Steel Valley runs away from South Allegheny football team in rout

By: Ty Polk
Saturday, October 26, 2024 | 12:10 AM

No. 5 Steel Valley and No. 4 South Allegheny were among the better offensive squads coming into a de facto second-place game in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference.

The Gladiators scored 48.5 points per game in their last four games, and the Ironmen averaged 47.8 points in their previous five games.

Lately, the Ironmen have been feeling the love — brotherly love, to be exact — with Da’Ron and Donald Barksdale.

“To have my brother out there, it’s like a dual-threat battle,” said Donald Barksdale after the game. “I get the ball; he’s able to score. If he gets it, I’m able to score.”

It was all in the family for the Ironmen again, as the Barksdale Brothers amassed all of Steel Valley’s points in a 45-7 victory. The victory granted Steel Valley second place in the conference and South Allegheny third place.

Donald Barksdale kicked off the festivities with a 38-yard run for a score on the opening drive.

Early on, the Gladiators benefited from penalties when they drove deep into Ironmen territory. Steel Valley stopped them short of the end zone twice, including on their own 1-yard line.

“We shot ourselves in the foot there,” Ironmen coach Ray Braszo said. “We gave them a lot on those drives, and we’ll work on it.”

The Ironmen (7-3) immediately cashed in with a 99-yard drive kick-started by a 42-yard run out of the shadow of their goal line by Donald Barksdale. The drive was capped by a 2-yard run by Da’Ron Barksdale to put the Ironmen ahead 13-0.

Another stop gave them the ball in the last two minutes of the half, and Da’Ron and Donald teamed up for an 86-yard pass to take a 20-0 lead on the second and final passing attempt by Steel Valley before the halftime break.

The younger brother was initially hesitant about returning to the quarterback spot a few weeks ago, but he wanted to turn Steel Valley’s fortunes after a 1-3 start.

“Sometimes you have to put some things first,” Da’Ron Barksdale said. “I want to win. I’m not used to having a losing season.”

South Allegheny (8-2) opened the second half with an 82-yard kick return from Hunter Molanick, which gave it a spark and cut into the deficit 20-7.

“A lot of stuff was self-inflicted, and they make things hard,” South Allegheny coach Bryan Hanson said. “We wanted to control what we can control.”

The Gladiators were dealing with four players out, including starting receiver Tyreke Chatman, before tonight’s game.

“It’s a learning lesson,” Hanson said. “Take it in stride and understand the perspective of the season.”

The Ironmen finished the game with 25 straight points. Da’Ron Barksdale scored on a 93-yard run and finished with 10 rushes for 153 yards, two rushing touchdowns and the 86-yard scoring pass to his brother.

Donald Barksdale scored the final three touchdowns, scoring on a run after Del Shields recovered a fumble in South Allegheny territory and a reverse took Steel Valley to the 1-yard line.

He finished with an 85-yard punt return and an 83-yard run to complete the scoring. He had 14 attempts for 208 yards and three touchdowns, adding the receiving score and return for five total scores.

“They work together so well,” Braszo said. “They do a great job of running our offense.”

Tags: South Allegheny, Steel Valley