A pick-6 in one quarter is a momentum shifter, but two?
This is usually a turning point.
And that was the case on Friday evening in Bethel Park.
Jack Bruckner and William Sabatos each intercepted a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter to set the tone, and the Black Hawks then beat Seneca Valley 50-14 in a Week Zero game at NexTier Stadium.
“We talked all week about how to start fast in this game, and there’s nothing bigger than the momentum that comes from a play like a pick-6 and how we responded from there,” Bethel Park coach Phil Peckich said. “Those pick-6s put us in a good position to score in the first half and took the air out of them.”
Bruckner’s pick-6 came after Bethel Park (1-0) marched down the field on its opening drive, which ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Ja Vaughn Moore.
Seneca Valley (0-1) had advanced into Bethel Park territory, but Andrew Loebig’s pass attempt landed directly in Bruckner’s hands. Bruckner made it 66 yards into the end zone unchallenged.
Later in the quarter, Sabatos intercepted a pass at Seneca Valley’s 14-yard line and danced into the end zone to make it 22-0.
“Both of our interceptions in the first half were deflected balls, which was unfortunate,” Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle said. “Andrew Loebig will be fine. He’s a good football player and tonight was his first appearance on the varsity team. I’m sure he learned a lot tonight. We’ll put this one behind us and start fresh next week.”
Bethel Park managed a strong 79-yard drive between the first and second quarters that ended with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Tanner Pfeuffer.
Loebig completed a 30-yard pass to Brayden Wise, setting up first and goal at the 3. On the next play, Loebig made his way into the end zone.
Bethel Park scored three more touchdowns in the second half on passes from Pfeuffer.
On the first drive of the second half, he had a 29-yard pass to Mitchell Paschi. He hit Moore on two passes, one for 80 yards and one from one yard out.
Pfeuffer, a 6-foot-6 senior, finished the game completing 13 of 20 passes for 246 yards.
“Tanner is an extension of us on the field,” Peckich said. “He has intangible skills in terms of leadership and understanding the offense. His game never gets any faster.”
“I think its reputation will continue to grow and I’m excited about its future. I’m not sure why more universities haven’t gotten involved.”
Ryan Petras, last year’s Allegheny Six Conference Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year, missed the game with a shoulder injury, but Bruckner stepped in in his absence and recorded five catches for 65 yards.
Loebig threw his first varsity touchdown pass in the third quarter. It was a 12-yard toss to Jayden Price.
Jerin Steele is a freelance writer
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