PITTSBURGH— The Belle Vernon Leopards successfully defended their 3A WPIAL title at Acrisure Stadium on Friday, blanking the Avonworth Antelopes 26-0.
Belle Vernon quarterback and Eastern Michigan commit Braden Laux scored two touchdowns and threw for another. Avonworth’s offense, meanwhile, couldn’t get out of their own way against the Leopards’ aggressive defense.
Leopards’ sophomore Deaubre Lightfoot returned the opening kickoff to Avonworth’s 22-yard line. Laux capitalized on the excellent field position, going up the middle for a two-yard touchdown 61 seconds in.
Avonworth rolled the dice on fourth-and-one, trying for the first down from their own 40. Their planned play never materialized, however, as Antelopes’ athlete Andrew Kuban — lining up under center — barely managed to corral a high snap before defensive back Jake Gedekoh blew him up in the backfield.
Once again the Leopards made use of the short field, stretching their lead to 10-0 on a 26-yard field goal from Preston Rathaway.
Kuban broke a 46-yard run to start the second quarter, putting Avonworth in Belle Vernon’s red zone. The drive stalled there, and a 32-yard field goal attempt went wide.
Braden Laux Pours It On
Laux found receiver Anthony Crews on a 40-yard deep shot to put Belle Vernon in the red zone midway through the third quarter. He then added his second touchdown of the night with a one-yard dive up the middle.
The Leopards pinned Avonworth at their own 2-yard line after a punt bounced past would-be return man Dimitri Velsaris near the 20. The miscue set up Dominic Ghilani’s sack of Carson Bellinger in the end zone for a safety.
Belle Vernon made it 26-0 after the free kick, as Laux connected with Gedekoh from 25 yards out.
Avonworth set up second-and-goal from the 4-yard line to start the fourth quarter, their best scoring chance of the night. The Leopards’ defense preserved the shutout with a clinical goal line stand, stonewalling running back Brandon Biagiarelli on fourth down.
