WEST MIFFLIN — In a defensive showcase at Titan Stadium on the West Mifflin High School campus, the Belle Vernon Leopards defeated the Elizabeth Forward Warriors 21-10 on Friday, moving on to the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals.
Coach Scott Bryer praised his team’s turnaround, noting that the Leopards entered the season with a 3-6 record and have now won 11 straight games, improving from a 34-6 loss to Thomas Jefferson on Aug. 28. “It feels good to get to this point, but we just have to take it one week at a time,” Bryer said.
The Leopards entered the quarterfinals after a dramatic 29-28 win over the Warriors on Oct. 30 to capture the Class 3A Interstate Conference title with a perfect 6-0 record. This time, Belle Vernon emphasized a ground‑and‑pound approach.
Elizabeth Forward opened the game with a 34‑yard field goal by Luke Holdren, taking a 3-0 lead. A fumble on the Leopards’ first drive gave the Warriors a chance, and quarterback Kaden Allen broke free for a 71‑yard run that placed the ball at Belle Vernon’s 20‑yard line. However, the Leopards forced a turnover on downs with 1:34 left in the first quarter.
Defensive coordinator Chris Edenfield’s game plan limited the Warriors to just 230 total yards (181 rushing, 49 passing) and only one touchdown. “We knew we had to take out the big play, which is what we didn’t do the last time,” Bryer explained, crediting Edenfield’s scheme.
Key defensive performances came from David Bergstedt, who led the team with 11 tackles, and Jace Gedekoh, who added eight tackles, forced and recovered a fumble, and recorded two sacks. Cam Jenko also forced and recovered a fumble and posted two sacks.
Offensively, the Leopards struck first in the second quarter when Gedekoh pitched the ball to Chace Petrosky for a 17‑yard touchdown, giving Belle Vernon a 7-3 lead. Landon Bell added the extra point.
In the third quarter, Petrosky broke free for an 80‑yard run, extending the lead to 14-3. He finished with a game‑high 122 rushing yards on seven carries before exiting with an injury. Bryer declined to speculate on the nature of the injury.
Running back Vander Raczkowski then powered a 31‑yard run to the Warriors’ 13‑yard line, and Gedekoh capped the drive with a nine‑yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 21-3 with 2:28 left in the third quarter. Raczkowski finished with 58 yards on seven carries.
Elizabeth Forward rallied late, with Allen connecting with Logan Rider for an 18‑yard touchdown reception on fourth down, narrowing the gap to 21-10. An onside kick attempt failed, and the Warriors could not recover the ball.
With the win, Belle Vernon now faces top‑seeded Avonworth (11-1) in the semifinals, looking to continue its impressive postseason run.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
