Diven drives South Fayette past Belle Vernon, into title game
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
South Fayette’s Nolan Lutz (22) celebrates a touchdown scored by RayQuin Glover (11) in the first quarter against Belle Vernon
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
South Fayette’s Jamie Diven scores a touchdown Friday night during a WPIAL playoff game against Belle Vernon.
South Fayette's Mike Trimbur has 49 receptions for 936 and 15 touchdowns this season. The Lions play Thomas Jefferson in the WPIAL Class 4A championship.
Belle Vernon’s Antony Bertram (1) looks for room to get by South Fayette defense
Belle Vernon takes the field before their semifinal playoff game against South Fayette at Ringgold
Belle Vernon’s Mason Pascoe gets the carry on the ball against South Fayette
Belle Vernon’s Hunter Ruokonen runs away from South Fayette’s Mike Trimbur on a carry to score a touchdown
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
South Fayette’s RayQuin Glover carries the football Friday night against Belle Vernon.
By Jonathan Guth
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
MONONGAHELA – Playing at Joe Montana Stadium, South Fayette quarterback Jamie Diven had a performance that would make the Pro Football Hall of Famer proud in the Lions’ 28-10 victory over Belle Vernon on Friday in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AAAA football playoffs at Ringgold High School.
South Fayette (11-1) moves to the WPIAL championship game next Saturday against Thomas Jefferson (11-0) at Heinz Field. Kickoff is 5 p.m. The Lions are making their first trip to the WPIAL title game since 2015.
“We will enjoy this one tonight, as we should. They are high school kids, and tomorrow we will wake up and turn our attention to a dominate powerhouse Thomas Jefferson team,” South Fayette coach Joe Rossi said. “I have much respect for Thomas Jefferson.”
The Leopards, who were second to the Jaguars in the Big Eight Conference, lost in the semifinals for the second straight season. Despite the loss, coach Matt Humbert was proud of the season his team had.
“I’m just proud of the kids,” Humbert said. “It’s a bittersweet feeling getting back to this point, and with all kinds of stuff that happened this year that wasn’t advantageous. I just can’t say enough about the kids, and I was proud of the fight they had tonight.”
Diven was 21 of 33 for 329 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also had 29 yards rushing on six carries and one touchdown.
“Jamie’s doing good,” Rossi said. “He made a couple of mistakes but it’s high school football. It was a total team effort.”
The Leopards (9-2) forced a fumble on the Lions’ second possession and capitalized on the turnover when Cameron Guess nailed a 33-yard field goal at 7:01 of the first quarter. The score was set up by Mason Pascoe’s 36-yard run to the South Fayette 15.
Pascoe, a senior, rushed for 88 yards on 26 carries.
“We knew that we had to score 21 to 28 points to win,” Humbert said. “That is probably one of the most well-oiled passing offenses I’ve seen at the high school level.”
Diven gave the Lions the lead for good when he fired a 39-yard touchdown pass to RayQuin Glover with 4:38 remaining in the first quarter. Ryan Coe made the first of four extra points for a 7-3 advantage. Glover had three receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown.
South Fayette forced a punt on Belle Vernon’s next drive and took a 14-3 advantage at 11:26 of the second quarter when Charley Ross pulled in a three-yard touchdown reception from Diven. Senior Mike Trimbur set up the score when he caught a 35-yard pass from Devin and took it to the Leopards’ five. Trimbur had a game-high eight catches for 128 yards and one touchdown.
Belle Vernon forced a turnover on downs and cut the deficit to 14-10 when Nolan Labuda threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Ruokonen at 4:58 of the second quarter. Labuda, who had only two starts at quarterback entering Friday, was 6 of 14 for 148 yards and one touchdown. Ruokonen had four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.
“(Nolan) Labuda was awesome for those guys,” Rossi said. “What a brave kid and I’m proud of him, and I’m sure they are. It is the next guy up and he did a great job.”
The Lions responded with a touchdown on the ensuing drive when Diven scored on a 12-yard run at 3:50 of the second quarter. South Fayette initially fumbled the ball, but Diven picked it up and scored for an 11-point advantage.
The Lions scored with 43 seconds left in the first half when Trimbur caught a 26-yard touchdown reception from Devin.
“There was no doubt that South Fayette’s offense was one of the best we’ve seen,” Humbert said. “I’ll take the blame for us not being able to convert and for this loss.”
Devin and South Fayette came out fast in the third quarter, but the Leopards forced their second turnover when Ben Tenuta intercepted Devin and set Belle Vernon up at its own 34 at 9:11.
The Leopards moved the ball to the Lions’ 34, but South Fayette forced on downs and took over at its own 33 at 4:41 of the third.
Belle Vernon forced a punt and drove to the Lions’ 16, but South Fayette stopped the Leopards on fourth and two to take over with 1:07 left in the third quarter. Labuda connected with Anthony Bertram for a 42-yard reception to the Lions’ 24.
The Leopards came up with a third turnover with South Fayette driving when Tenuta recorded his second interception at 7:45 of the fourth quarter at Belle Vernon’s five, but the Lions’ defense came up strong again and forced a turnover on downs.
“I’m proud of our defense for stepping up,” Rossi said. “We limited (Mason) Pascoe to that one long run. It’s pride, desire and all those things you look for in a defense. They willed themselves, especially after giving up a home run play in that first series, and held them to a field goal.”