Trib HSSN football team of the week for Nov. 24, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, November 24, 2024 | 8:32 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – South Park Eagles

Coach – Brian Abbey (second season)

Result – South Park 21, Seton LaSalle 14

Record – 12-1 overall

#Earned – The weather in Pittsburgh leading up to Saturday’s WPIAL football championships at Acrisure Stadium had been wet, with some snow and some rain in the area. If the weather had been dry, then South Park’s offensive approach could have legitimately been described as 3 yards and a cloud of dust. The Eagles earned a reputation this season of being a physical team on both sides of the ball, and that reputation was on display in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game against a dangerous Seton LaSalle team. South Park played perfect ball control offense by grinding out yardage with runs between the tackles and scoring touchdowns on its first two drives. The Eagles limited the Rebels to only four plays on offense in the first quarter and 17 total plays in the first half. Leading 14-7 at the half, South Park took the ball to begin the third quarter and launched another long touchdown drive. The icing on top of the championship cake was killing the final six minutes of the clock to keep Seton LaSalle from trying to tie the game as the Eagles won 21-14.

Statistical standouts – While the entire South Park offensive line deserves a tip of the helmet for the work in the trenches in the 2A title game, it was running back Eric Doerue who reaped the benefits. The senior back carried the ball 34 times and rushed for 149 yards, scoring two touchdowns on short runs of 6 and 8 yards. Senior quarterback Robert Lenzi rushed for only 25 yards, but one of his six carries went for a 1-yard touchdown. Lenzi also hit 2 of his 3 passes, both to tight end Hari Bouzos, for 28 yards. The second completion was a first down that helped to kill the final minutes of the clock in the Eagles’ golden victory.

Last year – South Park enjoyed a pair of three-game winning streaks last fall, but each were followed by two-game skids as the Eagles ended up in fourth place in the Class 3A Western Hills Conference to clinch a berth in the district playoffs. In the opening round, South Park beat host Knoch, 37-20, to advance to the quarterfinals. There, a three- game road winning streak was snapped with a close loss at East Allegheny, 28-21. The postseason win was the first for South Park since it defeated North Catholic in the 3A quarterfinals in 2019.

Remember when – In only his second season as Eagles head coach, Brian Abbey has joined a rare Triple Crown club. He now has won a WPIAL championship as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach, all at South Park. He was a freshman on the 1997 Eagles team that crushed Shady Side Academy in the district 2A finals, 38-6, then went on to win the school’s first PIAA championship by shutting out South Williamsport, 20-0. Then, as a young assistant coach in 2005, South Park edged Greensburg Central Catholic for WPIAL gold, before beating Wilson in the state title game, 28-17.

WPIAL Week 13 Honorable Mention

Pine-Richland Rams

Revenge is a dish best served cold and on a natural surface. A year after losing big to Peters Township in the 2023 Class 5A finals on the turf at Norwin, 43-17, the Rams and Indians met in the final game of four on the wet and torn up natural grass at Acrisure Stadium. Pine-Richland quarterback Aaron Strader connected on 7 of 13 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns — a 64-yard strike to Tanner Cunningham and a 22-yard scoring pass to Jay Timmons — as the Rams avenged last year’s loss with a 20-9 win over the Indians.

Avonworth Antelopes

What a difference a year makes in Class 3A. Last season in the 3A title game, Avonworth was blanked by Belle Vernon, 26-0. This time, it was the Antelopes’ defense that stifled the talented and deep Central Valley offense all evening long. On offense, Avonworth relied heavily on Nico Neal, who had a huge quarterfinal game against Beaver. Neal carried the ball 23 times against the Warriors in the finals for 102 yards and scored both Avonworth touchdowns on runs of 2 and 3 yards. The ‘Lopes secured a second title in five years in the 17-0 win over Central Valley.

2024 HSSN Teams of the Week

Week 12 – Clairton Bears

Week 11 – Avonworth Antelopes

Week 10 – Highlands Golden Rams

Week 9 – Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Week 8 – Montour Spartans

Week 7 – Woodland Hills Wolverines

Week 6 – Ellwood City Wolverines

Week 5 – Central Catholic Vikings

Week 4 – Central Valley Warriors

Week 3 – South Allegheny Gladiators

Week 2 – Jefferson-Morgan Rockets

Week 1 – Bethel Park Black Hawks

Week Zero – Blackhawk Cougars

Tags: South Park