Fine, Durigon lead Leopards to 35-7 victory
Laurel Highlands' Brandon Crayton (34) dives after Belle Vernon quarterback Mike Fine (15) during Friday's game at Laurel Highlands High School.
Laurel Highlands' Zeke Beatty (2) runs the ball for the Mustangs during their game against Belle Vernon Friday at Laurel Highlands High School.
Belle Vernon punter Travis Nobili (14) is hit by Laurel Highlands' Jacob Johnston (77) after he fumbled the snap during Friday's game at Laurel Highlands High School. Johns recovered the loose ball.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Belle Vernon quarterback Mike Fine (15) is sacked by Laurel Highlands’ James Isler (8) during the first half of Friday’s game at Laurel Highlands High School.
After rushing several yards for Belle Vernon, Luke Durigon (3) is chased and tackled by Laurel Highlands' Dominic Mari (54) during Friday's game at Laurel Highlands High School.
Laurel Highlands' Coron Mains (3) juggled the pass, allowing Belle Vernon's Phillip Taylor (8) to intercept the pass during Friday's game at Laurel Highlands High School.
UNIONTOWN- Mike Fine and Luke Durigon proved to be a deadly air and ground combination, and led Belle Vernon to a crucial 35-7 win over Laurel Highlands in a AAA Big Nine football game Friday night.
The Leopards (3-5, 3-4) were in a battle with the Mustangs (1-7, 1-6) for the fifth, and final, playoff berth in the Big Nine conference, and clinched the spot with the victory.
“We’ve got to build off this win,” said Belle Vernon coach Aaron Krepps. “Obviously, we have a lot of things to clean up, but we can embrace the win and their work’s put them into the playoffs.”
Durigon ran 18 times for 112 yards, and added an 8-yard catch, while the freshman Fine went 8-12 passing with 121 yards and three touchdowns. Fine also added 14 yards on the ground and a rushing score.
Belle Vernon dominated the game from the start, as the Leopards forced a fumble on Laurel Highlands’ first play from scrimmage. Fine rushed for a four-yard score three plays later.
After a Bradley Sloan eight-yard touchdown run, Fine showed off his impressive arm. On a third and 19, after a loss of 12 the previous play, Fine stepped up in the pocket and threw a 20-yard bullet pass right into the hands of Cody Menges for a touchdown.
Krepps praised his team’s ability to play a balanced offense.
“We had the running game going, which was nice,” said Krepps. “We also got some really good pass protection out of the offensive line, which opened up some things and allowed us to take a couple shots in certain situations, and, with our luck, it worked out in our favor.”
Fine threw two more touchdowns, the first of which was a 19-yard lob to hulking tight end Jake Sweitzer, and the second a 17-yard throw to a diving Menges, to cap off the scoring for Belle Vernon.
Sweitzer finished with three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown, while Menges had three catches for 50 yards and two scores.
The Mustangs could not muster much offense, and registered 175 total yards. Laurel Highlands also turned the ball over six times, and committed eight penalties for 57 yards.
“The turnovers killed us,” said Laurel Highlands coach Zack Just. “We fumble the first play of the game, second series after we get the ball off a punt we fumble to put us in third and 20. You can’t run this type of offense and fumble the football. We did our share to give this game away.”
In addition to the fumbles, Philip Taylor picked off Mustang quarterback Jimmy Pierce twice on underthrown balls. Laurel Highlands also turned the ball over twice on downs.
Taylor came in at quarterback for Belle Vernon with the game well in hand, and added 56 yards rushing on five carries.
Despite the numbers, Just was satisfied with his team’s overall effort against a physically dominant Belle Vernon squad.
“The kids always play hard,” said Just. “No matter who we play, or when we play, we always give good effort. They were just more physical than us. They just physically manhandled us, and that’s why we lost the game.”
Laurel Highlands did not score until early in the fourth quarter, when Jason Leone ran for an eight-yard touchdown to prevent the shutout. Leone finished with eight carries for 31 yards and the touchdown, and added two catches for 29 yards.
Pierce finished 5-12 passing for 82 yards, and two interceptions, to go along with nine carries for 31 yards rushing.
Laurel Highlands will finish their regular season next Friday at Uniontown. Belle Vernon caps off their schedule with a home game against Albert Gallatin.
Big Nine Conference
Belle Vernon 13-8-14-0 — 35
Laurel Highlands 0-0-0-7 — 7
First Quarter
BV:Fine 4 yard run (Verkleeren kick)
BV: Sloan 8 yard run (kick blocked)
Second Quarter
BV: Fine 20 yard pass to Menges (J. Sweitzer conversion)
Third Quarter
BV: Fine 19 yard pass to J. Sweitzer (Verkleeren kick)
BV: Fine 17 yard pass to Menges (Verkleeren kick)
Fourth Quarter
LH: Leone 8 yard run (DeBerry kick)
Records: Belle Vernon (3-5, 3-4), Laurel Highlands (1-7, 1-6).