42-point 1st half leads Belle Vernon past Mt. Pleasant

By: Paul Brittain
Friday, October 13, 2023 | 10:58 PM

Teams in the Interstate Conference are well aware that, when it comes to the order of power, there is defending state champion Belle Vernon and then the other five teams.

But, despite the Leopards’ 55-7 win over Mt. Pleasant on Friday, there were a few bright moments for the home faithful.

After a punt set Belle Vernon at its own 18-yard line, Anthony Crews burst 82 yards up the middle to the end zone on the Leopards’ second play from scrimmage. A two point conversion pass failed, and Belle Vernon led 6-0 less than three minutes into the game.

But Mt. Pleasant struck back quickly as quarterback Cole Chatfield found Dante Giallonardo wide open down the left sideline for a 76-yard score.

Jarret Garn’s kick gave the Vikings a 7-6 edge.

Garn was roughed on the play, and the Vikings tried an onside kick from the Belle Vernon 45 after the penalty yardage was marked off.

Chase Mertz returned the kick to the Mt. Pleasant 25, and Quinton Martin scored from there two plays later.

Martin added the 2-point run for a 14-7 lead.

The next Leopard drive took six plays, covering 60 yards, with Jake Gedekoh’s third carry of the drive covering the final three yards for a 21-7 lead after Preston Rathway’s kick.

After another three-and-out for the Vikings, Belle Vernon drove 70 yards in eight plays, carrying into the second quarter with Martin breaking free from 25 yards away just 49 seconds into the quarter to put Belle Vernon up 28-7 with Rathway’s kick.

Apparently anxious to get to the running-clock mercy rule, the Leopards recovered an onside kick and drove 47 yards in five plays, with Curtis Wade passing 26 yards to Colton Lee to cap the drive for a 35-7 lead.

The Leopards were backed up on a penalty on the next drive but converted three straight first downs, with Wade completing a 15-yard scoring pass to Martin in the back right corner of the end zone for a 42-7 lead that stood at halftime.

Abby Zavara was crowned as Mt. Pleasant’s homecoming queen at halftime.

Belle Vernon added a pair of second-half touchdowns when Kole Doppelheuer caught a 50-yard scoring pass, and he ran 38 yards for another touchdown, both in third quarter.

Mt. Pleasant has a crucial road game against South Allegheny next Friday, while Belle Vernon will travel to Southmoreland.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Mt. Pleasant