Eric Doerue Leads South Park To First WPIAL Title in 19 Years Over High-Powered Seton LaSalle

PITTSBURGH – Earlier this season, Eric Doerue made a name for himself becoming South Park’s all-time leading rusher. Little did Doerue know that he would continue to make an even bigger name for himself in the WPIAL playoffs and on the biggest stage of high school football in Western Pennsylvania.

Doerue was a workhorse for South Park making plays offensively and defensively and his performance was the ultimate reason No.2 South Park won its first title in 19 years after defeating No.1 Seton LaSalle 21-14 in the WPIAL 2A Title game this afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.

South Park dominated early. After forcing Seton LaSalle to go three and out, South Park took its time on is opening drive. The Eagles converted two fourth downs on its opening drive. Eric Doerue rushed for a 5-yard gain on fourth-and-2 inside their own territory. Also, an offside by Seton LaSalle pushed the Eagles down the field for a new set of downs. Doerue was effective on the opening drive. He carried the ball 8 times on 52 yards, which concluded in him rushing for a 6-yard touchdown to help the Eagles take a 6-0 lead. South Park used seven and a half minutes on its opening drive.

Things only got worse for the Rebels. On the first play, of the Rebels second offensive drive, quarterback Mike Pastirik tossed the ball to Richard Littlejohn on a jet sweep. As Littlejohn ran toward the sideline, he fumbled the football, which was recovered by South Park’s Wyatt Markovich. 10 plays and 47 yards later, South Park extended its lead to 14-0. On fourth down, Eagles quarterback Robert Lenzi rushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown to keep the momentum rolling. South Park attempted a surprise onside kick, but the Rebels were able to recover.

After trailing by two touchdowns, Seton LaSalle needed a spark. The Rebels answered late in the second quarter by one of the Rebels big-time players. With a little over a minute in the second quarter, on a toss sweep, Khalil Taylor rushed for a 32-yard touchdown to trim the Eagles lead to 14-7.

Seton LaSalle wide receiver Khalil Taylor rushed for a 32-yard touchdown in the WPIAL 2A Championship Game on November 23, 2024. // Ed Thompson. PSN.

One of South Park’s greatest overall strengths as team is running the football and using up clock. South Park received the ball to begin the second half, and its first drive looked a lot similar to their opening drive. The Eagles took seven minutes off to begin the second half. Doerue carried the Eagles rushing attack carrying the ball 7 times for a total of 45 yards. He capped off the 11-play, 69-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown, this time an 8-yard score to extend the Eagles lead to 21-7.

Seton LaSalle was not done quite yet. After South Park punted to begin the fourth quarter, the Rebels scored in the first minute on the first play. Pastirik, saw his receiver Littlejohn beating multiple defenders and he threw a 51-yard-deep pass down to the field to narrow the Eagles lead to 7 once again, 21-14.

South Park received the ball back and got only one first down on the drive. The Eagles had to punt giving the Rebels a chance to tie the game. On first down at the Rebels 40-yard line, Pastirik completed a 1-yard pass to Khalil Taylor. Pastirik attempted to throw a pass near the sidelines to Littlejohn, but Doerue broke the pass up. On third down, Pastirik decided to throw it back to Taylor, but Taylor kept running backwards forcing the Rebels to punt. Unfortunately, for the Rebels that was the last time they would touch the ball on the afternoon.

On the second play after the Eagles received the football back, Lenzi completed a pass to Harilaos Bouzos. As he Bouzos was running, Nelson Coleman hit Bouzos and he fumbled the football before reaching the first down mark. However, Kenyan Brown recovered the fumble giving the Eagles the first down. That was the closest Seton LaSalle got to trying to get back in the game as South Park ran off the final five minutes of the clock. Kenyan Brown, who got his first offer from Mercyhurst earlier in the week, rushed for an 8-yard gain to seal the deal.

South Park was 1-for-10 on third down, but the Eagles went 4-for-4 on fourth down. Entering tonight, Rebels running back Logan King rushed for an average of 171 yards in the first two postseason games. But South Park’s defensive front stood on business only holding King to 24 rushing yards. South Park offensively overall was just more dynamic converting 17 first downs which was better than Seton LaSalle’s 5.

South Park will now have to await the winner of the PIAA 2A Quarterfinals matchup between District 9 champion Central Clarion and District 6 champion Cambria Heights. Kickoff for that game is set for 7 p.m.