Mistake-free football is key to extended Bethel Park playoff run
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Offensive lineman Tobias D’Andrea (65) pushes Noah Mathias (19) of South Fayette out of the path of Gavin Moul (35) as he picks up some of his 116 yards rushing in Bethel Park’s 28-6 triumph.
Gavin Moul (35) is pushed out of bounds by Michael Gimigliano (4) but not before picking up big yardage. During Bethel Park's 28-6 win against South Fayette, Moul rushed for 145 yards.
Just a sophomore, Clancy Orie is a force on the defensive line for the Bethel Park football team.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bethel Park running back Ryan Petras (1) leaves players in his wake as he approaches South Fayette’s last line of defense, Nate Deanes (1). During a 28-6 win, Petras rushed for over 100 yards and two scores.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bethel Park halfback Blake Striegel (6) is tripped up by South Fayette defensive back Noah Knox but not before picking up a chunk of yardage in a 28-6 win.
With a win against South Fayette, 28-9, on Oct. 21, Bethel Park clinched a playoff spot in the WPIAL Class 5A football tournament, slated to start Nov. 4.
The outcome though yielded more than a victory and an extension to the season for the Black Hawks. The results might help BP in the playoffs.
“Mistakes,” said head coach Brian DeLallo are BP’s biggest concern in the postseason.
Against the Lions, the Black Hawks had their highest number of missed assignments and penalties.
BP actually trailed, 9-6, before making adjustments. After Tanner Pfeuffer scored on a 1-yard QB sneak and Kaden Wetzel kicked the extra point, Nate Deanes bolted 63 yards for a SF score. Tyler Nicholson later added a 26-yard field goal.
Of the miscues against the Lions, DeLallo said, “We’ll need to clean those things up if we expect to go very far in the postseason.”
The Hawks do not need to alter their game. They possess hard-nosed, powerful offense and defense.
While Austin Caye has been the lead rusher, he has been hampered by a stretched knee ligament. However, Gavin Moul, Ryan Petras and Blake Striegel have fueled the offensive attack.
Against the Lions, Moul gained 138 yards and scored on a 2-yard dive into the end zone. The University of Delaware recruit also has anchored a defense that limited SF to 116 total yards and five first downs. The Hawks have allowed an average of 8.6 points in conference games.
“Gavin does a great job offensively and defensively. He’s the straw that stirs the drink especially when Austin’s out,” DeLallo said. “His physicality on both sides of the ball and his intensity are his strengths and that’s how we are going to win; playing fast, physical football.”
Petras and Striegel are speedsters. Petras rushed for 116 yards against SF and scored twice on rushes of 6 and 16 yards. Striegel gained big yardage in between to set up those scores.
“Ryan and Blake do nice jobs. We really have a three-headed monster at halfback,” DeLallo said. “It’s nice that we have depth at that position.”
DeLallo added, “We are running the ball, playing physical football and playing good defense, which are both very important, come playoff time.”
Defensively, the Hawks have seen marked improvement in Clancy Orie. The sophomore end made multiple tackles and put pressure on the Lions’ passing attack.
“Clancy gets the other team’s best offensive lineman and he gets better and better every week. As a sophomore, you see that improvement. He’s a great player and sooner than later, colleges are going to start taking notice of this kid.”
Orie has athletic pedigree. His father, Mike, played football at Colgate and his uncle, Kevin, played baseball for the Chicago Cubs. Both played multiple sports at Upper St. Clair High School.
“Clancy has great bloodlines, not Bethel bloodlines,” DeLallo noted, “but we are happy that we stole him from a neighboring community.”
BP also earned home-field advantage for its first-round playoff game and thus will rely on the community residents to provide a 12th-man edge.
“We love playing at home,” DeLallo said. “Friday nights are special in Black Hawk Stadium. We love our band, our cheerleaders, and our student section, which we feel is the best in the WPIAL. We also get a great turnout from our community. Our kids feed off of the energy from our crowd.
“So, yes, home-field advantage is big,” DeLalo continued. “That said, last year we lost a first-round playoff game at home, due largely to self-inflicted mistakes. So we have to do a better job of playing mistake-free football, regardless of where we play.”
Editor’s Note: The WPIAL released playoff pairings after The Almanac press run for the Oct. 30 edition.