No contest: Leopards dominate host Rams
Belle Vernon’s Derek Cesovski tries to avoid the tackle of Ringgold’s Octavius Vassar at Joe Montana Stadium Friday.
Belle Vernon’s Mike Fine hurdles a Ringgold defender Friday during a game at Joe Montana Stadium.
Belle Vernon’s Logan Pfrogner carries the ball Friday against Ringgold at Joe Montana Stadium.
Belle Vernon’s Mike Fine carries the ball Friday against at Ringgold.
Belle Vernon’s Derek Cesovski tries to avoid the tackle of Ringgold’s Octavius Vassar at Joe Montana Stadium Friday.
Belle Vernon’s Nick Hall runs into the end zone Friday ahead of Ringgold’s Dalton Holt.
MONONGAHELA – In what was expected to be a highly contested game, Belle Vernon went to Joe Montana Stadium and dominated Ringgold, 31-10, Friday night in a Class 4-A Big Nine Conference showdown.
“I am very pleased with how the kids played, and we were methodical with what we had to do offensively,” said Belle Vernon head coach Matt Humbert. “Defensively, we answered the challenge because that team might have one of the best offenses we face all year.
“Their coaches know how to put the ball in the hands of the right kids and I am proud of our guys.”
Humbert praised his co-defensive coordinators, Brett Barish and Brandon Livsey.
“I am proud of the time and preparation that they put into this game,” Humbert said. “I was probably a great guy amongst my coaches to be around and they turned the pressure up and I am proud of the coaches and the kids.”
Ringgold coach Nick Milkovich gave the Leopards high praise.
“They did a solid job and executed,” he said. “We made some mistakes, and Belle Vernon capitalized.”
Ringgold (2-1, 2-1) came out anxious as it had a false start on the first play of the game, and it would be a reoccurring theme in the first half as the Rams had four presnap penalties.
Did Milchovich think that his team was nervous?
“Not at all,” he said. “Some guys were moving before we even got into our cadence.
“I can’t explain it.”
A big key forBelle Vernon (3-0, 3-0) was limiting Brenden Small, one of the leading rushers in the WPIAL, to 62 yards on 15 carries.
“We used a base defense but we tried a few different alignments,” Humbert said. “Our goal was obviously to stop him.”
Belle Vernon held Ringgold to a three-and-out on its first drive, and after taking over at the Ringgold 36, Cameron Guess hit a 39-yard field goal to give the Leps a 3-0 lead with 7:17 to play in the first quarter.
After Ringgold turned the ball over on downs at its 49-yard line on the next drive, Belle Vernon went 49 yards on four plays with senior Nick Hall scoring from nine yards with 2:04 to go in the first quarter.
Ringgold again had to punt on its third drive and BVA took over at the Ringgold 49 once again.
Eight plays later, senior quarterback Mike Fine hit junior Logan Pfrogner with a seven-yard touchdown pass with 9:49 to play in the second quarter, and Guess’s extra point made the score 17-0.
The Rams scored on its next drive, and it was aided by a BVA tipped pass be senior Tim Labuda.
Ringgold senior quarterback George Martin threw a pass intended for senior Easton Fine.
Labuda made a play on it but tipped it right to Fine, who gained 38 yards before finally being tackled at the Belle Vernon 26.
The drive ended with Ringgold senior Matt Cannon making a 27-yard field goal with 5:57 to play in the half.
Belle Vernon outgained Ringgold 158-133 in the first half despite Ringgold running 27 plays to the Leopards’ 25.
Belle Vernon put the game out of reach as it scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the second half.
Hall scored his second touchdown of the game on a three-yard run to open the second-half scoring and then Fine hit junior Derek Cesvoski with a 53-yard touchdown pass to close out BVA’s scoring for the night.
Ringgold finally got into the end zone on its last possession when Martin hit Charles Franks with a touchdown pass with 55 seconds to go.
Both teams are on the road on conference play next week as BVA heads to Greensburg Salem and Ringgold is at Laurel Highlands.
Fine finished eight-of-14 for 147 yards and two touchdown passes and had 122 yards rushing on 19 carries …Tim Labuda led Belle Vernon with five catches for 73 yards … Martin finished 15 of 27 for 233 yards passing … Easton Fine led Ringgold with five catches and 122 yards while Dalton Holt had four catches for 38 yards before getting hurt … Belle Vernon outgained Ringgold 348 yards to 327 … Derek Thomas recovered a fumble for the Lopards.