Burrell runs past Ligonier Valley for conference victory
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Friday, October 6, 2023 | 10:46 PM
Burrell’s Devin Beattie (11) tackled by Ligonier Valley’s John Jablunovsky (5) in the first half Friday.
Burrell’s Stephen Hasson (6) runs against Ligonier Valley in the first half Friday.
Ligonier Valley’s Tyler Maglisco (5) runs with the ball against Burrell in the first half Friday.
Ligonier Valley’s Mark Jablunovsky (29) scores a touchdown against Burrell in the first half Friday.
Ligonier Valley’s Mark Jablunovsky (29) scores a touchdown against Burrell in the first half Friday.
Ligonier Valley’s John Jablunovsky runs against Burrell in the second half Friday.
Ligonier Valley’s John Jablunovsky runs against Burrell in the second half Friday.
Ligonier Valley’s John Jablunovsky is surrounded by Burrell defenders in the second half Friday.
Ligonier Valley’s John Jablunovsky runs against Burrell in the second half Friday.
Ligonier Valley’s Jacob Petalino tackles Burrell’s Tyler Maglisco in the second half Friday.
Ligonier Valley plays against Burrell in the second half Friday.
Burrell’s Devin Beattie tackled by Ligonier Valley’s Cameron Kunkle in the second half Friday.
“Three yards and a cloud of dust.”
The late Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes’ run-first Ohio State football teams of several decades ago helped coin that popular gridiron cliche, a phrase sure to have come to the minds of fans Friday night at Ligonier’s foggy Weller Field.
Hayes would’ve been elated after having watched Burrell and Ligonier Valley run up and down the field during the visiting Bucs’ 33-13 victory in a WPIAL Class 2A Allegheny Conference game.
The teams combined for 89 of 92 total plays on the ground, 66 by Burrell.
Ligonier Valley managed two second-half possessions as Burrell made significant gains on the majority of its plays.
“Offensively, we did what we wanted,” Burrell coach Shawn Liotta said. “We kept possession for a big part of the game. That’s what we do.”
Devin Beattie rushed 32 times for 187 yards and a touchdown to lead Burrell (4-3, 3-1), which won for the fourth time in five games and took sole possession of second place in the conference, a game behind Steel Valley, the Bucs’ next opponent.
“We like where we’re at in the conference,” Liotta said. “We’re 3-1 and looking forward to taking a big swing at Steel Valley next week.”
Though Burrell outgained Ligonier Valley in total offensive yards 335-203, it was the Rams’ John Jablunovsky, the team’s leading rusher but inserted this week at quarterback, accounting for nearly all their offense with 18 carries for 215 yards.
“He’s a good player,” Liotta said. “They got us early by running a lot of wildcat (formation). We prepared all week for their wing-T, and they didn’t run it. But we adjusted. We settled in. I’m proud of the way our kids played. We dominated the game, for the most part.”
Ligonier Valley (2-5, 1-3) dropped its third game in a row and scored for the first time since a 34-14 victory over Apollo-Ridge on Sept. 15.
The Rams came out strong and moved deep into Burrell territory on their first drive. But Cooper Hornack recovered a fumble at the Burrell 32, and the Bucs capitalized on Beattie’s 7-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead.
Jablunovsky, who was moved to quarterback from running back, replacing sophomore Boden Schreyer, pulled Ligonier Valley even on the next possession, racing 37 yards for a touchdown.
But Hornack’s 4-yard scoring run with 4 minutes, 46 seconds left in the second quarter put Burrell ahead for good 14-7.
“The outcome is the same as it was last week, but our performance on the field was so much better,” Ligonier Valley coach Roger Beitel said. “We played with a lot of passion, we supported each other and the kids played with a lot more hunger. I was really, really happy with the effort.”
The Bucs led 17-7 at halftime after Jayson Ireland kicked a 26-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the second quarter.
“The kids battled,” Beitel said. “That’s a buckle-your-chin-strap kind of game. There’s no hiding, no guesswork. It’s coming right at you, and our kids did a much better job this week.”
Burrell’s ground game kept rolling in the second half. Quarterback Stephen Hasson, who was 0 for 2 in passing, scored on a 2-yard keeper before the Bucs defense registered a safety late in the third quarter to push the lead to 26-7.
Caden Garner’s 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth made it 33-7 before Jablunovsky, whose only pass attempt was incomplete, raced 26 yards for his second touchdown for Ligonier Valley with 1:01 to go.
“This was a throwback,” Liotta said. “You had the fog. What a cool night. What a cool field here. We have a lot of respect for Ligonier Valley’s program. They’ve had a great run in the past, and they’ll be back. They’re young. They’re going to have better days. We’re happy to come out on the good end of it tonight.”
Tags: Burrell, Ligonier Valley
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