VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY

2013

• Six different Leopards scored goals in their easy 9-0 Section 4 victory over McGuffey. Belle Vernon Area coach Paul Sasko was pleased with his team’s effort especially since they have been off for seven days. “We haven’t played in a week but our girls came out ready to play. It was nice to be able to give all of the girls some playing time.” Hayden Pascoe led the Leps with a hat trick while Sarah McCullough, Ally Demko, Sam Mendicino, Caitlin Caldwell, Kelsey Lawson and Marissa Hasson each added a tally. Kaity Watson earned the shutout in goal.

• Nico Law, Ringgold’s junior quarterback, has been named the Valley Independent Player of the Week. Law threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 220 yards and two more touchdowns as the Rams rolled to a 42-21 Big 9 Conference win over Belle Vernon Area. Ringgold was trailing 14-7 in the first quarter, Law hit Dayshore Majors with a 56-yard pass to give Ringgold the lead. BVA coach Aaron Krepps praised Law saying, “He is the glue that holds their offense together and the kid who makes them go.”

2004

• The Belle Vernon Area football team offers very few surprises. Laurel Highland’s coach Scott Knee had this to say about his opponents, “You know exactly what they’re going to do. If they have success, they’ll keep doing it.” The game between Belle Vernon and Laurel Highlands should prove to be an interesting matchup pitting Laurel Highland’s powerful passing game against Belle Vernon’s resurgent ground game. Both coaches feel pass protection will be a key factor in the game.

• The Belle Vernon Area boys soccer team rebounded from their first loss of the season in convincing fashion.

Chris Sillence scored four goals as the Leps rolled over Derry Area to secure a 7-0 shutout win to climb into a three-way tie in Section 1. Sillence with an assist scored two goals in each half. Matt Sasko contributed a goal and three assists with Mike McKevitt and Alex Sellagatto each adding goals. Goalkeeper Ian Connolly recorded his first shutout.

1994

• The “first families” of Ringgold – the Hillman brothers, Justin and Lambert and the Kinds cousins, Jamont and Gary proved too much for Gateway. With the quartet combining for 20 points, the Rams clobbered the Gators 22-0 for their first win of the season. The Rams defense limited the Gators offense to just 128 total yards and kept them from achieving a first down until late in the third quarter. Ringgold coach Chuck Colborn said, “That’s the way we needed to win the game with a great defense and an offense that moved the ball.”

• The Charleroi Cougars gave Canevin all they could handle in their game – until the second half that is. The highly touted Crusaders broke loose for 19 unanswered points after halftime on their way to a 33-6 win. The loss dropped Charleroi to 0-3 going into their Century Conference opener against Jeannette. The Cougars took the lead in the first quarter when Lee Castana hauled in a four yard pass from Dan Douylliez. Richard Baumgarten proved too much for the Cougars defense as he rushed for a school-record 234 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns.