HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF COVERAGE
Offense scores four first-half touchdowns; defense protects lead
WEEKEND SPORTS, INSIDE
From local dispatches
In order to reach one of its biggest goals, South Fayette had to beat an opponent it had never played.
The Lions did just that Friday, earning a trip to a familiar place.
Jamie Diven had another big passing performance and the South Fayette defense also shined as the Lions defeated Belle Vernon, 28-10, in a WPIAL Class 4A semifinal at Ringgold.
South Fayette (11-1) advanced to the championship for the fifth time in nine seasons and the first time since 2015. The Lions will try to win their fourth title in that span when they play three-time defending champion Thomas Jefferson (110) next Saturday at Heinz Field. Belle Vernon (9-2) was trying to make its first trip to the final since 1999.
“It’s a feeling that if you haven’t been there, it’s amazing. And if you have been there, it’s something that you strive for and work hard for to get back,” South Fayette coach Joe Rossi said. “We got a taste for a couple of years. It feels great to be going back.”
Diven, one of the WPIAL’s passing leaders, completed 21 of 35 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns. Diven also rushed for a touchdown. He now has thrown for 2,767 yards and 41 touchdowns this season.
South Fayette’s offense, which averages 39 points per game, did not score a point in the second half. No problem. The four touchdowns it scored in the first half were more than enough. Belle Vernon took its only lead when Cameron Guess kicked a 32-yard field goal five minutes into the game. Less than three minutes later, Diven connected with RayQuin Glover for a 39-yard touchdown to give South Fayette a 7-3 lead.
Diven’s 3-yard scoring toss to Charley Rossi a minute into the second quarter extended South Fayette’s lead to 14-3. Belle Vernon then trimmed its deficit to 14-10 when Nolan Labuda hooked up with Hunter Ruokonen for a 53-yard touchdown with 4:58 left in the first half.
The final few minutes of the opening half were huge for South Fayette, which scored two touchdowns to take a 28-10 lead into the half. Diven scored on a 12- yard run with 3:50 left and then threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Mike Trimbur with 43 seconds left.
“We knew [getting those two touchdowns] was important,” Joe Rossi said. “They were trying to control the clock and their run game is awesome. It was important to score because it takes them out of their element.”
If Belle Vernon was to win the game, coach Matt Humbert said his team would need to control the clock with its running game and keep South Fayette’s quickstrike offense off the field. South Fayette did not strike for any long touchdowns, but its defense did a great job of not allowing Belle Vernon to sustain drives. Belle Vernon running back Mason Pascoe, who entered the game with 1,538 yards rushing, was held to 85 yards on 26 carries.
“I thought our defense did a great job,” Rossi said. “They had one long run and a bunch of short runs. We got to the football and I thought we did a nice job.”
Belle Vernon’s 10 points were its fewest this season. The Leopards scored at least 48 in each of their previous three games.
South Fayette won despite committing three turnovers, two on interceptions and the other a fumble. The Lions held a 447293 edge in total yards. Trimbur finished with eight catches for 127 yards.
Labuda completed 6 of 14 passes for 147 yards. Labuda took over the starting quarterback duties late in the regular season when Jared Hartman was lost for the season with a leg injury.
Prior to the WPIAL going from four to six classifciations three years ago, South Fayette was a perennial power in Class 2A and Thomas Jefferson in Class 3A. The two juggernaut programs now will meet for the 4A title.
“I watched [tape of] their game against TJ,” Rossi said of Thomas Jefferson’s 3614 win Sept. 7. “They’re the champs. I know their offensive line is great. They bully people. We’re going to enjoy this win tonight and celebrate, but we’ve got some work ahead of us.”