Late blocked punt sets stage for Ringgold’s loss
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s Chacar Berry picks up yards against Belle Vernon at James Weir Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
Ringgold’s Brian Vandusen tackles Belle Vernon’s Philip Taylor Friday.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s QB George Martin tries to get pasted Belle Vernon’s Noah Bukowski during a game at James Weir Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s Brenden Small picks up yards against Belle Vernon at James Weir Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
Ringgold’s Octavius Vassar tries to evade the tackle of Belle Vernon’s Anthony Capane Friday night.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s head coach ick Milchovich talk to his team during a game with Belle Vernon at James Weir Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
BELLE VERNON – It’s a big enough game when Ringgold and Belle Vernon meet. But there was a little bit more on the line Friday night – the winner would in essence win the Class AAA Big Ten Conference championship.
It was a raucous and packed atmosphere at Belle Vernon’s James Weir Stadium as the nearby schools took the field, and they weren’t disappointed when Belle Vernon got off to a fast start. But nothing was decided until the very end, and that’s when the home faithful could really celebrate.
Belle Vernon’s Derek Verkleeren blocked a punt deep in Ringgold territory, setting up the go-ahead score, and the Leopards outlasted Ringgold to earn a huge 13-12 victory to stand atop the Big 10 Conference standings.
”It’s a statement win,” said Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert. “It’s a great win for the program and it’s a great win for the kids. They deserved this, not to take anything away from Ringgold.”
Belle Vernon (6-0, 6-0) needed to come from behind after Ringgold went ahead 12-7 at the end of the third quarter. In the low-scoring affair, it took a defensive play to spark either team’s offense, and for the Rams (5-1, 5-1) it was an interception by Dave Carpenter and a 49-yard return to set up Ringgold at the Belle Vernon 5-yard line.
On the very next play, George Martin faked a hand-off and barreled into the end zone to put Ringgold ahead, 12-7. Given the way the Rams stifled Belle Vernon’s attack, that lead seemed almost safe even with a whole quarter to play.
Then it was the Leopards’ turn to get a game-changing play.
A poor sequence by Ringgold, beginning with a holding penalty and followed by a sack, backed the Rams up to their own 19. Humbert called for the block, and Verkleeren, Belle Vernon’s kicker, got in the backfield to make the huge special-teams play.
”We needed a break, and that was the break,” said Humbert.
That gave the Leopards possession at the 8, and while it took three plays, Fine scored from four yards out to make the score 13-12 with 5:42 to play.
Belle Vernon’s two scoring drives totaled 19 yards.
On the game’s first drive, Chacar Berry fumbled, giving Belle Vernon possession at the Ringgold 11. The Leopards needed three plays, but Luke Durigon scored from a yard out for the first points of the game.
”We made two mistakes and we paid for them,” said Rams head coach Nick Milchovich.
Humbert, whose previous coaching stop was at Ringgold, knew better than most the importance of limiting the big-play capability of players like Berry and Martin. His defense excelled in that department, holding the Rams to only a handful of plays that went 10 yards or more and none longer than 24.
Not helping Ringgold’s cause was 10 penalties for 80 yards, including several holding calls.
”Every time we ran the ball, we were back behind the sticks,” said Milchovich. “You can’t win big games like that.”
Berry ran for 85 yards on 16 carries. Martin never got going in the passing game, completing just 7 of 19 passes for 50 yards.
Durigon struggled as well, gaining only 38 yards on 23 rushing attempts.
”That was a physical game, just two gritty Mon Valley football teams,” said Humbert. “The hype lived up to it.”