Belle Vernon Takes Down Penn Trafford in Historic Win 27-7 @BVAFootball @nathangrella @PABackyard
Tagged under: District 7, News
Nate Grella | September 11, 2021
One of the top teams in 5A. One of the top teams in 4A. A full crowd at one of the most historic stadiums in the state. Who says no?
The 5A Penn Trafford Warriors would travel to the Beach to take on the Belle Vernon Leopards in one of the most anticipated out-of-classification matchups of the seas. A Leopard squad with one of the most dynamic playmakers in the WPIAL in Devin Whitlock would look to spoil the 5A championship hopeful Warriors and Wisconsin commit Cade Yacamelli.
Early in the game it looked like it would be a shoot-out for the ages. After both teams stalled on opening drives, Devin Whitlock would slice his way through the 5A defense to put the Leopards on the board early.
WHITLOCK TAKES IT ALLLLL THE WAY 75 YARDS 7-0 8:18 left in the 1st quarter @BVAFootball leads @PaFootballNews @PaBackyard pic.twitter.com/A9D6JLqL09
— Nathan Grella (@NathanGrella) September 10, 2021
The Warriors wouldn’t be down for long. A brisk drive down the field followed up by a 17-yard Yacamelli dive into the endzone put the game even before the end of the first quarter. It looked like this one would be another WPIAL classic ground and pound slug match.
Both teams would slug out drives against one another in the second quarter. Devin Whitlock would finally break the tie with an elusive run to the redzone, shaking off Warrior defenders in the process.
WHITLOCK FIGHTING OFF TACKLERS AND IN FOR 6 @BVAFootball up 14-7 5:47 left in the 1st half @PaFootballNews @PaBackyard @DevinWhitlock3 pic.twitter.com/Ec7stOdcEB
— Nathan Grella (@NathanGrella) September 10, 2021
The score would light a fire under the Leopards, as an interception by Jake Gedekoh would give the Leopards a short field to work with, putting in Devin Whitlock’s third score of the game to go up 21-7 at the half.
WITH 3 SECONDS LEFT IN THE 1st HALF @DevinWhitlock3 PUSHES AHEAD 21-7 @BVAFootball LEADS @PaFootballNews @PaBackyard pic.twitter.com/LL9hK9KC2i
— Nathan Grella (@NathanGrella) September 11, 2021
In the second half, the Leopards would execute their gameplan to perfection. A punishing rushing attack behind Whitlock and Quinton Martin would control the game and keep the Warriors off of the field. A long opening drive in the 3rd quarter would make the score 27-7 off of a Chase Ruokonen End Around.
On the end around @CRuokonen takes it in for 6! PAT is no good @BVAFootball 27-7 @PaFootballNews @PaBackyard pic.twitter.com/J0r64hNmzH
— Nathan Grella (@NathanGrella) September 11, 2021
The Leopards defense stood up in the 4th Quarter. Two interceptions by Logan Cunningham and Chase Ruokonen effectively seal one of the biggest wins in recent Leopards memory.
What’s Next? The Leopards will try to continue their hot streak and visit a West Mifflin Titans team off of an emotional victory, while the Warriors road won’t get any easier as they will host Peters Township next weekend.
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