One more step: Belle Vernon, EF one win from rematch in WPIAL final
Belle Vernon and Elizabeth Forward are the sole survivors among area high school football teams in the WPIAL playoffs.
The two met late in the regular season to decide the Interstate Conference title with BV winning and they’d both love to play a rematch. That would mean both advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA championship game set for Friday, Nov. 24 at Acrisure Stadium.
To do that the top-seeded Leopards (9-1) must defeat No. 4 East Allegheny (9-2) tonight at Norwin Knights Stadium and the third-seeded Warriors have to get by second-seeded and unbeaten Avonworth (11-0) at Gateway High School.
Both games are set to kick off at 7 p.m. on what looks to be a rainy night in Southwest Pennsylvania.
All four teams received first-round byes.
Belle Vernon, the defending district and PIAA champions coached by Laurel Highlands graduate Matt Humbert, rolled past Deer Lakes, 49-6, behind three touchdowns by Quinton Martin and two apiece by Kole Doppelheuer and Anthony Crews in last week’s quarterfinals. Quarterback Braden Laux threw three touchdown passes for the Leopards.
Belle Vernon’s lone loss on the season was to Class AAAA Thomas Jefferson, 24-19, but has won six in a row since then.
The Wild Cats lost twice early in the season at South Park, 22-16, and at EF, 45-15, but take an eight-game winning streak into tonight’s game, including a 28-21 win over South Park in the quarterfinals to avenge the earlier loss to that Eagles.
Belle Vernon is led by Martin, who rushed for 774 yards and added 579 yards in receptions while scoring 142 points on the season. Laux had thrown for 1,357 yards and 16 touchdowns. Doppelheuer has run for over 600 yards and scored 72 points.
Michaels Cahill leads EA, the Allegheny 6 Conference champion, with over 2,000 passing yards. His favorite receiver is Brennen Rutledge.
Belle Vernon is averaging 41.3 points per game while surrendering 9.9. East Allegheny’s averages are 28.8 and 19.7.
Elizabeth Forward, coached by John DeMarco, rode a wave of returns for touchdowns to a 42-21 win over West Mifflin in the quarterfinals. The Warriors got fumble returns from Charlie Meehleib and Dom DeRenzo, an interception return by Meehleib and a kickoff return by Andrwe Grese all for scores while running back Charlie Nigut added two TDs on the ground.
The Warriors’ victory included a bit of controversy in that a member of West Mifflin’s school board reportedly revealed the Titans’ game plan to DeMarco during an EF practice, although whether that was done intentionally or inadvertently is still unclear.
EF’s offense is led by quarterback Ryan Messina, who has thrown for 1,644 yards and 14 touchdowns, and Nigut, who has 859 rushing yards and has scored 140 points.
Avonworth is the lone remaining undefeated team in Class AAA and defeated Beaver Area, 41-21, in the quarterfinals.
The Western Hills Conference champion Antelopes are led by quarterback Carson Bellinger, who’s thrown for 1,458 yards and 21 touchdowns. His favorite receiver is Andrew Kuban. Demitir Velisaris carries the load on the ground for the Antelopes with 847 yards.
The Warriors average 37 points per game while giving up 16.5. Avonworth scores 38.6 and gives up 13.6.