Trib HSSN football team of the week for Sept. 1, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, September 1, 2024 | 8:39 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – Bethel Park Black Hawks

Coach – Phil Peckich (second season)

Result – Bethel Park 49, Mars 13

Record – 2-0

#Earned – Bethel Park is proving to be the road warriors of the WPIAL early this season. In the first two weeks, the Black Hawks have traveled a total of 152 miles for wins over Seneca Valley and Mars. Coming up in Week 2, Bethel Park will add another 108 miles to the school bus round trip when it visits Armstrong. There is no truth that if they win, the Hawks might consider playing upcoming home games in September against West Mifflin, Trinity and Moon at neutral sites such as New Castle, Pine-Richland and Slippery Rock. Not only has Bethel Park won both long road trips, it outscored the Raiders and Fightin’ Planets in those victories, 99-27.

Statistical standouts – With star senior wide receiver Ryan Petras on the shelf because of a torn labrum, Bethel Park has had several players step up and shine for an offense that is averaging nearly 50 points per game. Senior running back Ja Vaughn Moore carried the ball 11 times against Mars, rushing for 195 yards and three touchdowns while junior running back David Dennison ran for 142 yards and two scores. Senior quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer connected on 6 of 11 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, a week after throwing for 244 yards in a win at Seneca Valley.

Last year – First-year coach Phil Peckich took over for Brian DeLallo following a combined eight seasons as offensive coordinator at both his alma mater Montour and at Bethel Park. The Black Hawks were 3-2 in the tough 5A Allegheny Six Conference, finishing in a three-way tie for second place with Moon and Upper St. Clair. BP qualified for the playoffs via tiebreaker points and lost to Pine-Richland in the district quarterfinals, 51-6, to finish 4-7 for the season. Pfeuffer threw for 1,888 yards and 21 touchdowns, Moore rushed for 936 yards and eight scores and Petras had 734 receiving yards with 14 touchdowns.

Remember when – It was 44 years ago that a pair of South Hills rivals collided for gold in the first WPIAL 4A championship. Mt. Lebanon defeated Bethel Park, 30-14, for the first of back-to-back crowns for the Blue Devils. The Black Hawks would have to wait 28 years to return to the district finals. In 2008, Jeff Metheny led his Hawks through an undefeated regular season and playoff wins over Hempfield, North Allegheny and McKeesport before facing Gateway at then-Heinz Field. Lyle Marsh rushed for 113 yards and scored BP’s only touchdown in a stunning win over the favored Gators, 10-6. Bethel Park finished 15-1 with the lone loss coming to Bethlehem Liberty, 28-21, in the PIAA title game.

WPIAL Week 1 Honorable Mention

Norwin Knights

Ten years ago, Norwin won its first three games of the season, only to go 2-5 the rest of the way and lose in the first round of the WPIAL 4A playoffs to Central Catholic. For the first time since the 2014 season, the Knights have won their first two games and are carrying the banner of their new classification. Class 6A is 3-9 against Class 5A teams in the first two weeks, and Norwin has two of those victories. Junior quarterback Tristyn Tavares was 14 of 22 passing for 125 yards and two touchdown runs as the Knights won at Kiski Area, 33-21.

Fox Chapel Foxes

Prior to Friday, the last time Fox Chapel won a high school football game was in the 2021 5A playoffs when the Foxes stunned Upper St. Clair in the opening round before falling to Penn-Trafford in the quarterfinals. That was the first of 22 straight losses, including winless campaigns in 2022 and 2023. That streak is now a memory following Friday’s win at Baldwin. Senior running back Victor Nernberg rushed for 122 yards and scored on a 19-yard run as the Foxes rolled past the Highlanders, 38-7.

Greensburg Salem Golden Lions

The last time Greensburg Salem began a football season with back-to-back wins was 13 years ago, when it defeated Hempfield and Connellsville before knocking off Uniontown to begin the 2011 season at 3-0. The Golden Lions matched their victory total from a year ago with a second straight win Friday at home against Ligonier Valley. Senior running back Kai Brunot rushed for 142 yards and scored on a 9-yard run as the Golden Lions roared to a 43-13 victory over the Rams.

2024 HSSN Teams of the Week

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