Belle Vernon rallies past Elizabeth Forward to win Interstate Conference title
ELIZABETH – Belle Vernon was down two touchdowns with just over two minutes remaining in the game, but rallied for a 29-28 victory over Elizabeth Forward to win the Class 3A Interstate Conference title.
After David Bergstedt caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jace Jedekoh to cut the Elizabeth Forward lead to 28-21, the Leopards recovered an onside kick with 1:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. Gedekoh scored on a 2-yard run with 48 seconds remaining and Cameron Jenko punched in a two-point conversion, which gave the Leopards (6-0, 9-1) a 29-28 lead and capped a 22-point fourth quarter.
Elizabeth Forward’s Luke Holdren missed a 45-yard field goal as time expired.
The Warriors (5-1, 8-2) led 14-7 at halftime and saw the lead grow to two scores when Travis Dusi returned the second half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
Belle Vernon running back Chace Petrosky scored on a 35-yard run to cut the lead to 21-14, but Rocco Thompson answered for Elizabeth Forward with a 13-yard touchdown.
Petrosky also had a 16-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Warriors quarterback Kaden Allen opened the scoring with a 98-yard touchdown run and threw a 35-yard touchdown to Ryan Dolekary.