Bethel Park learning how to win
After going 0-7 in 2020, the good news at Bethel Park is its football team has won a game in 2021.
With games against Franklin Regional at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 and West Allegheny at 7 p.m. Oct. 1, the Black Hawks still have their work cut out for them this season.
“This group needs to learn how to win,” BP head coach Brian DeLallo said. “We have to learn how to close games out. We need to make ourselves tougher to beat and that starts with coaching.”
DeLallo takes the blame for BP’s 34-27 loss to Canon-Mac Sept. 10, which the Black Hawks led 20-14 at halftime. He said the difference in the game was coaching.
“We lost a halftime lead, and when that happens, you have to look at halftime adjustments,” he said. “C-M made some nice adjustments in the run game that gave us problems. We need to do a better job of countering those types of adjustments.”
DeLallo. said he was encouraged, however, by BP’s passing game and physical play against the Big Macs.
Black Hawks quarterback Max Blanc completed 14 passes for 268 yards against Canon-Mac, while Troy Volpatti pulled in five catches for 148 yards and two scores. He also rushed for a six-yard touchdown.
Bethel Park’s Aidan Currie also had five receptions for 80 yards.
Tyler Stewart returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown for the Black Hawks and kicker Cody Geddes connected on the extra points.
Other action
In their final tune-ups before entering conference play, Chartiers Valley hosts Hopewell while South Fayette entertains Latrobe Sept. 24.
CV traveled to face South Fayette Sept. 17 in a game which ended too late to be included in this edition.
While the Lions lost to Thomas Jefferson 27-0, the Colts eked out a 35-34 victory against Keystone Oaks in overtime a week earlier.
CV’s Anthony Mackey completed 11 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns against Keystone Oaks. Abe Ibrahim hauled in nine passes for 229 yards and scoring strikes of 59, 47, 26 and 10 yards for the Colts.
Lamont Payne also reeled in a touchdown pass from Mackey for 54 yards.
CV’s Joseph Krug converted the extra points, including the game-winner after Ibrahim’s 10-yard score.
In the Lions’ loss to the Jaguars, Landon Lutz completed 10 passes for 129 yards.
South Fayette resident Dominic Monz excelled in Seton LaSalle’s 31-21 win against South Park. Monz had eight receptions for 118 yards. He caught a 52-yard touchdown from Luke Kosko.
Nick Cherry kicked a field goal while Gabe Finale, Tyler Buzalka and Alexander Jones accounted for the other Rebel scores.