Derry outlasts Burrell, clinches playoff spot
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Friday, October 20, 2023 | 10:38 PM
Derry’s Colin Bush is knocked out of bounds against Burrell on Friday.
Burrell’s Devin Beattie rolls into the end zone for a touchdown against Derry on Friday.
Derry’s Mason Beeman looks to pass during a game against Burrell on Friday.
Burrell’s Devin Beattie comes up short of a touchdown at the end of the first half against Derry on Friday.
Derry’s Ahmad Ward carries the ball against Burrell on Friday.
Derry’s Damauri Robinson avoids a tackle against Burrell on Friday.
Burrell’s Seth Tatrn carries the ball against Derry on Friday.
Burrell’s Devin Beattie carries against Derry on Friday.
Derry cheerleaders perform during a game against Burrell on Friday.
Burrell’s Stephen Hasson looks to pass against Derry on Friday.
Burrell players celebrate an interception against Derry on Friday.
Derry’s Ahmad Ward (22) celebrates after what would be the winning touchdown against Burrell on Friday.
Burrell’s Stephen Hasson reacts in the final moments against Derry on Friday.
Burrell’s Cooper Hornack carries the ball against Derry on Friday.
Derry and Burrell both were held off the scoreboard in the third quarter of Friday’s Allegheny Conference clash on senior night at Burrell’s Buccaneer Stadium.
But the Trojans and Bucs erupted for a combined 31 points over the final 12 minutes.
Derry led by a single score heading to the fourth, and senior Ahmad Ward ripped off touchdown runs of 42 ad 59 yards as the Trojans outlasted Burrell, 29-22, to clinch a playoff spot in WPIAL Class 2A.
“All I could think about was those two (winless) seasons (in 2021 and 2022),” said Ward, who finished with 250 yards and all four Derry touchdowns on 22 carries.
“We came out and showed that we could compete. We really bounced back a couple times and went for it at the end.”
Derry improved to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Trojans will try to close the regular season on a positive note next Friday at home against Ligonier Valley.
“It was their senior night, and we knew they would be fired up,” Derry senior quarterback Mason Beeman said.
“We knew what we had to do. The line blocked so well, Ahmad ran his heart out, and the defense stood up when they needed to. We made plays at the biggest moments.”
Despite the loss, Burrell (4-5, 3-3) also clinched one of the five WPIAL playoff berths from the conference. The Bucs conclude conference play and the regular season Friday at Apollo-Ridge.
Burrell, which had a 35-yard field-goal attempt by Jayson Ireland blocked midway through the third quarter, tied the score on a 13-play scoring drive with 7:42 left in the fourth. Bucs quarterback Stephen Hasson scored from 1 yard, and a Devin Beattie conversion run tied it at 14.
Beattie, who finished with 27 carries for 106 yards, scored on a 10-yard run with 2:18 left as Burrell answered Ward’s first fourth-quarter TD scamper. A Cooper Hornack 2-point conversion run gave the Bucs the lead at 22-21.
Ward’s 59-yard game-winner came on the first play of the ensuing Trojans drive.
Burrell had one last chance, but the Bucs netted minus-4 yards in eight plays and turned the ball over on downs at their 36 with 23 seconds left.
“Our kids fought hard, and we were in a position to win the game, and that running back made a play,” Burrell coach Shawn Liotta said.
“He’s a really good runner, and we struggled tackling him tonight. He was the difference. We have to get that fixed. I feel bad for the seniors, a great group of kids. I really hoped they would go out with a win on their night.
“Now, we just have to turn our attention to Apollo-Ridge. We wanted to get in the playoffs by winning. We’re in the business of winning games. But we will work on shoring up some things to be ready for next week.”
Derry got on the board first as it took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards in 10 plays. All but one play were runs.
Ward, who collected 94 of his 250 yards on 14 first-half carries, capped the drive with a 2-yard run. Gabe Gess added the point-after kick, and the Trojans led 7-0 with 7:41 left in the first quarter.
Burrell punted on its first possession, but the Bucs defense made a big stand as Derry took a risk and went for it on fourth-and-1 from its own 31.
Beeman was stopped for no gain on a keeper, and the Bucs took over.
Burrell needed four plays to go 31 yards, and Beattie carried it the final 10 for the touchdown with 31 seconds to go in the quarter. The PAT kick was blocked, and Derry remained in the lead at 7-6.
Derry answered the Bucs score with just under nine minutes to play until halftime as Ward found the end zone from 3 yards.
Burrell then went on a methodical, 16-play drive that ate up most of the final 8:47 of the second quarter.
Burrell set up for a fourth-and-goal from the Derry 1, and Hasson got the call on a QB keeper. Hasson, the Bucs players and coaches, and the Burrell faithful thought Hasson scored, but the officials ruled otherwise, and Derry went into the break with an eight-point lead.
Hasson threw the ball eight times and completed five for 84 yards, and the Bucs tallied 199 rushing yards on 57 carries.
Derry ran the ball on 32 of its 36 plays and finished with 274 rushing yards.
“I love our team right now,” Trojans coach Mike Arone said.
“These Derry kids are just such a resilient bunch. The last three weeks (losses to Imani, Serra Catholic and Steel Valley) didn’t go as planned, but they knew what was in front of them and the opportunity they had. They got the job done. I am really proud of them.”
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
Tags: Burrell, Derry Area
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