Laurel fails to solve Avonworth’s defense in loss
Laurel (16) vs. Avonworth (34)
Written: Nov 02, 2013
By Shawn Fox
New Castle News
PITTSBURGH — The Avonworth High football team has one of the top defenses in the WPIAL.
Laurel found out why in the opening round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs last night.
The seventh-seeded Antelopes limited the 10th-seeded Spartans to under 200 yards of offense until a late touchdown drive as Avonworth posted a 34-16 victory at Lenzner Field.
“The kids didn’t quit,” Laurel coach Pat Cuba said. “We had our backs to the wall, but we kept playing.”
Avonworth (9-1) entered the game giving up an average of 7.4 points per game and had four shutouts on the season.
“We scheme well and we execute well,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said of his defense. “We’re big up front, our linebackers are tough and our secondary can run to the ball.”
The Antelopes took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 10 plays to get on the board first. Jesse Zubik, operating out of the Wildcat formation, polished off the drive with a 21-yard run. Cole Pappas’ PAT kick gave the hosts a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.
Laurel answered on its first possession, ending Avonworth’s three-game shutout streak.
The Spartans drove to the Antelopes’ 2 and faced a fourth down. Dalton Rosta bulled his way into the end zone and Noah Wertz’s kick tied the game at 7-all at the 2:43 mark. Rosta led Laurel with 111 yards rushing on 13 carries.
Avonworth took the lead for good midway through the second quarter when Pappas booted a 33-yard field goal.
The Antelopes increased their lead to 17-7 at the half when Matt Donovan hooked up with Dalton Day for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 2:31 remaining before the break.
Laurel had a chance to trim the Avonworth lead in third quarter when Spencer Pullium picked off a Donovan pass at the Antelopes’ 12.
The Spartans made it only to the 5 and were forced to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Wertz.
“Scoring a touchdown there would have been huge,” Cuba said. “That was a great play by Spencer getting up and making a play.”
Johncour agreed with Cuba.
“That was huge for us,” he said. “Our defense has been stout all year.”
Avonworth got a 50-yard Donovan-to-Zubik TD pass, a Pappas 25-yard field goal and a 3-yard scoring run by Richard Giles to increase its lead to 34-10 with 2:24 remaining in the game.
The Spartans’ Clayton Sharek closed out the scoring with a 3-yard TD run.
Laurel finished with a 7-3 mark, making the playoffs for the first time in four years.
“I’m very proud of the seniors and their leadership,” Cuba said. “The whole team is a great group of kids. It’s a unique group of kids in that they actually enjoy coming to practice. You don’t see that very often. They were enjoyable to work with, and I love them. I love them like they were my own.”
Avonworth will face Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, a 24-0 winner over Western Beaver last night, Friday in the quarterfinals. The Trojans defeated the Antelopes, 21-12, in Week 6.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
LAUREL AVONWORTH
12 First downs 19
200 Yards Rushing 224
18 Yards Lost 27
182 Net Rushing 197
16 Passes Attempted 25
8 Passes Completed 12
0 Passes Intercepted 2
67 Yards Passing 193
249 Total Yards 390
2-2 Fumbles-Lost 4-1
6-31.2 Punts-Average 3-59
7-75 Penalties-Yards 11-90
LAUREL 7 0 3 6 — 16
AVONWORTH 7 10 7 10 —34
Scoring plays
AVONWORTH — Jesse Zubnik, 21-yard run (Cole Pappas kick).
LAUREL — Dalton Rosta, 2-yard run (Noah Wertz kick).
AVONWORTH — Pappas, 33-yard field goal.
AVONWORTH — Dalton Day, 6-yard pass from Matt Donovan (Pappas kick).
LAUREL — Wertz, 22-yard field goal.
AVONWORTH — Zubik, 50-yard pass from Donovan (Pappas kick).
AVONWORTH — Pappas, 25-yard field goal.
AVONWORTH — Richard Giles, 3-yard run (Pappas kick).
LAUREL — Clayton Sharek, 3-yard run (kick blocked).
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