Trinity clinches playoff berth in 31-21 win over Belle Vernon
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Brett Gombita | October 26, 2024
The Trinity Hillers defeated the Belle Vernon Leopards, 31-21 on Friday night to secure a spot in the 4A WPIAL playoffs. The Hillers once sat at 1-4, but have now won four of their last five games, including this win over the defending WPIAL and PIAA champions of the last two years.
Trinity found the paydirt first in a nontraditional way. Senior quarterback Jonah Williamson fumbled the ball while reaching for the goal line, but the ball took a Trinity bounce and was recovered by sophomore wide receiver Chase Kostelnik in the end zone for a touchdown.
Belle Vernon senior running back Kole Doppelheuer tied the game up at 7 apiece on a third-and-goal run from six yards out.
With just over one minute left in the half, Williamson scored on a keeper to put Trinity back on top, 14-7. But, they left enough time for Belle Vernon to march down the field, and junior quarterback Curtis Wade connected with senior wide receiver Domonic Ghilani to make it a 14-14 game going into the half.
Doppelheuer’s second touchdown run of the night gave Belle Vernon their first lead of the game. It lasted for less than a minute though, as Williamson found sophomore running back Owen Gardner for a 67-yard touchdown to even it up, 21-21.
Jonah Williamson connects with a wide open Owen Gardner for a 67-yard TD to tie it back up!
— Brett Gombita 🏴☠️ (@Brett_Gombita) October 26, 2024
Trinity 21, Belle Vernon 21
8:20 left in the 3rd quarter @PaFootballNews
Trinity then took a 28-21 lead with 3:58 left in the third quarter on Williamson’s second passing touchdown of the night, this one to senior running back Caden Vogel.
Senior kicker Andy Palm made it 31-21 with 6:18 left in the game.
After a Belle Vernon turnover on downs, Trinity was forced to punt. Palm pinned Belle Vernon inside their own five-yard line, and junior linebacker Mekhi Bouman secured the Trinity win with an interception with 2:41 left. Trinity ran the remainder of the clock out.
The win puts Trinity at 5-5, 4-1 in conference play, second in the Big Six Conference. Belle Vernon falls to 4-4 overall, 3-2 in the conference, and will have to hope for a wild card slot to make the WPIAL 4A playoff bracket.
Final score:
— Brett Gombita 🏴☠️ (@Brett_Gombita) October 26, 2024
Trinity 31, Belle Vernon 21
Trinity has made the WPIAL playoffs @PaFootballNews
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