Moon holds off Bethel Park’s 2nd-half surge for Allegheny 6 victory

By: Sean Saputo
Saturday, October 14, 2023 | 12:56 AM

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The Moon Tigers looked poised to make a statement Friday night in their Class 5A Allegheny 6 Conference matchup against Bethel Park.

Despite holding a four-touchdown lead at halftime, the Tigers were forced to withstand a furious Black Hawks rally before holding on to win 42-34.

“Bethel Park is dynamic offensively,” Moon coach Ryan Linn said. “The have an ability to fight back and not quit and credit to them.”

The first half was all Tigers, who improved to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in the Allegheny 6.

It took just 1 minute, 35 seconds for Moon to score its first touchdown as quarterback Andrew Cross scored from 1 yard out to make it 7-0.

Three big plays — one in the first quarter and two in the second — led to the 28-0 halftime lead, thanks to a 60-yard Joshua Bladel touchdown run, a 33-yard Tavis Lindsey touchdown run and a 38-yard touchdown pass from Cross to Braeden Stuart.

At the half, the Tigers had outgained the Black Hawks, 317 to 70, in total yardage, and Moon nearly put the mercy rule into effect, but penalties derailed a late drive.

Fast forward to the second half and it was all Bethel Park early, as the Black Hawks scored 20 consecutive points over the first 13:30.

“We as coaches didn’t put them in the best position to succeed in the first half,” Bethel Park coach Phil Peckich said. “You can’t give a quality team a free half, and we put the team in a better position that second half.”

Ryan Petras scored two of the touchdowns — a 3-yard reception from Tanner Pfeuffer and a 6-yard rushing touchdown. The third score came between Petras’ two scores — an 8-yard touchdown pass from Pfeuffer to Jovian Smith.

“They did a little more play-action and Petras moved to the backfield, and eyes are on him, so it made it a little harder,” Linn said.

Despite a quick Moon response just 1:03 after Petras’ second touchdown — a 55-yard Bladel touchdown run — the Black Hawks scored two more quick touchdowns to make it 35-34.

Pfeuffer found Jack Bruckner for a 54-yard pitch and catch, followed by Petras’ third touchdown of the night, a 3-yard run.

The Tigers closed the scoring on Paul Bronaugh’s 23-yard touchdown run with 2:55 left in the fourth to make it 42-34, and received help as Petras misplayed the ensuing kickoff and picked the ball up at his own 5-yard line, stepped out of bounds and Moon got the final stop to close the game.

The Tigers put together 494 total yards, including 456 on the ground, behind 216 yards from Bladel and 87 from Nazir Brookins.

“They’re a great one-two punch,” Linn said. “It’s inside-outside, but when they need to get to the yards, they put the shoulder down and go.”

Bethel Park totaled 382 yards, with Pfeuffer throwing for 294 yards and three touchdowns, 239 of which came in the second half, while Bruckner had 194 yards on six receptions and Petras had 113 total yards (60 rushing on 11 attempts, 53 receiving on 12 catches).

Moon now prepares for another key matchup against Upper St. Clair in which Linn said the Tigers need to “find a way to limit them on offense, make them one dimensional, and we have to control the ball.”

The Black Hawks will meet South Fayette next Friday in a conference clash.

“We need to get healthy, evaluate this, and we have a tough team with South Fayette,” Peckich said. “Coach Rossi does a lot of great things on offense and defense. (We will) ultimately focus on us.”

Tags: Bethel Park, Moon