Future promising for Bethel Park football
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Aidan Campbell (72) and Clancy Orie (43) help Tobias D’Andrea (65) limp off the field. Injuries, including one to tailback Austin Caye, played a role in Bethel Park’s 17-7 loss to Upper St. Clair in a WPIAL Class 5A semifinal game played at Canonsburg Memorial Stadium.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Tanner Pfeuffer (4) eludes the diving grasp of Upper St. Clair defender Mark Banbury (55) as teammate Marco Carone pursues on the play. Pfeuffer rushed for one touchdown and completed 10 of 22 passes for 91 yards but that was not enough as Bethel Park dropped a 17-7 decison to the Panthers. A sophomore, Pfeuffer passed for more than 1,500 yards this fall and will be an integral role in future successes for the Black Hawks.
Gavin Moul (35) will continue his playing career at the University of Delaware. A senior linebacker, he helped anchor a Bethel Park defense that surrendered just 15.9 points per game
Photos:Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Blake Striegel (6) is one of 22 seniors that helped Bethel Park capture a conference championship and post a 10-2 record this season.
With a 17-7 loss against rival Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park’s football season came to an abrupt end. The Black Hawks wrapped up the 2022 campaign with a 10-2 record that featured a conference championship.
While the Black Hawks were unable to advance to their third championship contest in 42 years — they won a title in 2008 and finished runner-up in 1980 — they showed a remarkable resiliency in rebounding from a winless campaign only two seasons earlier and in handling adversity such as the loss of two key starters late in the year.
“Seeing this program develop into a conference champion in two years makes me very proud of our kids and our coaching staff,” said BP coach Brian DeLallo. “A lot of kids and coaches put a ton of work into turning this program around.”
DeLallo added that he was unaware of any other program engineered such a two-year transformation.
“It’s a real tribute to the kind of people we have here and who they are. Because of the quality of character these kids have, I have tremendous hope and expectations for their future. I am sure that they will go on to do great things.”
The BP roster featured nearly two dozen seniors, many of them members of that varsity squad that posted an 0-7 record in 2020.
Despite an injury-riddled season, Austin Caye led the team with more than 700 yards rushing. The senior gained 13 yards on three carries before exiting the game against USC in the first quarter with another leg injury.
With the loss of Ryan Petras because of a broken collarbone incurred during the final regular-season game, the Black Hawks’ offense was stymied against the Panthers. A sophomore, Petras had a combined 1,000 yards rushing and passing to go with a team-high 17 TDs.
Gavin Moul and Blake Striegel picked up the slack. Against USC, Moul managed 69 yards rushing and Striegel 40 more on the ground. Both are seniors and Moul is a University of Delaware commit.
Dinari Clacks, who had a team-high four receptions for 39 yards against USC, and Jason Nuttridge, who had an interception against the Panthers, were two more seniors, who helped spearhead a defense that allowed only 57 conference points and surrendered just 15.9 points per game.
Colton Pfeuffer, Aidan Currie, Jack Kohnfelder, Tyler Stewart, Jeremiah Hamilton, Peyton Schipani, Jack Reilly, Coby Goelz, Braedon Del Duca, Michael Frost, David Sheepman, Tobias D’Andrea, Nickolas Fabus, Logan Pettigrew, Sam Sciullo, Aidan Campbell and Dominic Horton-Capone were other key senior performers for the Black Hawks.
The cupboard, however, is not bare for 2023.
In addition to Petras, who was a member of BP’s state championship baseball club, Tanner Pfeuffer returns at quarterback.
A sophomore, Pfeuffer completed 10 of 22 attempts for 91 yards against USC. He also accounted for the lone score on a quarterback sneak to tie the game, 7-7, with 2:38 left in the first half.
During the regular season, Pfeuffer passed for 1,418 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was very efficient, completing 105 of his 157 attempts.
The Black Hawks are equally excited to have juniors Jake Brown and Dylan Prindle return to the offensive line and sophomore Clancy Orie come back as an anchor on the defensive line. Jack Brucker will also be a major contributor as he continues to develop as a receiver and a defensive back.
Plus, the BP freshmen produced a 6-1 record. The junior varsity squad was 5-3.
“So, we believe we have some guys in the pipeline,” DeLallo said.
“We are optimistic about the future and the groundwork that has been laid. People will count us out and use the word, ‘rebuilding’, but I think we’ll surprise people next season.”