Mt. Pleasant gets back on top with close win against Yough

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, September 27, 2024 | 11:11 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Another week, another Mt. Pleasant squeaker.

Mt. Pleasant dispatched of a two-game losing streak and opened Class 3A Interstate Conference play on a high note with another tight finish, rallying late to break Yough’s heart 22-19 on Friday night at Cougar Mountain Stadium.

The Vikings (3-3, 1-0) had been involved in three, one-point games this season, including a 21-20 loss to Laurel Highlands last week in overtime.

This one didn’t go to extra time, but it was settled in the closing seconds and may have been just as exciting as OT for Vikings fans.

After Yough took the lead with 4 minutes, 50 seconds left, Mt. Pleasant put together a 15-play, 73-yard drive to regain a one-point edge on a Steve Predajna 1-yard run with 14 seconds left.

Cole Chatfield hit Von Kopcho for the 2-point conversion pass and a 22-19 advantage.

“Our kids were tired and beat up,” Vikings coach Jason Fazekas said. “They made some plays. Our kids showed a lot of heart. These close games … I don’t apologize for wins.”

Yough had the ball at its 40 after a penalty on the Vikings for spiking the ball in the end zone after the 2-pointer, but Raidon Kuroda’s pass to KiRon Yates only made it 10 yards past midfield and the game ended.

Yough dropped its fourth straight and fell to 2-4, 0-1.

Kuroda had a night that was as impressive as it was productive, completing 16 of 33 passes for 235 yards and two TDs, and rushing for 83 yards and a score on 24 carries.

“Hats off to Mt. Pleasant,” Yough coach Ben Hoffer said. “They had a game plan. They made one more play than we did. I can’t ask for much more from my guys. Raidon led us all night.”

Yough, which hasn’t won a conference game at home in two years, dealt with some dropped passes and penalties.

Mt. Pleasant wasn’t perfect, either, but it knows conference wins won’t be judged on looks.

Both teams used long scoring drives to set up points, with Mt. Pleasant getting back to what it does best: running the football.

“It’s always good to get a win, no matter what,” Predajna said. “I didn’t think I got in at first.”

Brody Hutter ran for 70 yards and a touchdown, and Chatfield was 8 of 14 for 174 yards and a score for the Vikings.

“We kept fighting,” Hutter said. “We didn’t give up.”

Mt. Pleasant only needed two plays to score on its opening drive.

After Chatfield threw a 45-yard pass to Garret Eicher. Hutter ran left and scored on a 20-yard burst just 32 seconds into the game.

Eicher caught four for 76 yards.

Yough was set to respond, driving to the Vikings’ 5, but a penalty and two negative runs led to a turnover on downs.

Dane Firmstone delivered a hit on Kuroda on fourth-and-17 from the 15.

Yough scored to tie it, earning its first seven points. The Cougars needed 15 plays — a few “tush pushes” and a fake for a completion — to set up first and goal.

Mt. Pleasant stuffed the Cougars on three straight runs, but Kuroda found Ryan Sarver for a 2-yard score in the back of the end zone to tie it 7-7.

Later in the second quarter, Jarett Garn made the play of the night. On third-and-14, Chatfield reared back and launched the ball downfield.

Garn, with three defenders surrounding him, made a leaping grab, then went about 25 yards for the touchdown.

After the 56-yard play, Garn kicked the extra point to make it 14-7.

Mt. Pleasant’s Tristan Wtorkiewicz had an interception late in the second quarter, but the Vikings could not produce points. Yates blocked a 47-yard field-goal try by Garn just before the half.

Yough drove 80 yards to open the second half, with Kuroda and Sarver hooking up again for a 54-yard gain to the 1.

Kuroda dove forward for the touchdown, but Sarver’s extra point sailed wide right and it was 14-13.

Yough had two shots at the end on fourth-down plays in the second half, but Kuroda could not hook up with Sarver on either.

Still, the Cougars hung around.

A hook-and-lateral play from Kuroda to Sarver to Jaiden Dixon-Bretzel gained 45 yards. Then, Joey Weinhofer took a hit to the head on a pass route, and the personal foul on the Vikings gave Yough a first-and-goal from the 10 with 6:18 to play.

Kuroda threw a 4-yard strike to Dixon-Bretzel, just over a defender’s fingertips, for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:50 left.

The 2-point try fell incomplete, and the Cougars led 19-14.

Mt. Pleasant used 12 runs on its final drive, dragging the Cougars with them.

“We knew we had time left,” Fazekas said. “It’s hard to run that two-minute hurry-up, but our kids executed. I am proud of them.”

Sarver had seven catches for 96 yards, and Dixon-Bretzel had five for 79.

Lucas Waltonbaugh recovered a fumble for Yough.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Mt. Pleasant, Yough