One final stand: Belle Vernon’s defense gets late stop to clinch first state title

Belle Vernon Area’s Chase Ruokonen (17) and Adam LaCarte (19) combine to make a tackle on Neumann-Goretti’s Anthony Zungolo during Saturday’s PIAA Class 3A championship game at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg.

By Liam Belan

[email protected]

The ending resembled a Disney movie, but the script was rated R as the Leopards of Belle Vernon clawed their way to the program’s first-ever state title in a 9-8 victory over Neumann-Goretti in the Class 3A championship Saturday afternoon at Cumberland Valley. BVA was clinging to a one-point lead with less than two minutes remaining when the Saints converted on fourth down as Qaasim Major caught a pass at the Leopards’ 7-yard line. 

To read the rest of the story, please subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.