Buzzatto runs for 400 yards, but Leechburg tops Riverview

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, October 14, 2023 | 5:49 PM

It was a sight Sebastian Mason and the Leechburg defense had seen all afternoon.

Carlo Buzzatto running right at them.

The Riverview back had rolled up 418 yards on the ground, but this time Mason was determined to make a play.

Mason stuffed Buzzatto on a potential winning 2-point conversion play in the final 30 seconds, and Leechburg won 29-28 in a thrilling Class A Eastern Conference game Saturday at Riverside Park.

“It felt amazing to get that stop,” Mason said. “He had been running that ball all day, and we couldn’t stop him at some points. One of our linebackers, Jake Cummings, got injured at the end, so we had to step up and make a play.”

With the win, Leechburg (5-3, 4-2) is in the driver’s seat to earn a playoff spot. Riverview (4-4, 1-3) will need some help to make it.

Prior to the 2-point conversion stop, Riverview quarterback Rocco Cecere found Rio Stotts for an 18-yard touchdown pass.

Leechburg called a timeout before the attempt.

“We just told them they needed to get up and get a stop, and they did,” Leechburg coach Randy Walters said. “(Buzzatto) is a monster. He had over 400 yards rushing. That’s not good for our defense, but when it counted, they got it done.”

It was a tough ending for Riverview, but the Raiders rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit to get within a point.

“I’m so proud of how our kids responded today,” Riverview coach Trevor George said. “It didn’t come out in our favor, but it showcased what our team is. The strides these kids have made is amazing.”

Buzzatto put forth a gargantuan effort.

With two hands on the ball and a yellow neckroll sticking out of his collar, he busted through the line with authority.

Buzzatto had three rushing touchdowns, including a 45-yard run two plays into the second half that cut Leechburg’s lead to 22-14 and gave Riverview a spark.

He also scored on a 36-yard run in the fourth quarter to answer Leechburg’s Jayden Floyd, who scored from 7 yards a few moments beforehand.

George was emotional when discussing Buzzatto’s performance.

“He’s the type of kid you hope your son will grow up to be,” George said. “He’s gritty. He’s a competitor. He’s a throwback kid, and he gives everything he has. There’s nothing left. I hope my kids turn out like him.”

Leechburg built a 22-7 lead at halftime by taking advantage of some mistakes by Riverview.

The first one was a fumbled snap on a fourth down near midfield.

With lineman Philup Rearick in as an H-back, Leechburg used a power running game to move down the field and Cummings scored on a 2-yard run to make it 7-0.

Riverview moved the ball deep into Leechburg territory on its next drive but turned it over on downs.

On the first play of the second quarter, Floyd fired a pass to Tristen Zalenski, who caught it, shed a tackle and ran 87 yards for a touchdown.

Another fumbled snap on Riverview’s next drive was recovered by Leechburg’s Matt Williams at the Raiders 25.

On the next play, Cummings caught a Floyd pass at the 5 and fought his way into the end zone to bump the lead to 19-0.

Buzzatto got Riverview on the board on its next drive, breaking free for a 69-yard touchdown.

Mason intercepted a pass late in the second quarter and, with a facemask penalty tacked on during the return, set up Leechburg with good field position that Ryan Shaw turned into points with a 33-yard field goal.

Floyd finished with 129 yards passing. Cummings had 72 yards of offense but was injured in the fourth quarter and did not return.

“We’re still working with a lot of young guys,” Walters said. “We have four sophomores on the line and some receivers that haven’t had a lot of playing time. (Floyd) and (Cummings) are the guys we lean on, and they did a great job. We still have a long way to go, but we’re coming along.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Leechburg, Riverview