Bethel Park tops South Fayette for conference victory

By: Ed Troup
Friday, October 18, 2024 | 11:44 PM

After its first loss of the season in Week 7, Bethel Park needed a leader to take charge and get the Black Hawks back on their winning ways. That leader was Tanner Pfeuffer.

The senior quarterback had an epic first half, completing his first 12 passes on way to completing 17 of 21 passes for 272 yards, four touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in the first two quarters as Bethel Park rolled in a mercy-rule 35-14 win over South Fayette in a Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference game Friday night at Bethel Park Black Hawk Stadium.

“We thought there was some opportunity coming in for our passing game to be successful tonight,” Bethel Park coach Phil Peckich said. “We are very proud of how (Pfeuffer) played and stepped up tonight for us.”

No. 4-ranked Bethel Park (8-1, 3-1) used Pfeuffer’s huge first half to build a 35-0 halftime lead over the Lions (6-3, 1-3). Black Hawks receiver Ryan Petras, who returned last week after missing the first eight games, finished with nine catches for 161 yards.

“(Petras) is an all-state type of player for us,” Peckich said. “You got to see him get in a position here tonight, where he could execute and make big plays, even when there was nothing there.”

Bethel Park took the opening kick and only needed six plays to drive 67 yards to take a 7-0 lead with 9 minutes, 51 seconds left in the first quarter. The drive was capped by Pfeuffer hitting Petras on a 28-yard touchdown pass.

The Black Hawks recovered an onside kick after that, and Pfeuffer hit Mitchell Paschl for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Bethel Park led, 14-0 with 6:00 left in the opening quarter.

Pfeuffer scored on a 1-yard run, making it a 21-0 Blackhawks lead with 10:58 left in the second quarter.

He stayed hot with scoring strikes to Petras (52 yards) and Jack Bruckner (1o yards) as Bethel Park led 35-0 at halftime, putting the mercy rule in effect for the second half.

South Fayette scored twice in the second half as quarterback Drew Welhorsky hit Tyler Sidhom on a 63-yard touchdown pass with 4:44 left in the third quarter and scored on a 15-yard run with 10:08 left in the game.

Black Hawks running back Javaughn Moore finished the game with 24 carries for 140 yards.

Looking ahead to the regular season finale at Peters Township, Peckich said: “They are a very well coached team, a very talented team. They will present challenges to us in all three phases of the game. I think it will be a high quality game, and we look forward to going on the road and competing.”

Next up for South Fayette is a Allegheny Six Conference game at Moon.

Tags: Bethel Park, South Fayette