Leopards claw past Warriors
Belle Vernon advances to WPIAL Class 3A semifinals
WEST MIFFLIN — If Belle Vernon and Elizabeth Forward had a high-scoring affair two weeks ago in the regular-season finale, then Friday’s contest in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs was the antithesis, as the Leopards earned a 21-10 victory over the Warriors at Titan Stadium on the campus of West Mifflin High School.
Belle Vernon, who has won 11 straight games since losing, 34-6, to Thomas Jefferson in the season opener on Aug. 28, faces top-seeded Avonworth (11-1) in the semifinals.
“When we were interviewed at the beginning of the year, I said, ‘We are a 3-6 football team,’ because that’s what our record was last year, and you are a 3-6 record until you change it, and they’ve done a good job of changing it,” Belle Vernon coach Scott Bryer said. “It feels good to get to this point, but we just have to take it one week at a time.”
Belle Vernon rallied to edge Elizabeth Forward, 29-28, on Oct. 30 to win the Class 3A Interstate Conference with a record of 6-0, but Bryer’s team assured the rematch would be a different type of game.
Elizabeth Forward (9-3) had a promising opening drive that stalled in the red zone and Luke Holdren kicked a 34-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 6:04 remaining in the first quarter.
The Warriors forced Belle Vernon to punt on its first drive, but the Leopards regained possession as the ball bounced off an Elizabeth Forward player prior to the return and Belle Vernon pounced on the ball.
The Leopards drove inside the Warriors’ 20-yard line, but a fumble gave the ball back to Elizabeth Forward.
EF quarterback Kaden Allen took off for a 71-yard run that had the Warriors at Belle Vernon’s 20. The Leopards forced a turnover on downs and took over with 1:34 remaining in the first period.
Leps defensive coordinator Chris Edenfield had his players ready to go and devised a scheme to limit the Warriors’ potent offense, as EF had 230 yards of total offense (181 rushing/49 passing) and had only one trip to the end zone. A majority of the rushing yards accumulated by the Warriors came on Allen’s run.
“We knew we had to take out the big play, which is what we didn’t do the last time, and they did have one big run, but we kept them out of the end zone and played a solid game on defense,” Bryer said. “Chris (Edenfield) had a good defensive gameplan today, and he did a great job, which he has all season for us.”
David Bergstedt led Belle Vernon in tackles with 11. Jace Gedekoh added eight, Vander Raczkowski had seven and Ethan Baron six.
Gedekoh forced and recovered a fumble, and had two sacks. Bergstedt and Jackson Shawley also recovered a fumble. Cam Jenko followed Gedekoh in splash plays on defense, as he forced and recovered a fumble, and recorded two sacks.
Belle Vernon scored with 7:26 left in the second quarter when Gedekoh pitched the ball to Chace Petrosky, who took it 17 yards into the end zone with 7:26 left in the first half.
Landon Bell tacked on his first of three PATs for a 7-3 advantage.
The Leopards didn’t take long to score in the second half, as Petrosky raced 80 yards for a score and a 14-3 lead with 11:45 remaining in the third quarter. Petrosky rushed for a game-high 122 yards on seven carries, but had to leave the contest due to an injury early in the third quarter after his second score.
“I don’t want to speculate on what it could be until he gets looked at,” Bryer said.
Belle Vernon didn’t let having its star running and defensive back out affect its play, as the Leopards forced Elizabeth Forward into a fourth-down attempt, but the Warriors’ kick-quick attempt failed and Belle Vernon had possession near the 50 with five minutes left in the third quarter.
Raczkowski’s 31-yard run drove the Leopards to Elizabeth Forward’s 13-yard line before quarterback Gedekoh called his own number and scored on a nine-yard run for a 21-3 advantage with 2:28 left in the third quarter.
Raczkowski gained 58 yards on seven carries. The Leps stuck with the rushing attack, but Gedekoh was 4 of 7 for 47 yards. He also ran for 47, as his team totaled 279 yards (232 rushing/47 passing).
“Vander (Raczkowski) would probably be a starting running back for a lot of other teams in this conference,” Bryer said. “He runs the ball hard. He is a little bit different of a runner than Chace, but I have all the faith in the world in him.”
The Warriors drove inside the Belle Vernon 10 late in the third quarter, but the Leopards forced a fumble and recovery to deny Elizabeth Forward a score entering the final frame.
The Warriors scored a touchdown with 4:32 remaining in the fourth quarter when Logan Rider pulled in an 18-yard reception from Allen on fourth down to cut the deficit to 21-10 after Holdren connected on the extra point.
Elizabeth Forward attempted an onside kick, but Belle Vernon recovered. The Warriors forced a turnover on downs, but it was too late for a comeback.