Mt. Lebanon hosts Central Catholic

The Mt. Lebanon football team might have hoped the WPIAL would have given it a break between playing consecutive games against Class 6A powers North Allegheny and Central Catholic.
After hosting the Tigers, who have won four district titles, the Blue Devils host Central at 7 p.m. Oct 8. The Vikings have won eight WPIAL championships, including three of the past five since the league expanded to a 6A classification in 2016.
“It’s the schedule,” said Lebo coach Bob Palko. “We only can control what we can control and that’s all I worry about — who we are and who we are playing that week.
“It’s time, though,” he added, “to see what we have.”
After taking over the program three years ago, Palko has the Blue Devils playing better than they ever have.
Before battling NA, Lebo started the season with five impressive victories that included two shutouts. The Blue Devils were averaging 36 points per game while allowing just 6.8.
Lebo looked particularly impressive in a 48-14 thumping of Hempfield.
Joey Daniels tossed touchdown passes of 72 and 17 yards to Eli Heidenreich and a single scoring strike of 22 yards to Mike Beiersdorf. Daniels also rushed for a seven-yard touchdown.
Alex Tecza also scored a 19-yard touchdown on the ground, along with Beckham Dee, who scored from three yards out. Kicker Noah Bhuta converted on a 44-yard field goal and Bernard McAuley added another 18-yard field goal.
Daniels, Tecza and Heidenreich rank among the passing, rushing and receiving leaders in the WPIAL.
Daniels ranks No. 12 in the WPIAL with 750 yards on 32 completions and 11 scores. Tecza has 540 yards rushing and eight touchdown on 54 carries while Heidenreich has 468 yards and six touchdowns on 13 receptions.
Central Catholic boasts an equally impressive resume. The Vikings have outscored their opposition 74-7 in their first five games although they are 4-1 overall.
Central knocked off North Allegheny, 24-7.
Central’s offense features the attack of Payton Wehner, Gannon Carothers and Brandon Jackson.
Wehner threw for 600 yards and five touchdowns in the Vikings’ first five games. Carothers had 593 yards rushing and Jackson averaged 8.3 yards per reception.
“Central is a tradition-rich program with tremendous coaches and players. They are among the elite,” said Palko. “We can’t run away from them. They are a program that hasn’t fallen off.
“So, obviously we have our work cut out for us. We have to find a way to be able to score points.”
CV hosts Quips
Mt. Lebanon isn’t the only local team challenging a WPIAL powerhouse. A few miles to the west, Chartiers Valley will entertain Aliquippa at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 in a key Parkway Conference clash.
The Quips own a record 17 WPIAL titles. Although new to Class 4A, they were runners-up to Thomas Jefferson in last year’s championship game. In 2020, the Quips beat the Colts, 35-6.
The Colts raised their overall record to 3-2 overall when they defeated Hopewell Sept. 24.
Anthony Mackey passed for 122 yards. He found Lamont Payne for a six-yard touchdown and Abraham Ibrahim for a 65-yard score. Mackey also rushed for a 31-yard touchdown.
Patrick Mulligan added a 28-yard rushing touchdown for the Colts, while Gavin Owens scored four-yard touchdown and Chris Beatty found pay dirt from six yards out.
Ibrahim returned a punt 74 yards for another score for CV, which led 49-0 at halftime.