If one were to poll the high school football fans across Western Pennsylvania about whom their pick for the best team in the WPIAL Class AAAA, a vast majority of them might have picked Gateway, perhaps McKeesport or Shaler. The only votes for Bethel Park might have come solely from the team themselves and their fans. Saturday night at Heinz Field, that was more than sufficient.
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In a game of twists, missed opportunities, questionable calls and chess-like deliberation, the Bethel Park Blackhawks pulled off arguably the biggest upset in WPIAL playoff history, outlasting Gateway, 10-6, at Heinz Field. Bethel Park outgained Gateway in total yardage, 180-107 and forced the Gators into five turnovers. Regarded by most as the best team in the entire state of Pennsylvania entering the game and averaging 41.6 points per game, Gateway was held to less than thirty points for the first time all season.
The opening kickoff was fumbled by Gateway's Dorian Bell at their own 30-yard line, and recovered by Matthew Bliss, giving Bethel Park the ball at the Gateway 33 and the momentum before the first play from scrimmage. But Gateway's defense stepped up to the plate, as B. J. Stevens' sack of Erik Olson -- his 22nd of the season -- pushed Bethel Park back, and they eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Gateway's second drive took them into Bethel Park territory, but Adam Lazenga intercepted Robbie Kalkstein's pass at the 35-yard line and returned it to Gateway's 41. Two plays later, Bliss found John Schademan on an end-around pass, and Schademan made a leaping catch between two defenders at the 8-yard line. Two plays later, Lyle Marsh bowled in from two yards out and with a Patrick Lydon extra point, Bethel Park had a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Gateway took control a minute into the second quarter after Marsh fumbled at the Bethel Park 33 and it was recovered by the Gators' Sascha Craig. After an eight-play drive over three and a half minutes that included seven straight running plays, Dorian Bell scored from the 1-yard line and Gateway was finally on the board. However, Ryan Lichtenstein's extra point attempt was blocked by Corey Spegal and the score remained 7-6.
Gateway's third special teams miscue of the first half came when Lichtenstein had a snap fly over his head during a punt attempt, recovered by Bethel Park's Alex Baroffio at Gateway's 9-yard line. After a three-and-out by the Blackhawks, Lydon kicked a 27-yard field goal with 36 seconds to go in the half for a 10-6 lead. Surprisingly, the scoring would cease at this point, leaving two questionable scoring opportunities missed in the second half.
After both teams traded punts throughout the third quarter, Bethel Park punted their fourth time in the game at the start of the fourth. Gateway drove to the Bethel Park 33, when Jared Pratt sacked Kalkstein, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Rock Vomer, staving off disaster once again for the Blackhawks. On the ensuing drive, Olson threw a backward pass behind the line of scrimmage that hit the ground and could have been ruled a fumble. Had it been so, Gateway would have recovered with a clear path to the end zone. However, the pass was ruled incomplete, and Gateway's best scoring opportunity of the second half was questionably taken away.
Gateway took over yet again after another punt with 5:53 remaining, but Ahmad Hakeem intercepted Kalkstein at the Gateway 45, returning the ball to the 15. On 4th-and-10 from the 5, Bethel Park's wasted scoring opportunity came on a 27-yard field goal attempt by Lydon. The kick arched high and to the left of the goalpost, and appeared to curve back in and through the uprights. Nonetheless, the end zone official called the kick no good, giving Gateway the ball and one last scoring opportunity at their own 20. Kalkstein converted a key 4th-and-4 with a seven-yard pass to Josh Vermeulen, keeping the Gators alive with less than two minutes remaining. But on 4th-and-5, Kalkstein's pass to Jeff Parrish was tipped by Lazenga and sailed incomplete, ending Gateway's perfect season which included a #3 rank nationally in the USA Today Super 25.
Bethel Park won their first WPIAL Championship in school history, improving their record to 13-0. They will face State College in the quarterfinals of the PIAA playoffs at North Allegheny High School on November 28, while Gateway's season ends at 12-1.
