Bethel Park visits Canon-McMillan
Bethel Park tailback Austin Caye leaps into the end zone for one of his three touchdowns in a 27-24 overtime win against Mt. Lebanon. Caye, who rushed for 151 yards, was named the MVP of the contest.
Garrett Pavlick hauls in a pass from Derrick Shields and races into the end zone for a touchdown that tied the score at 21 but Mt. Lebanon succumbed to Bethel Park, 27-24, in overtime.
For the third week in a row, Bethel Park will step up a classification when the Black Hawks visit Canon-McMillan at 7 p.m. Friday in high school football action.
“We relish these opportunities to play 6A schools,” said BP coach Brian DeLallo. “First, our kids and coaches enjoy the challenge. Second, C-M is a traditional rival. Last, these games against bigger schools are great preparation for conference play in the Allegheny Six, where every week is battle. That’s why we like playing 6A schools.”
Before facing off against No. 1 Central Catholic, BP relished an overtime win, 27-24, against Mt. Lebanon. The Blue Devils were the WPIAL and PIAA Class 6A champions last season with a 15-0 record.
The Hawks used a quarterback sneak by Tanner Pfeuffer on the last play of the game to record the victory against Lebo. BP also benefited from Austin Caye’s 151-yard, three-TD performance as well as a strong showing BP’s defense and offensive line.
Center Logan Pettigrew, guards Toby D’Andrea and Braedon Del Duca as well as tackles Dylan Prindle and Jake Brown provided the surge BP needed to push Pfeuffer into the end zone on a fourth-and-one play to cap the victory.
“Logan, who we affectionately call ‘The Sauce,’ is smaller than all of their linemen and he just fights. He makes sure we get the snap and he fights. Toby and Braedon were in the middle of the fracas too,” said DeLallo.
“Dylan, who started at left tackle and stepped in for injured Sammy Sciullo, did a great job at left tackle and Jake at the right tackle is having a fantastic year.
“Anytime you beat a program like Lebo, it’s a big win,” DeLallo continued. “We have a lot or respect for them.”
Gavin Moul earned esteem when he recorded two tackles for Lebo losses and Dinari Clacks forced the next stop so that the Blue Devils had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Bernard McAuley.
Ryan Petras had an interception and Blake Striegel forced a fumble that David Shelpman recovered for the Hawks.
“That plays sticks out in my mind as it epitomizes the team effort we had,” DeLallo said. “So many guys made plays and so many coaches made great calls.
“It was physical. A great win,” DeLallo continued. “That’s what our kids needed to learn. We can hang with these big, physical programs. Anytime you step up in class, there is something to be said for that.”
In the past, the Hawks have not stepped up against the Big Macs. In fact, C-M defeated BP, 34-27, last year.
DeLallo expects to face a tough foe in the Big Macs because he says the are “well-coached” and have “hard-nosed” players.
“They take on the personality of their head coach, Mike Evans. He is a grinder who knows the importance of running the ball and defending the run,” DeLallo said. “His teams are always physically tough, play hard and are extremely well-coached. So we will be in for a battle.”
SF at PT
The Indians will be in for a battle when they open Allegheny Six Conference action against South Fayette at 7 p.m.
“You will see two well-coached teams that look to limit the big plays,” said PT coach TJ Plack. “It should be an exciting game.”
The young Indians have rolled and have a signature win against a powerhouse Class 6A club in their pocket. Before tackling Trinity, Peters Township defeated Seneca Valley, 30-27.
But the Indians are taking an even-keel approach to the season as well as conference action.
“We have to keep doing what we have been doing. Not get too high. Not get too low. And keep our egos in check,” said Chris Cibrone, who threw for a career-high 323 yards against the Raiders. “Any one who gets too high on themselves and their success can easily get humbled and beat up real fast.”
USC at Fox Chapel
After easily dispatching non-conference opponents by whopping scores of 42-6 and 37-7 to start the season, the Panthers are guarded about their visit to Fox Chapel. Last year, the Foxes upset Upper St. Clair, 13-10, in the first round of the WPIAL 5A playoffs.
“We talked a lot this offseason about not making excuses for last year’s playoff performance. We didn’t get it done and that blame rests directly on my shoulders,” said USC coach Mike Junko. “A lot of credit goes to Fox Chapel and the job their coaching staff did to get their team ready that night.
“With that said, I don’t think our players are overlooking this game. I think they will be laser focused on this matchup and anxious to take the field.”
In the 37-7 win against North Hills, Jamaal Brown rambled 124 yards on 16 carries and the opening score, a 28-yard scamper. Julian Dahlem picked up 85 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown of 10 yards while completing two scoring strikes of 6 and 7 yards to Aidan Besselman and Van Hellmann.
Bennett Henderson kicked a 22-yard field goal and converted four extra points for the Panthers, who were led defensively by Ivory Travers and Sheamus Moorhead.
“Our running game and defense has been the strength of our attack and I think both will continue to be the deciding factors in this game,” Junko said. “I would like us to continue to get more efficient throwing the ball. Continuing to find balance in our offense will be the key once conference play picks back up.”
The Panthers hosted Baldwin in their Allegheny Six opener but the result of that contest, as well as all Sept. 9 games, did not finish before publication time.
Junko also expects Fox Chapel to have made adjustments since their season-opening loss to Peters Township, 56-0.
“We really don’t look at the scores of other games. We are more concerned with personnel match-ups,” Junko said. “They have made some changes since the early games looking to find the right combinations in their lineup. I think we will see a much different team from Fox Chapel.
“With that said, we will be a much different team compared to what they faced last year.”
Other action
While Mt. Lebanon will visit Central Catholic at Carnegie Mellon University, Chartiers Valley will travel to Central Valley. Both games are conference openers.
The Blue Devils tuned up with a clash against Moon while the Colts had battled Highlands.
Prior to that both teams were coming off losses — Lebo to Bethel Park and CV to Trinity.
In loss to the Hawks, Grayson Dee (1 yard) and Nathan Sala (76 yards) rushed for scores to stake Lebo to a 14-0 lead. David Shields connected with Garrett Pavlick for a 48-yard TD strike to tie the game. Bernard McAuley kicked a 29-yard field goal in overtime.
In CV’s loss to the Hillers, 34-13, Austin Efthimiades rushed for a 51-yard touchdown and Lamont Payne pulled in a 50-yard scoring strike from Gavin Owens.