Brentwood defense shines against Deer Lakes
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Friday, October 6, 2017 | 5:00 PM
It was perhaps the defensive unit's finest hour this season.
Brentwood blanked Deer Lakes, 40-0, in a Week 5 nonconference football matchup.
The Spartans, a member of the Class 2A Three Rives Conference, ended a three-game losing skid and improved to 3-3 overall. Deer Lakes, an Allegheny Conference member in Class 3A, dropped to 0-5.
Brentwood was able to celebrate this year's homecoming festivities with a decisive victory on its home turf.
“It was a very good performance. You could tell the team was very focused and fired-up before the game,” Greg Perdziola, the Spartans' defensive coordinator, said. “This was their last home game, and were we coming off a third straight defeat, so they just had a different attitude.
“We have played well on defense at times this year, we just need to be more consistent.”
Brentwood's catalysts against Deer Lakes included junior defensive back Drew Wilson, senior defensive lineman Jordan Mortimore and senior linebacker Michael Folino.
Wilson, in his first start in the Spartans' secondary, had two interceptions, returning one 54 yards for a touchdown. Mortimore registered two sacks.
“Michael Folino also played well,” Perdziola said. “He has been our leading tackler this year.”
Other starters on defense were senior Tanner Wells and sophomore Luke Bauer, on the line; senior Kevin Brown, sophomore Ian Thomas and junior Nick Czerwien, at linebacker; and seniors Austin Veatch, Evan Vickless and Brendan Donnelly, in the secondary.
Offensively, Brentwood was sparked by Vickless, Veatch and senior quarterback Michael Trent.
Vickless rushed for 96 yards on 15 carries, scoring on 98- and 2-yard runs. Veatch had four receptions for 106 yards, and also scored twice — on a 62-yard pass and 12-yard run.
Trent connected on 13 of 19 tosses for 227 yards and one touchdown, completing passes to five different receivers.
Brown, Folino, Donnelly and Vickless reeled in nine receptions between them, while Thomas (one TD) and Folino (four PATs) rounded out the scoring.
The Spartans' final three regular-season games are on the road — at South Allegheny (Oct. 6), Carlynton (Oct. 20) and Steel Valley (Oct. 27).
Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.
Tags: Brentwood
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