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Belle Vernon Goes Back to Back with a Dominant 26-0 win over Avonworth

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 24, 2023

Belle Vernon will dominate all day and it will start fast as they will score on their opening drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Braden Laux. The next score will come later in the half from Belle Vernon with a field goal making it 13-0 near the end of the half. The third quarter is where Belle Vernon will pull away with 16 unanswered points making it 26-0 at the end of the third. The fourth quarter had no scoring as Belle Vernon took the ball with seven-plus min left and kept the ball all the way to the end. Belle Vernon will secure the back-to-back Championships with a 26-0 win.

 The Leopards swiftly took the lead, wasting no time in scoring. Following a short kick, they drove the ball down the field, and Braden Laux executed a 2-yard QB sneak, putting them ahead 7-0 with 10:54 remaining in the first quarter. Avonworth failed to make progress, going three and out, and returned possession to Belle Vernon at 9:34 in the first quarter. Despite the opportunity, the Leopards couldn’t capitalize, punting the ball after five plays and incurring one costly penalty. Avonworth, on their second consecutive drive, punted the ball back to the Leopards. Belle Vernon’s subsequent drive, spanning 11 plays, resulted in only three points, bringing the score to 10-0 late in the first quarter. Avonworth regained possession with 47 seconds left in the first and maintained it until the second quarter, concluding the first quarter with the Leopards leading 10-0.

 

In the opening of the second quarter, Avonworth takes possession but fails to convert their drive into points, missing a field goal attempt, and maintaining the score at 10-0. The Leopards, on their first possession, only hold the ball for three plays before punting. Avonworth then embarks on a 6-play drive that, once again, falls short of yielding any points, halted on a 4th and 9 at Belle Vernon’s 40-yard line. Belle Vernon, however, faces a setback on their next possession as quarterback Braden Laux throws an interception on third down, caught by Lucas Garda. Avonworth’s offensive struggles persist, with quarterback Carson Bellinger throwing an interception on just the second play of their drive. Capitalizing on these turnovers, Belle Vernon mounts a lengthy drive, consuming the remaining time on the clock and concluding the first half with a score of 10-0 in favor of Belle Vernon.

In the third quarter, the Leopards assert their control over the game. Avonworth begins the second half with possession, but once again, the Antelopes’ offense struggles against Belle Vernon’s formidable defense. Despite this, Belle Vernon doesn’t capitalize on Avonworth’s offensive challenges. Avonworth’s subsequent drive also falls short, failing to put up any points. Belle Vernon swiftly regains possession and, with a determined offensive effort, scores on a 1-yard run from Braden Laux, his second rushing touchdown of the game, extending the lead to 17-0 with 4:53 remaining in the third quarter. Avonworth continues its scoreless streak, surrendering the ball to the potent Belle Vernon offense. The next addition to the scoreboard isn’t courtesy of the offense but the defense, as Belle Vernon secures a safety, pushing the score to 19-0. Following the safety, Belle Vernon maintains its momentum, driving down the field and scoring on a 25-yard pass to Jake Gedekoh, further widening the gap to 26-0. Avonworth retains possession and carries it into the fourth quarter, facing an uphill battle against the dominant Belle Vernon squad.

 

Despite Avonworth starting the final quarter with possession, they remain unable to put any points on the board. With only two more drives left in the game, Belle Vernon asserts control, culminating in a final drive that consumes 7 minutes and 45 seconds, ultimately securing back-to-back 3A championships with a conclusive score of Belle Vernon 26, Avonworth 0.

 

Belle Vernon’s defense stands out as the highlight of the night, showcasing their best performance by completely shutting down the third-highest-scoring team. When questioned about the defensive game plan, Head Coach Matt Humbert acknowledged the challenges posed by Avonworth’s number 5, stating, “It was not easy because of what they do with number 5. A lot of stress, the most stressful week we have had.” Despite the challenges, the stress proves worthwhile as the defense not only shuts down Avonworth but also forces turnovers, contributing significantly to Belle Vernon’s victory and their consecutive 3A championships.

Avonworth will finish their undefeated season in heartbreak. Coach Duke Johncour was asked about the struggling offense he had to say “A lot of mistakes a lot of bad snaps scoring no points is a bad look”.

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