Belle Vernon can’t contain SF quarterback Diven as Lions earn victory

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 9, 2018 | 10:45 PM

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Belle Vernon football coach Matt Humbert knew the key to his team upsetting No. 2 South Fayette was making Lions quarterback Jamie Diven uncomfortable.

The senior quarterback made himself a home in the pocket, though, and dashed the Leopards’ hopes of a trip to the WPIAL Class 4A championship game. Diven finished 21 of 33 for 333 yards to lead the Lions to a 28-10 victory and their fifth WPIAL championship game appearance in 10 seasons.

Diven accounted for all four Lions touchdowns, three passing and one rushing — all in the first half.

“He’s been so consistent for us all season,” South Fayette coach Joe Rossi said.

The Leopards (9-2) got the scoring started in the first quarter after recovering a South Fayette fumble on the Lions’ second play from scrimmage.

Mason Pascoe got the ball into the red zone with a 36-yard run, but the drive stalled. Cam Guess booted a 32-yard field goal to make it 3-0.

Pascoe finished the game with 25 carries for 95 yards.

“Our defense did a great job limiting him,” Rossi said. “We know he’s going to get those tough yards, but we were able to stop him breaking the big ones. He got the one in the first half, but other than that, our defense did a great job.”

Diven and the Lions (11-1) responded just over two minutes later when he laid a perfect pass into the hands of RayQuin Glover from 39 yards to make it 7-3.

After forcing another BVA punt, the Lions scored again. After a 35-yard hookup from Diven to Mike Trimbur to get to the Leopards 5, Diven hit Charley Rossi on a 3-yard out route in the end zone to make it 14-3.

“We had a two blown coverages in that first half that allowed their guys to run free,” Humbert said. “That’s what happened there. It’s two big plays they hit us on.”

The teams exchanged possessions, and BVA finally caught a break as Nolan Labuda found a wide open Hunter Ruokonen on a 53-yard touchdown pass after the defensive back covering him slipped. Guess’ extra point made it 14-10.

“We came back and hit that big pass of our own and kind of got some momentum,” Humbert said. “We just couldn’t get to (Diven) and his line. They’re working nonstop on pass blocking. They’ve got some big space-eaters up front. They did a great job giving him time to do what he does.”

Diven wasted no time getting the ball back into the end zone. Just over a minute later, he picked up a fumbled snap and ran for a 12-yard score.

The Lions were able to take advantage again through the air, connecting on four straight passes on the drive. Diven connected with Charley Rossi twice, Mike Trimbur and Glover.

Trimbur ended the game with seven catches for 116 yards.

The South Fayette defense forced another BVA three-and-out to get the ball back with 1:56 remaining in the first half.

Diven hit Trimbur for three straight completions, the last, a 26-yard touchdown strike with 43 seconds to go in the half to make it 28-10.

Of the Lions’ 441 total offensive yards, 311 came in the first 24 minutes.

In the second half, the Leopards made adjustments flipping their defensive alignments. It allowed them to get more pressure on Diven and led to a pair of interceptions.

But the Leopards offense was unable to convert three fourth downs in the second half.

“Our defense made some huge stops on fourth-and-short in that second half,” Rossi said. “Our defensive line did a great job filling gaps and we were able to stop them.”

The first came when Larry Callaway was stopped on a fourth-and-3 from the Lions 33.

After a Lions hree-and-out, BVA got the ball back with just under four minutes to go.

Labuda had a snap go over his head. He was able to pick it up and fire a pass to Anthony Bertram for a 43-yard gain. The drive stalled after Pascoe was stopped on a fourth-and-2 at the SF 16.

“We were really trying to be patient with Mason,” Humbert said. “There were some times in the second half where we could see he was just missing getting to that second and third level.

“In the end, we just didn’t get the job done.”

Jeremy Sellew is a Mon Valley Independent staff writer.

Tags: Belle Vernon, South Fayette