WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Six 2015

By: Bruce Markey
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 | 3:34 PM

With the high school football regular season more than half way complete, some teams have already clinched their spot in the postseason, while many others are battling for the remaining playoff bids. To that point, all of the selections for this edition of plays of the week included games that had significant postseason implications. Without further adieu, here are the plays that helped catapult several teams to key victories.

1. Mount Lebanon 31, Bethel Park 20

The Blue Devils’ perfect mark appeared to be in jeopardy, as Mount Lebanon faced a 10-point deficit late in the third quarter to Bethel Park. With the Black Hawks driving and looking to put the game out of reach, though, Mount Lebanon’s Edgar Parrilla came up with a game-changing interception that helped spur 21 unanswered for the Blue Devils, leading them to the triumph.

MSA Sports’ Rick Smith and Adam Hoerner have the call:

2. Derry Area 20, McGuffey 14

After snapping one of the WPIAL’s longest losing streaks last season, the Derry Area Trojans have becoming playoff contenders in the Class AA Interstate Conference. After a thrilling victory against Southmoreland the previous week, the Trojans repeated the performance against McGuffey. Tyler Balega’s touchdown catch on fourth down proved to be the decisive play, as the host Trojans upset the Highlanders.

McGuffey Highlanders Sports Network’s Tony DePalma and Zach Walters provide the commentary for the fourth-quarter score:

3. Belle Vernon 13, Ringgold 12

The Leopards and Rams clash pitted two teams with spotless records, and the likelihood that the winner would ultimately capture the Class AAA Big Ten Conference crown. After the Leopards’ special teams came up with a blocked punt near the midway point of the fourth quarter, the Belle Vernon offense went to work. Quarterback Mike Fine called his own number, and powered his way into the end zone for what proved to be the winning touchdown.

MSA Sports’ Greg Warnock and Lou Rood paint the picture of the decisive play:

4. Jefferson-Morgan 15, Mapletown 14

In a clash of two teams aiming to remain in the playoff race in the Class A Tri-County South, the Rockets received a massive effort from running back Joe Headlee. Headlee’s 37-yard scamper late in the third quarter and the subsequent extra point accounted for the final points of the contest, as the Jefferson-Morgan defense made the lead stand for the duration.

Greene County Sports Networks’ Jason Tennant, Lanfer Simpson and Emmalea Beck call Headlee’s big play: