Mt. Lebo Stuns Central Catholic With 4th Quarter Comeback, 17-16

PITTSBURGH — The Mt Lebanon Blue Devils (2-2) defeated the Central Catholic Vikings (2-2), 17-16, at Carnegie Mellon’s Gesling Stadium on Friday, September 16.

The Blue Devils got the ball back at their own 23 with 3:50 to play after a Vikings punt and trailing by two. David Shields completed a 42-yard pass up the seam to tight end JP Walters, and the Blue Devils ran the ball to the one yard line to set up Ben McAuley’s game-winning field goal.

A pair of junior receivers with college offers, three-star Peter Gonzalez and Vernon Settles, helped key Central’s offense early in the game. Facing 4th-and-3 from the 4-yard line in the waning seconds of the first quarter, Vikings head coach Terry Totten rolled the dice with a quarterback keeper. Junior Payton Wehner made the line to gain, and the Vikings made it 6-0 three plays later on a pass to Gonzalez. Central took a 9-0 lead into the half on a 22-yard field goal after the Blue Devils iced sophomore kicker Billy Lech to no avail. 

The Blue Devils’ running game gained steam in the third quarter, driving deep into Vikings territory with a trio of big runs. The drive stalled outside the red zone, however, and McAuley pushed a 40-yard attempt wide.  

Wehner and Gonzalez connected for a 53-yard deep ball on the ensuing play, then made it 16-0 with a 20-yard touchdown pass on fourth down. 

Sophomore Vikings defensive back Xxavier Thomas made a juggling third-down interception to give Central the ball in plus territory to begin the final frame, but a quick three-and-out gave Lebo life.

Wide receiver Michael Gevaudan completed a 35 yard pass on an end-around trick play. Running back Fred Lasota followed that with a wide open touchdown catch. 

The Blue Devils made it 16-8 with a successful two-point conversion as quarterback David Shields completed a pass despite heavy pressure from four-star linebacker Anthony Speca.

Lebo defensive back Vincent Musial scored on a pick-six moments later, but the Vikings forced an incompletion on the two-point pass to preserve a 16-14 lead with 7:55 to go.