Avonworth trounces West Mifflin in nonconference action

By: Bob Orkwis
Friday, August 29, 2025 | 11:57 PM

On its first drive of the game, West Mifflin had a bad snap that went over the head of the quarterback and landed inside the 5-yard line. That was a portent of things to come, as good teams like Avonworth will pounce on mistakes.

The poor field position led to a blocked punt that went out of the end zone for a safety. On the ensuing drive, Dimitri Velisaris scored on a 9-yard run and Avonworth was off and running toward a 44-7 nonconference rout.

The Antelopes scored on their first four first-half possessions to build a 30-0 lead.

“The message this week was just to come out and be ready to play,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said. “We were able to do our thing and execute our offensive and defensive schemes.”

Velisaris scored again on a 16-yard run. Then, Avonworth executed a back-breaking play on third-and-30 from its 6-yard line.

Quarterback Carson Bellinger hit senior wide receiver Luca Neal on a seam route for a 94-yard scoring strike and a 23-0 lead.

“That was pretty special,” Johncour said. “When you get the ball in (Neal’s) hands, he can do some pretty special things with it. He’s a talented player.”

Bellinger connected with Bryce Metz for a 6-yard touchdown to cap the four-drive flurry.

West Mifflin was able to get on the board with less than three minutes left before halftime, when Zawaun Glover tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Taimere Meggett.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Avonworth tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the final frame.

Velisaris added his third of the night on a 2-yard run, and freshman Logan Krul notched his first varsity touchdown from 5 yards.

Velisaris, the junior running back, carried the ball 30 times for 138 yards. He has five touchdowns in the team’s first two games.

“He was a little bit nicked up last year,” Johncour said about his top running back. “He had a great offseason. He worked really hard. He runs hard and is carrying the ball great for us right now.”

Neal went over 100 yards receiving for the second straight week, with four receptions for 144 yards.

Bellinger completed 7 of 16 for 217 yards and two scores.

The senior signal caller, a four-year starter, eclipsed a couple of career milestones in the victory. He has more than 4,000 passing yards and has thrown for 40 touchdowns.

West Mifflin, which plays in Class 4A, falls to 0-2. The Titans seek the first win for new coach BJ Pugh when they visit Baldwin next Friday night.

#HSSN Highlights: Behind 3 Dimitri Velsaris touchdowns on the ground & a Bellinger-to-Neal 94 yard home run ball the Avonworth Antelopes took care of West Mifflin on the road to pick up a 44-7 win in Week 1. pic.twitter.com/uaGzHKsPgz

— TribLive HSSN (@TribLiveHSSN) August 30, 2025

Avonworth, the No. 1 team in class 3A and the second-ranked team in the state, is 2-0. The Antelopes have made three straight trips to the championship game, winning last year’s title over Central Valley.

But the 4A gauntlet for the Antelopes will continue the next two weeks with games at Aliquippa and at home against Thomas Jefferson. Both opponents are ranked in the top five in their classification.

Although pleased with his team’s start, Johncour knows the competition will get tougher moving forward.

“We know each week’s going to get better and better. Every week’s a new week, but you now have a target on your back. We did some things well tonight, but there are a lot of things we need to clean up.”

Tags: Avonworth, West Mifflin