A rematch of the 6A WPIAL Championship did not disappoint as Mt. Lebanon overcame a 16-0 deficit with 17 unanswered in the fourth quarter to win 17-16 on a game winning field goal from Ben Mcauley with no time left.
After a scoreless first quarter, Pittsburgh Central Catholic converted on a 4th and 3 at the 4 yard line to extend the drive making it first and goal at the 1. The Vikings capped off a 10 play drive off a touchdown pass from Payton Wehner to Pete Gonzalez to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead. The extra point was no good.
The Vikings added a 22 yard field goal from Billy Lech to make it 9-0 at the half.
Mt. Lebanon was held to just 26 total yards of offense and Central Catholic had 137 in the first half.
The Blue Devils put together their best drive of the game as they moved the ball across midfield and after a big run from Fred Lasota for 22 yards, Mt. Lebanon had the ball inside the 25 yard line of Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
The Vikings defense stood strong after a shot to the end zone was incomplete thanks to good coverage by Xavier Thomas. Mt. Lebanon attempted a 40 yard field goal and the kick was no good keeping the score 9-0 Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Central Catholic took advantage of the missed field goal from Mt. Lebanon as Wehner found Gonzalez for a 55 yard gain inside the 25 yard line. Wehner found Gonzalez again for a 20 yard touchdown. The extra point was good as Central Catholic took a 16-0 lead with 2:58 to play in the 3rd quarter.
As Mt. Lebanon moved the ball to the 50 on the next drive, a wide receiver screen was tipped up in the air twice by Anthony Specca and intercepted by Xavier Thomas ending the Mt. Lebanon drive.
After a Central Catholic punt, Mt. Lebanon completed a 36 yard pass on a trick play as David Shields pitched it to Alex Gevauden and he launched the pass to Nate Sala to the 25 yard line. Two plays later, Shields faked a handoff to LaSota and then found him wide open down the sidelines for a 25 yard touchdown. The Blue Devils converted on a two-point conversion cutting the Vikings lead to 16-8 with 9:01 to play in the game.
Mt. Lebanon’s defense came up huge after Pittsburgh Central Catholic was faced with a third down at their own 30 yard line. Mike Biersdorf read the throw from Wehner perfectly as he intercepted the pass and returned it for a 39 yard touchdown cutting the Central Catholic lead to just 2. The two-point conversion was no good.
The Blue Devils forced a Central Catholic punt and had the ball inside their own 20 to start the drive. After a sack for a loss of three, Shields completed a 43 yard pass to J.P. Walters to the Central Catholic 25 yard line. The Blue Devils moved the sticks on a 3rd and 7 quarterback keeper that moved the ball all the way to the 7 yard line as the offensive line kept pushing Shields as Mt. Lebanon was set up with 1st and goal with under 2 minutes to play.
Central Catholic stopped Mt. Lebanon on three straight plays making it 4th and goal from the 1 yard line setting up a game winning field goal attempt for Mt. Lebanon.
Ben Mcauley from 18 yards out buried the field goal with no time left as Mt. Lebanon walked off Central Catholic 17-16.
Mt. Lebanon gained 200 yards of offense in the second half giving them 226 total yards after being held to just 26 in the first half.
“You can’t ever give up,” said head coach Bob Palko. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised we won this game but I tell you, it’s the resiliency of these kids.”