve made it through so far and got kids some experience. If we keep working, then we could be in the mix. We want to continue getting better so that we can be a place where we have a chance for a high seed in the playoffs or even be a conference champion.”
CV saw that chance fade away with the disappointing loss to Baldwin.
In the defeat, Connor Barrett rushed for scores of 1 and 19 yards. Adam Weiss kicked the extra points.
“It was a tough loss, but a loss where you are proud of the players. They fought and played hard to the very end,” CV coach Dan Knause said. “When games go down to the final series you know both teams battled hard.”