Season of firsts continues for Mapletown
By Colin C. Rhodes
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
MAPLETOWN – For the first time in school history, Mapletown has won a WPIAL football playoff game.
The undefeated and fourth-seeded Maples defeated 13th-seeded Leechburg 41-28 Friday night in a Class A first-round game.
“That was one of our goals,” Mapletown head coach George Messich said. “There were four goals: to win the conference, go undefeated, have a home playoff game and our fourth goal was to win a playoff game. We decided that in August.”
A big part of Mapletown’s win was the three turnovers by Leechburg early in the game that allowed Mapletown (11-0) to score 21 points before Leechburg responded. Mapletown held onto the lead for the remainder of the game despite Leechburg’s efforts at a comeback.
“We gave up too many plays in the beginning of the game,” Leechburg head coach Randy Walters said. “We can’t make mistakes like that in playoff football. (Mapletown is) a good football team.”
Landan Stevenson led the Maples to victory with 27 carries for 297 yards and five touchdowns of five, 10, eight, seven, and one yards. He became the school all-time rushing leader with 5,979 career yards, passing Dylan Rush, who had 5,762.
“(Stevenson) is just incredible,” Messich said. “He cuts. He runs fast. He’ll put his head and shoulders down and run you over. He just does it all.”
Leechburg’s second turnover came on a bad shotgun snap from center that was recovered by Stevenson and set up his first touchdown that gave Mapletown a 7-0 lead. On the Blue Devils’ next possession, they had first-and-goal at the Mapletown one-yard line but turned the ball over on downs back at the eight after two runs were stuffed, a sack and an incomplete pass.
Leechburg (7-4) turned to passing the ball after struggling on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Jayden Floyd had 11 completions in 17 attempts for 180 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
“(Floyd) didn’t have his best night, but the kid’s tough as nails,” Walters said. “He hung in there. He kept making plays. We got some good things coming down the road.”
The Blue Devils’ special teams made an impact with an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Braylan Lovelace, a Pitt commit, in the third quarter and a recovered onside kick in the fourth to keep Leechburg in the game in the second half. It ended up not being enough.
“We had some kids make some plays,” Walters said. “We just made too many mistakes in the beginning.”
Messich thanked a lot of people after the game, including his assistant coaches and the Mapletown community, which had a strong turnout.
“My assistant coaches did a great job,” Messich said. “And I just want to thank our community. They have backed us like you can’t believe. The entire community is on our side, and I just love the support they’ve given us.”
Mapletown advances to the next round of the playoffs to face South Side Beaver, which defeated California.