Whitlock stars as BVA pulls away from Laurel Highlands

By JONATHAN GUTH

MVI Sports

Belle Vernon Area head coach Matt Humbert always enjoys coming back to Laurel Highlands, where he once starred as a player, but was more focused on getting his team back on track Friday night.

The Leopards bounced back from last week’s loss to mighty Thomas Jefferson with a 49-0 victory over Laurel Highlands in Big Eight Conference play

“The kids needed to reset and refocus, and as much as it’s about tonight, it is about the week of preparation and the week of practice,” Humbert said. “It’s a victory that we checked all the boxes we needed to check. It is fun to give us our third set of doughnuts on the scoreboard. Those kids at LH fought hard, never backed down and never gave up.

“I love the opportunity to come home and stop and see my parents, and I just love it up here. The atmosphere, the mountains and the drive up here. And see Mr. (Mark) John walking around here. He is Mr. LH.”

“I think definitely it was a mental approach,” LH coach Rich Kolesar said. “They are a very good football team. We want to be a very good football team, but we are not ready to be a very good football team.”

Devin Whitlock had a hand in five of Belle Vernon’s six first-half touchdowns as the junior quarterback was 7 of 10 for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 109 yards on four carries and scored twice. 

Whitlock capped his day with a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown. A 68-yard punt return for a score was called back due to offsetting penalties.

“I just want to come out and play every game like it’s my last,” Whitlock said. “I came into this game with a chip on my shoulder after the loss to TJ. That was a hard pill to swallow, but we have to put it behind.”

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