EF’s Messina, BVA’s Dusi earn honors

Ryan Messina had one heck of a night for Elizabeth Forward’s football team Friday night, accounting for no less than six touchdowns.

Belle Vernon Area’s Gabrielle Dusi didn’t have a good night. She just had two great years as she won the WPIAL 2A tennis singles championship for the second straight year.

As a result of their efforts, Messina was named the MVI’s Player of the Week and Duci was selected as Athlete of the Week.

Ryan Messina

The EF junior quarterback was on fire and on fire early in a 40-0 romp over Baldwin.

All Messina did was throw five TD passes and also run 65 yards to pay dirt for another score.

He threw for four of his scores in the first half, including three in the first quarter.

Messina started his epic night with scoring passes of 61 yards to Charlie Nigut, 15 yards to Brendan Stroeschein and 20 yards to Connor Stokes in the first quarter.

He threw another TD strike and added his own scoring jaunt in the second quarter as EF took a 33-0 lead into halftime.

For the night, Messina completed 6 of 12 passes for 212 yards with one interception to go with his five scoring strikes.

EF coach John DeMarco praised his offensive leader, but wouldn’t call it his best game.

“He threw for over 1,700 yards last season and has been pretty good this season,” DeMarco said. “I’m not sure if he has ever played a bad game.”

DeMarco says Messina has what it takes to be successful.

“He’s got good size and he can make any throw required,” the EF mentor said. “He has great work ethic and is very coachable.”

The 6-4, 210-pound quarterback will be doing the same thing on the next level, his coach says.

“He has heard from some schools, but hasn’t made any decision,” DeMarco said. “He has gone to a few camps. I know he will be playing in college. We just don’t know where or on what level.”

On the season, Messina has completed 46 of 69 passes for 598 yards and six TDs. He has rushed for 183 yards and scored seven times.

Gabriella Dusi

Last week, Dusi made quick work of Hampton’s Gracie Stitt, 6-1, 6-0, to repeat as WPIAL champ.

Dusi, a junior, is only the second singles tennis player to repeat as champion in the classification in nearly two decades.

What makes her accomplishment even more amazing is that Dusi is a girl without a team. While she is proud to represent her school, BVA doesn’t have a tennis program.

“Since we don’t have a tennis team (at BVA) I compete as an independent,” she said.

That means Dusi doesn’t play any section matches in preparation for the WPIAL tournament.

“It is a disadvantage, but I play a lot of matches against good players when I practice,” she said.

When she competes in WPIAL and PIAA tourney action, it’s as if she was on her own island. There are no teammates there to cheer her on and support her.

“I play in a lot of tournaments and that has helped me get used to being on my own,” she said.

Dusi is coached by Jan Irwin out of Upper St. Clair.

“I play in a cup program there and she coaches me,” Dusi said.

Next up for the WPIAL tennis queen is the PIAA 2A individual championships Nov.

1-2 at Hershey.

Dusi said she plans on improving on her performance of a year ago at Hershey when she lost in the quarterfinals.