Belle Vernon survives home scare from Central Valley

By: Jeremy Sellew
Friday, September 6, 2024 | 11:43 PM

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A bend, don’t break defense late in the game led Belle Vernon to a win Friday as the Leopards managed to “defend the Beach.”

After an apparent no-call on a muffed punt, the Leopards held visiting Central Valley to only a field goal, then held the Warriors out of the end zone in the waning minutes to capture a thrilling 23-17 win at James Weir Stadium.

“The call, it is what it is. Kole waved for the fair catch and the guy hit him, but the good thing about it was it put us up against the wall,” BVA coach Matt Humbert said. “We had our backs against it, and our kids responded. That’s what you want to see as a coach.”

After the Warriors’ field goal cut the BVA lead to six, Central Valley’s defense forced a three-and-out. The punt gave the ball to the Warriors at their own 28.

On the first play of the drive, quarterback Stephen Rutherford hit BJ Nastick in stride for a 78-yard touchdown. That was until the play was called back because of holding.

The Warriors (0-3) bounced back and worked their way down the field. Rutherford took off on a keeper and got down to the BVA 2-yard line, but that play was called back because of a personal foul.

Four plays later, the Leopards were celebrating as Rutherford’s pass to the end zone sailed over the head of his intended receiver to turn the ball over on downs with 30 seconds to go.

Despite the thrilling finish, CV coach Mark Lyons was not feeling the aura of a great game.

“This was a terrible game. This game is really simple. You make mistakes, you lose,” Lyons said. “We’re not a good football team. The record shows it. We made too many mistakes.”

The penalties were the theme of the night as the Warriors had 12 flags thrown on them for just under 100 yards.

“You commit that many penalties, you lose. You don’t deserve to win,” Lyons said. “I don’t know how we were even still in this game the way we played.”

The Leopards took a 7-0 lead on the opening drive of the game.

Quarterback Curty Wade went up the gut on a QB sneak and bounced outside for a 21-yard touchdown.

The Warriors were able to answer when Jance Henry raced 58 yards to paydirt to tie the score. Unfortunately for Henry, he wouldn’t play much after that because of a foot injury. He did finish with 103 yards on seven carries.

Right after Henry’s touchdown, the Leopards (1-0) punched right back with Kole Doppelheuer’s 96-yard kickoff return. The PAT was muffed on the snap, and the Leopards led 13-7.

“Huge play. That’s the type of kid he is,” Humbert said. “While we need to work on some things with our specials, that was a great play when we needed it.”

Rutherford started the next drive with a 37-yard strike to Ethan Shearer before Henry ripped off a 26-yard run. Three plays later, Rutherford called his own number from 1 yard.

Domenic Pratt’s PAT gave the Warriors a 14-13 lead at the half.

“We were beat up. Alonzo was out pretty early, Curty and (Anthony) Crews were in and out,” Humbert said. “We had a lot of kids that were in there getting their first action. You think about it, this was our first actual game.”

Doppelheuer stifled the opening drive of the second half, picking off Rutherford and returning it to the CV 20. The drive stalled for the Leopards, but Preston Rathway hit a 33-yard field goal to give his team a 16-14 lead.

The Warriors offense struggled to get anything going in the quarter, and it ended with the same score but the Leopards driving.

On the opening play of the fourth, it was Crews pushing through for a 2-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-goal. Rathway’s PAT made it 23-14.

The Warriors had another drive stall until the punt that was ruled a fumble by Doppelheuer, setting off the chain of events in the final six minutes.

Rutherford ended his night 7 of 21 for 110 yards and the interception. Henry’s backup, Mason Dixon, carried 11 times for 42 yards.

“This is a great win. We’re going to enjoy it. I think the biggest thing is that the kids that were in there stood up when they needed to,” Humbert said. “We’re going to have to get in the right frame of mind now. We got to (McKeesport) next week, and they’re going to be hungry and wired up.”

Doppelheuer led the Leopards with 67 yards rushing on 12 carries. Curty ran 14 times for 58 yards and a score. Passing, he was 7 of 13 for 63 yards.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Central Valley