BVA defense feasts in shutout win over Avonworth

By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com

On Friday night, Belle Vernon defenders feasted on Avonworth’s offensive playmakers.

On Sunday, the Leopards will be feasting on doughnuts after shutting out the Antelopes, 26-0, en route to their second straight WPIAL Class 3A championship.

“After every shutout, the boys get doughnuts at our next practice,” said BVA defensive coordinator Brett Berish, whose unit hadn’t blanked an opponent since early September when it posted shutouts against Laurel Highlands and Penn-Trafford.

“It’s been a while, so I’m sure they’ll be happy about that.”

The sweet treats aren’t just going to be given to the Leopards, though.

They were earned.

Belle Vernon limited Avonworth’s high-scoring offense — one that averaged around 34 points per game this season  — to under 200 total yards while dropping them from the ranks of the unbeaten in convincing fashion.

The Antelopes were forced to punt four times, including three occasions in the first half, and turned the ball over on downs twice in each half. Their other drives ended in a missed field goal, an interception and a safety.

“I’m extremely proud of all the kids because we challenged them all week,” Berish said. “It was personal for us. All year long, Avonworth talked about wanting Belle Vernon, and our kids rose to the challenge.”

The Leopards turned things up when the opposition was faced with situations on third and fourth down. The Antelopes were unable to convert on 10 third-down situations and were 0 for 4 on fourth down. They also went 0 for 2 in the red zone.

Two of the failed fourth-down conversions occurred in the first half. BVA linebacker Jake Gedekoh delivered a big hit on a fourth-and-1 early in the first quarter before Deaubre Lightfoot came up with a big hurry to force an incompletion on a fourth-and-9 later in the half.

Even when Avonworth was just two yards away from breaking through on the scoreboard, the Leopards’ stingy defensive front came up clutch.

After Tanner Moody made a stop on running back Brandon Biagiarelli on third down, Adam LaCarte, Braden Laux and a host of Leopard defenders stood tall with a goal-line stand to keep the Antelopes at bay.

“Getting the goal line stand to win the state championship last year gave them a certain level of belief,” Berish said. “They believe they’re going to stuff people, and they do.”

LaCarte, a senior captain who contributed with eight tackles in the win, said the team had a grueling week of preparation ahead of Friday’s matchup. He was stressed all week, but it didn’t show when playing under the bright lights at Acrisure.

“We watched a lot of film and looked at a lot of defensive alignment charts,” LaCarte said. “That just shows our dedication to this and to what our coaches tell us to do. We really buy in to what they’re saying and we all do our part.”

Moody led the team with nine tackles, while Aiden Johnson and Colton Lee each contributed with seven. Alonzo Wade added five stops and contributed with a late second-half interception.

On the one occasion in which Belle Vernon’s defense helped put points on the board, it was junior defensive end Dom Ghilani coming up with a big third-quarter play.

Avonworth had its back against the wall at its own 2-yard line after a 62-yard punt by Willie Schwerha. After two incompletions, the Leopards put the pressure on Avonworth quarterback Carson Bellinger. Ghilani was the first one to him, taking him down for a safety and the Leopards’ first sack of the game. It was also Ghilani’s lone tackle of the contest.

Not bad for a former wide receiver/defensive back who made the transition over to the defensive line and embraced it.

“He’s the epitome of how all these kids operate. He encapsulates who we are,” BVA head coach Matt Humbert said. “We talk about the unselfishness these kids have, and he’s a perfect example of that.”

Gedekoh, Lightfoot, Moody, LaCarte, Laux, Johnson, Lee, Wade and Ghilani are just a few of the players that contributed to the Leopards’ strong defensive showing.

Everybody, from the coaching staff to the guys donning the green and gold, followed the team’s mantra and simply did their job in working to bring home a second straight district championship.

“We couldn’t do this without Jeff Ogrodowski, Mike Steeber, Logan Pfrogner, Aaron Szakal, Frank Muccino and Scott Bryer. Coach Humbert lets us do our thing, we do it and we do it well,” Berish said. “I’m proud of these boys, too. They’re hard-nosed kids who played gritty, Belle Vernon football.”