Leopards fall behind early before steamrolling Shade Side
Local roundup
Lori C. Padilla
Shady Side Academy got on the board first and was likely dreaming of pulling a WPIAL playoff upset at Belle Vernon on Friday night.
Then fourth-seeded Leopards pounced and took charge.
Belle Vernon rang up 28 points in the second quarter and went on to steamroll the Bulldogs, 35-8, in their Class 3A first-round game at James Weir Stadium.
Coach Scott Bryer’s Leopards advance to this Friday’s quarterfinals against Elizabeth Forward with the site to be determined. Belle Vernon rallied for two late touchdowns to defeat the host Warriors. 29-28, in Week 10 and claim the Interstate Conference title.
The Bulldogs (5-6) took a 7-0 lead on Maddox Harvey’s 4-yard touchdown run after recovering a Belle Vernon fumble in the first quarter.
The Leopards tied it at 7-7 on the first play of the second quarter with Chace Petrosky running for the first of his three touchdown from 12 yards out. Logan Maise followed with the first of his five extra-point kicks.
Belle Vernon quarterback Jace Gedekoh put his team ahead to stay with a 1-yard touchdown run and Petrosky added scoring rushes of 8 and 25 yards before halftime.
The only scoring in the second half came on David Bergstedt’s 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Bergstedt set up the score when he blocked a punt, and also recovered a fumble in the game.
Petrosky had 13 carries for 89 yards and Vander Raczkowski followed with nine attempts for 70 yards for the Leopards.
ALIQUIPPA 52, WAYNESBURG CENTRAL 14 — The seventh-seeded Quips scored on two long runs, a pass, a fumble return and a punt return in building a 38-7 halftime lead on their way to a WPIAL Class 3A first-round playoff victory over the visiting Raiders.
Akiva Woods’ 43-yard run and Reinaldo Romero’s 32-yard field goal gave Aliquippa (7-3) a 10-0 advantage after one quarter.
Avery Coleman’s 82-yard fumble return made it 17-0 early in the second quareter.
Waynesburg answered with a 75-yard touchdown jaunt by Ky-mani Sumpter to pull within 17-7.
Aliquippa responded with touchdowns on Dmari Perry’s 62-yard run, Jeffrey Hicks’ 68-yard punt return and Jermain Jolly’s 18-yard pass to Hicks.
The Quips increased their led to 52-7 on touchdown passes by Jolly of 18 yards to Hicks in the third quarter and 46 yards to Anthony Ingram in the fourth quarter.
Coach Joe Kuhns’ Raiders (8-3) capped the scoring with another long touchdown run by Sumpter, this one of 85 yards with Nick Riccuiti added the second of his two extra-point kicks.
HOPEWELL 62, MOUNT PLEASANT 7 — Penn State recruit James Armstrong accounted for four touchdowns as third-seeded Hopewell knocked off visiting No. 14 Mount Pleasant in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round game.
Armstrong threw touchdown passes of 19 yards to Brody Rock and 17 and 43 yards to Avery Bokar and added a 2-yard touchdown run. He completed 9 of 15 passes for 167 yards.
Hopewell (10-1) led 28-0 after the first quarter and 42-0 at halftime.
Coach Jason Fazekas’ Vikings (5-6) scored their touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard fumble return by Noah DeWitt with Tyke Snyder adding the extra point.