Spartans knocked out in WPIAL quarterfinals
Laurel (14) vs. Steel Valley (50)
Written: Nov 11, 2016
By Shawn Fox
New Castle News
IMPERIAL – The Laurel High football team faced off with Class 2A heavyweight Steel Valley on Friday night.
It was the Ironmen’s one-two punch of Paris Ford and DeWayne Murray that delivered the knockout blow to the Spartans.
Ford scored four touchdowns and Murray added three as top-seeded Steel Valley opened up a 50-0 lead at the half on the way to a 50-14 victory over the ninth-seeded Spartans in a WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinal game at West Allegheny’s Joe P. DeMichela Stadium.
“They’re a great football team, no doubt about it,” Laurel coach Brian Cooper said. “They’ve got great overall team speed. I thought we were as ready as we were ever going to be. Their athleticism on special teams and everything else just made it rough.”
The WPIAL’s top scoring team in any class wasted little time in taking control of last night’s contest.
Steel Valley, which has outscored its opponents 617-87 this season, got a pair of touchdown runs from Murray (6 and 40 yards) midway through the first quarter to grab a 13-0 lead. Murray, a senior, led all rushers with 124 yards on 11 carries.
“We have five guys who can score at any time,” said Steel Valley coach Rod Steele, whose team improved to 11-0 on the season. “That’s what makes our offense so tough.”
Steel Valley’s defense got in on the act less than a minute later, as Murray and Tremeire Redden tackled Spencer Jones in the end zone for a safety.
The Ironmen defense harassed the Spartans in the first half, limiting Laurel to negative-9 yards on 25 plays. Steel Valley also got sacks from Amonte Strothers, Najheir West, Trevon Adams and Ford in the opening 24 minutes.
“You talk about the team speed on offense, but the team speed we have on defense is pretty special, too,” Steele said. “These guys like to hit. They play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. They’re not afraid of putting their face in there and losing a tooth or getting their nose twisted. They enjoy that kind of stuff. That’s what makes them different.”
Then Ford took over.
The University of Pittsburgh recruit found the end zone three straight times – on a 57-yard run, a 62-yard punt return and a 32-yard return of a one-handed interception – as the Ironmen increased their lead to 36-0
“He’s overall speed makes him a special player,” Cooper said of the Steel Valley junior.
Murray added a 30-yard TD run and Ford had a 30-yard scoring jaunt to give the Ironmen a 50-0 lead at the break.
With a running clock throughout the second half, the Spartans got touchdown runs from Phillip Telesz (37 yards in the third quarter) and Dan Blank (4 yards in the fourth quarter to set the final.
“This team hasn’t quit on me all year, and they’re troopers,” Cooper said. “I can’t say enough about their character. They came out here with their heads high and just kept playing hard for one another.”
Laurel, which entered last night’s game winners of four straight, closed the season at 8-4 for its best finish since going 10-2 in 2009.
“I’ll remember the senior leaders the most,” Cooper said. “Man, they did a great job leading for us all year. They did the things I asked of them the whole way through. You can’t ask for any more than that.”
The Ironmen, the top ranked team in the state in Class 2A according to the Pennsylvania Football News, will meet Riverside in the semifinals next Saturday at a time and site to be announced. Riverside advanced with a 21-7 victory over Freedom last night.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com).
LAUREL STEEL VALLEY
6 First downs 11
137 Yards Rushing 257
40 Yards Lost 23
97 Net Rushing 234
13 Passes Attempted 11
2 Passes Completed 3
2 Passes Intercepted 0
16 Yards Passing 45
113 Total Yards 279
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
5-20.4 Punts-Average 2-35.5
5-52 Penalties-Yards 8-70
LAUREL 0 0 7 7 — 14
STEEL VALLEY 29 21 0 0 — 50
Scoring plays
STEEL VALLEY – DeWayne Murray, 6-yard run (pass failed).
STEEL VALLEY – Murray, 40-yard run (Alex Grace kick).
STEEL VALLEY – Safety.
STEEL VALLEY – Paris Ford, 57-yard run (Grace kick).
STEEL VALLEY – Ford, 62-yard punt return (Grace kick).
STEEL VALLEY – Ford, 32-yard interception return (Grace kick).
STEEL VALLEY – Murray, 30-yard run (Grace kick).
STEEL VALLEY – Ford, 20-yard run (Grace kick).
LAUREL – Phillip Telesz, 37-yard run (Andrew Perry kick).
LAUREL – Daniel Blank, 4-yard run (Perry kick).
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