Sep 7, 2003 By Jim Wexell For The 3 min read

HERMINIE – For awhile, it didn’t look like anybody would, or could, make a play, but a few surprises stepped out of the shadows to lead Belle Vernon to a 13-6 win over Yough in the Keystone Conference opener for both teams. Mike Davis, who moved from quarterback to tailback this year, showed why he’s played both positions with a 71-yard touchdown run and a 26-yard touchdown pass in the second half.

Jared Naylor, a 160-pounder who’s used at defensive tackle because of his quickness, used that quickness to make plays all over the field in the fourth quarter.

Because of Davis and Naylor, Belle Vernon was able to overcome a sluggish start, a 6-0 deficit and five turnovers to beat one of its geographic rivals. Coach Jesse Cramer wasn’t as relieved as he was perturbed after the game.

“I’m more irritated now than I was during the game,” said Cramer. “We just cannot play four quarters of football. We’re playing series of football. And the mental mistakes, man. You can’t make those mistakes and win games.”

The bulk of Belle Vernon’s mistakes occurred in the first half. Three fumbles, a failure to convert on fourth-and-two in their own territory, a dropped touchdown pass, and a flip that turned into a Yough interception in the end zone all combined to put the Leopards in a 6-0 hole.

Yough scored its only touchdown when Belle Vernon quarterback Trent Scott, under pressure on third-and-21 from his own end zone, carelessly tossed the ball into the hands of R.J. Dietz of Yough for a touchdown.

“We played very flat, very unemotional,” Cramer said of the first half. “That’s unlike our team, especially in this game. But I think sometimes, because this is such a rivalry, the kids try to downplay it so much they’re oblivious to the game, like they’re going through the motions.”

But Belle Vernon came out with more fire in the second half. Davis burst through a hole on the Leopards’ third offensive play and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. Nate Wrona’s extra point put Belle Vernon on top by 7-6.

Belle Vernon’s next possession lasted 12 plays and ended with Davis throwing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Naylor on fourth-and-10.

On the play, Davis took a pitch from Scott and rolled left. The southpaw then passed to Naylor for the game’s final score.

“Davis was a quarterback for me from 7th grade to this year when I moved him to halfback,” Cramer said.

“So I kind of figured he’s run that play a thousand times from the quarterback position. And I saw that their cornerbacks kept coming up, coming up and they figured we were going to run the pitch. I thought somebody could get open. It was just a matter of him getting it to them and them catching it.

“He actually threw it a little bit late. Jared was open early on. It seemed like he stood there a half an hour.”

Naylor wasn’t done making plays. After Yough took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Belle Vernon 13, Nick Maise forced a fumble that was recovered by Naylor.

Six plays later, Naylor got off a 50-yard punt that died at the Yough 4. He and Matt Terry then sacked Yough quarterback Ryan Allen at the Yough 10 to effectively end the game.

“He played a heck of a game. He sure did,” Cramer said of Naylor. “A 160-pounder playing defensive tackle. Yes sir, he made a difference.”

The win improved Belle Vernon to 1-1 overall, while Yough fell to 0-2.