Leopards storm past New Castle for 49-6 win
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Belle Vernon蘑菇视频 Hunter Ruokenen breaks tackles on his way to a 39-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter of Friday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AAAA first-round playoff game against New Castle at James Weir Stadium.
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Belle Vernon蘑菇视频 Nolan Labuda wrestles New Castle wide receiver Donny Cade to the ground during the first quarter of Friday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AAAA first-round playoff game at James Weir Stadium.
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Belle Vernon running back Larry Callaway gives New Castle蘑菇视频 Donny Cade a stiff-arm as he attempts to avoid the tackle in the first quarter of Friday蘑菇视频 WPIAL Class AAAA first-round playoff game at James Weir Stadium.
The referee signals first down after Belle Vernon's Cole Weightman (15) recovered a New Castle fumble late in the first quarter of Friday's WPIAL Class AAAA first-round playoff game at James Weir Stadium.
ROSTRAVER TWP. 鈥� Heading into the season, Belle Vernon head football coach Matt Humbert said one of his team蘑菇视频 goals was to get back to the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals.
The semifinals are exactly where the Leopards are headed following their 49-6 win over New Castle Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Class AAAA playoffs at James Weir Stadium.
鈥淲e wanted to get back to the semifinals,鈥� Humbert said. 鈥淣ew Castle controlled the ball early, but once we got the tempo going, we were able to play our game.鈥�
The Red Hurricanes (6-5) scored first when they took advantage of a Larry Callaway fumble.
New Castle took over at the Belle Vernon 48 and Demetrius McKnight capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run with 6:42 to go in the first quarter. The two-point run failed and the Red Hurricanes led 6-0.
McKnight finished with a game-high 174 yards rushing.
The Leopards answered with a score of their own after a turnover to take the lead.
Cole Weightman recovered a McKnight fumble late in the first quarter and five plays later Hunter Ruokonen scored on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Jared Hartman early in the second quarter. Ruokonen caught a pass in the flat and broke two tackles before bouncing off of a defender on his way to the end zone.
鈥淚 just tried to make a play,鈥� Ruokonen said.
The extra point by Cam Guess gave the Leps a 7-6 lead with 10:21 to go in the second.
Belle Vernon struck twice in the last three minutes of the half to take firm control of the game.
Dane Anden scored on a 15-yard run with 2:47 to go and then Nolan Labuda caught a 45-yard scoring strike from Hartman. On the catch, Labuda tipped the ball to himself.
New Castle gained 194 yards on 34 plays in the first half, while Belle Vernon had 178 yards on 27 plays.
The Leopards kept it going in the third quarter as they scored three more touchdowns to invoke the Mercy Rule.
Callaway scored from two yards out, Hartman found Ruokonen for another touchdown pass, this time from 32 yards out, and then Ruokonen returned an interception 93 yards for his third score of the night.
Hartman, a three-year starter at quarterback, broke two school records on one play.
Hartman set the school standard for passing yards in a season and for touchdown passes for a career when he connected with Ruokonen on the 32-yard scoring pass in the third quarter.
鈥淗aving receivers like Nolan Labuda and Hunter Ruokonen catching the ball, they did the work,鈥� said Hartman, who broke Josh Cramer蘑菇视频 school record for touchdown passes in a career. 鈥淎nd, the offensive line deserves credit for blocking for me.鈥�
Devin Whitlock scored from one yard out in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
Callaway led the Belle Vernon rushing attack with 147 yards, while Anden also topped the 100-yard mark with 110.
The third-seeded Leopards now face second-seeded South Fayette (10-1), the team that knocked Belle Vernon out in the semifinals a year ago in a game played at Ringgold.
South Fayette routed West Mifflin, 52-0.
鈥淲e want revenge,鈥� Ruokonen said.