Belle Vernon back in state final
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WEXFORD – Belle Vernon has its chance to repeat.
Quarterback Braden Laux had two short touchdown runs and passed for another score, sparking defending champion Belle Vernon to a 42-16 victory over District 10 champion Hickory on Friday night in the PIAA Class 3A football semifinals at North Allegheny High School.
The Leopards (12-1) will play in the state championship game next Saturday.
Belle Vernon led 7-0 after one quarter, then broke the game open by outsourcing Hickory 21-3 in the pivotal second quarter.
Quinton Martin ran for one touchdown and caught a scoring pass, and Jake Gedekoh rambled for a pair of touchdowns.
The Leopards led 35-3 in the third quarter.
Laux gave Belle Vernon a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a three-yard TD run.
After Hickory cut the gap to 7-3 with a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter, Martin bolted 20 yards for a touchdown. After an interception by the Leopards’ Adam Lacarte, Gedekosh ran 60 yards to make it a three-score game.
Laux connected with Martin on a 39-yard TD pass that made it 28-3 at halftime.
The Leopards scored again early in the third quarter on a one-yard plunge by Laux.
Hickory (11-3) produced the next two touchdowns, one on a 91-yard kickoff return by Kevin Morrison.
Gedekoh closed the scoring in the fourth quarter with a tough 10-yard TD run.