Bethel Park ground game wears out Peters Township
Peters Township’s Ryan Magiske is tackled by Bethel Park’s Tiger Burkes Friday night.
Peters Township’s Andre Williams avoids the tackle of Bethel Park’s Jare Yantak Friday night.
Angelo Quarture, right, catches a pass tipped by teammate Conor Pederson Friday night against Bethel Park.
Peters Township quarterback Jake Cortes has his pass deflected by Bethel Park’s Tiger Burkes and Carmen Esposito Friday night.
McMURRAY – After beginning the season with home wins at the expense of Chartiers Valley and Seneca Valley, Peters Township was definitely stepping up in class when it hosted Bethel Park Friday night in the Class 6A Southeastern Conference opener.
Unable to take advantage of multiple opportunities, the Indians could not overcome a strong Bethel Park squad and fell 28-7. The Black Hawks improve to 2-0 overall with the win while Peters Township fell to 2-1.
John Doleno paced the efficient Black Hawks offense with 194 yards on 12 carries. Teammate Tanner Volpatti added 100 yards on 19 carries.
Ryan Magiske led Peters Township with 76 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Jake Cortes threw for one score but had two interceptions. He finished with 94 yards through the air.
“That’s a solid, solid football team,” Indians coach TJ Plack said. “We knew it would be an uphill climb. But we hung in there and fought to the end.”
After a mostly even first half, the Black Hawks began to assert themselves.
Doleno scored his second touchdown as he broke two tackles and outraced the Indians defense 83 yards to the end zone midway through the third quarter, pushing the Black Hawks lead to 21-7.
The score was set up by an Austin Lewis recovery of a Conor Pederson fumble on the Bethel Park 15-yard line.
Things went from bad to worse when Cortes fumbled the snap after the ensuing kickoff. Connor Wholey recovered for the visitors on the Indians’ 39. But the Indians defense held on downs, preventing additional damage.
Bethel Park essentially sealed the contest when Volpatti blasted off right tackle and scampered 23 yards for a touchdown and a 28-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Peters Township flashed some life when Corban Hondru recovered a Doleno fumble on the Indians’ 19 midway through the fourth quarter. But the Black Hawks snuffed out the rally when Gavin Vargesko sacked Cortes on third down, forcing a punt.
“We were able to protect Jake pretty well all evening until the end,” Plack added. “They started to blitz more and make things uncomfortable in the pocket.”
The Black Hawks struck first late in the first quarter when Luke Surunis found a diving Doleno just inside the pylon for a 15-yard scoring connection. Bethel Park converted a fourth and one earlier in the drive to set up the touchdown.
Peters Township responded with a 54 yard scoring march that was capped by a Cortes touchdown pass to Angelo Quarture that covered 36 yards on fourth and six. Cortes’ pass first caromed off the hands of Pederson and into the hands of Quarture.
“It was a fortunate bounce that I said we’d take,” Plack added. “That worked out well for us.”
Undaunted, Bethel Park marched 92 yards on its ensuing drive. Following his large offensive line, Volpatti rumbled 11 yards into the end zone. John Gummo’s extra-point kick was good, giving the Black Hawks a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Doleno ended the Indians’ next drive with an interception on third-and-25. He appeared to return the interception for an 80-yard touchdown, but a block in the back penalty nullified the score.
Peters Township had a chance to score first early in the opening frame as they marched 44 yards to the Black Hawks’ 15, but Cortes’ fourth-down pass was batted down by defensive back Tiger Burkes.
“We were able to mix things up there early, but could not finish,” Plack said.