Behind Luca Neal, Avonworth returns to PIAA Class 3A final
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Friday, November 28, 2025 | 10:52 PM
Avonworth's Luca Neal hurdles Penn Cambria's Evan Latterner in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal is tackled by Penn Cambria’s Grant Gides in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Avonworth's Jaden Jones catches a pass against Penn Cambria in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Avonworth's Luca Neal catches a pass against Penn Cambria in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Avonworth's Carson Bellinger runs for yardage against Penn Cambria in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Penn Cambria quarterback Brady Jones is chased by Avonworth’s Marco Arlia (88) and Noah Neiss (72) in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Luca Neal was called on to step in for injured starting running back Dimitri Velisaris on Friday night. He stepped in and stepped up.
It was not the first time Neal had played the position, and his experience showed, especially when he caught the ball out of the backfield.
Neal, who rushed for more than 200 yards against Penn Cambria in 2024 PIAA 3A semifinals, had another big game against the Panthers in the snow at Fifth Street Field in Indiana.
Neal rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught three passes for 115 yards and a score as WPIAL champion Avonworth turned back Penn Cambria for the second consecutive season, 31-15 on Friday.
On the first play of the second quarter, quarterback Carson Bellinger hit Neal on a wheel route down the right sideline, and he beat three Penn Cambria defenders for a 68-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
“I do not know what it is against them,” Neal said. “I like it when the snow is falling. We are a gritty team. Our running back room is a little beat up.
“It was the first time all season I ran that route. The coaches wanted to see if their linebackers could run with me.”
District 6 champion Penn Cambria answered, as quarterback Brady Jones hit Blake Lilly in the flat, and the senior danced his way down the sidelines for the tying score.
“It was a battle,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said. “Their quarterback is a tough kid. Our defense started getting key stops in the second half, and our offensive line played better in the second half.”
Johncour said Velisaris is banged up and was held out. He expects him to be back for the championship game.
Avonworth answered less than a minute later when Bellinger hit Jaden Jones for a 75-yard score. Jones had four catches for 127 yards.
Both teams missed field goals in the first half.
Avonworth’s defense made a couple key stops in the third quarter, and the Antelopes turned both of their possessions into score — two Neal 18-yard touchdown runs to make it 28-7.
“That team never quit,” Johncour said. “They kept battling.”
Hunter Mahan kicked a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 31-7
The Joneses (Brady to Noah) connected on a 32-yard score to end the scoring.
Brady Jones completed 17 of 36 passes for 226 yards. Bellinger was 7 for 11 for 253 for Avonworth.
The Lopes will play Northern Lehigh for a state title at 1 p.m. Dec. 6 at Cumberland Valley.
Neal has a good feeling the Antelopes will come home a winner.
“We are playing with more confidence,” Neal said. “We trust each. We just must go out and play our game.”
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Avonworth
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