Bethel Park hosts Mt. Lebanon as 2021 football campaign commences
Bob Palko
Brian DeLallo
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bethel Park players take a break during training camp. The Black Hawks host Mt. Lebanon at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 in the season opener.
Pete Austin and Tucker Freedy played football at Bethel Park High School but they will be rooting for Mt. Lebanon when the Blue Devils visit the Black Hawks at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 in the season opener. That’s because their sons, Cooper Austin and Andrew Freedy, play football for the Blue Devils.
“We won’t hold that against their fathers,” Lebo coach Bob Palko said of the fact the dads are former Black Hawks. “We are just glad they moved to Mt. Lebanon and their sons take coaching well.”
The teams are delighted to be playing each other again. Because realignment placed the Blue Devils in the largest classification and moved Bethel Park down to Class 5A, the two teams have not faced each other since 2017. Four years ago, the Black Hawks defeated Lebo, 34-24, on their way to the Southeastern Conference championship.
In addition to Bethel Park, The Blue Devils’ schedule once again includes Upper St. Clair, Peters Township and Baldwin.
“The games may not be as important because they have no playoff implications but they are good for the sport and the communities,” said Palko. “I am thrilled we get to play these teams again. It’s what the kids have grown up with and it’s a good experience for the entire South Hills.”
The scholastic sports scene this fall will be a different experience as games are currently scheduled to return to normal despite the pandemic’s continued presence.
“It’s going to be interesting and exciting to have a regular football game with the bands, the music and the fans,” Palko said.
“I’m overly excited, yet humbled and honored, to be part of the fun and see the kids do great.”
The Blue Devils’s roster features three-year starters quarterback Joey Daniels, who threw for 1,017 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago Navy recruit Eli Heidenreich, who racked up 661 all-purpose yards and 45 tackles, tailback Alex Tecza, who rushed for 465 yards rushing and a team-high 10 touchdowns and tight end/linebacker Jack Smith.
The Black Hawks feature Youngstown State commit Max Blanc at quarterback, who threw for 429 yards and two touchdowns in 2020, along with leading rusher Troy Volpatti, who had 518 yards and four touchdowns and top tackler Gavin Moul. BP’s roster also includes 20 additional players that started at least one game in 2020.
“It’s going to be an interesting game No. 1 and we will prepare like we have to prepare by studying them and doing the necessary game-planning but honestly,” Palko said, “we are focused on us.”
“We know that if we score more points than they do, that constitutes the win but I am not concerned about the scoreboard,” he added. “I am anxious to see how well our players are able to do what the coaches tell them to do, how they react to adversity and how they keep their composure and are able to execute under pressure.”
Peters Township and South Fayette will open the 2021 high school football season on the road.
The Indians will travel to Fox Chapel while the Lions will visit Montour.
Both games have a 7 p.m. kick-off Aug. 27.