Leechburg football goes old school to rout Riverview
By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 21, 2018 | 10:18 PM
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Leechburg players try to take down Riverview’s Devon Binz during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Ben Blacksmith catches the ball in the end zone as teammate Jackson Corey signifies a touchdown during a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview players react to a touchdown during a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Ben Blacksmith reacts after being tackled during a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Leechburg’s Bret Kardos tries to get through Riverview players during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s J.D. Sykes tries to pull down Leechburg’s Jake Blumer during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Leechburg players break through a banner at the start of their game against Riverview on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Nick Palmiere takes a drink of water during a during a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Leechburg’s J.D. Sykes carries the ball during a game against Riverview on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview cheerleaders wait on the sidelines prior to the start of a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Devon Binz puts his arm out to block Leechburg’s Elijah Rich during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Ryan Slebrich jumps on Leechburg’s Jake Blumer during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Jared Massack looks to make a pass during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s J.D. Sykes is pulled down by Leechburg players during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Jared Massack is taken down by a Leechburg player during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
A few fans stick it out during heavy rain showers as they continue to watch Leechburg take on Riverview on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Leechburg players try to take down Riverview’s Devon Binz during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Ben Blacksmith catches the ball in the end zone as teammate Jackson Corey signifies a touchdown during a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview players react to a touchdown during a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Ben Blacksmith reacts after being tackled during a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Leechburg’s Bret Kardos tries to get through Riverview players during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s J.D. Sykes tries to pull down Leechburg’s Jake Blumer during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Leechburg players break through a banner at the start of their game against Riverview on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Nick Palmiere takes a drink of water during a during a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Leechburg’s J.D. Sykes carries the ball during a game against Riverview on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview cheerleaders wait on the sidelines prior to the start of a game against Leechburg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Devon Binz puts his arm out to block Leechburg’s Elijah Rich during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Ryan Slebrich jumps on Leechburg’s Jake Blumer during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Jared Massack looks to make a pass during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s J.D. Sykes is pulled down by Leechburg players during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Riverview’s Jared Massack is taken down by a Leechburg player during a game Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
A few fans stick it out during heavy rain showers as they continue to watch Leechburg take on Riverview on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Leechburg.
Leechburg did things the old-fashioned way Friday. Behind a power running game and a stifling defense, the Blue Devils defeated the Riverview Raiders, 41-12, in a Class A Eastern Conference matchup at Veterans Memorial Field.
Leechburg (2-3, 1-2) was led by senior running back Bret Kardos, who plowed his way to 103 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Junior running back Jake Blumer added 86 yards on 11 carries with two touchdown runs.
“That’s what we wanted to do tonight,” Leechburg coach Mark George said of his running game that totaled 220 yards. “Those guys right there are two good running backs. One is a senior, and one is a junior. A lot of the times, Bret does a lot of the blocking for Jake. But tonight, he got to shine a little bit and show what he can do.”
Riverview (0-4, 0-3) began the night on offense, but the Blue Devils defense wasted no time taking control of the game. With the ball at the Raiders 40 on first-and-10, senior running back J.D. Sykes had the ball stripped and Leechburg jumped on it at the Riverview 44. It was the first of four takeaways by Leechburg.
Blumer needed only two plays to find the end zone as he sprinted 42 yards on second-and-8 for the touchdown to give the Blue Devils an early 7-0 lead. A surprise onside kick on the ensuing kickoff saw Leechburg take over at the Riverview 45. Six plays later, Blumer found the end zone again on a 1-yard run that made the score 13-0.
With the score 20-0 after a Kardos 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Riverview got on the board. An 11-play drive that began at its own 40 was capped off by senior quarterback Jared Massack finding senior receiver Ben Blacksmith for a 12-yard score.
Leechburg entered halftime leading 26-6. The Riverview defense, however, gave the team life to begin the second half as it recovered a Leechburg fumble at its own 15. The offense, though, went three-and-out.
“Leechburg is a good team,” Riverview coach Todd Massack said. “They’ve got some good, physical kids. They were the better team tonight. I have to do a better job of getting our guys prepared and ready to go.”
With the rain pouring, Kardos added his second touchdown of the night on the following drive, again from 5 yards, to widen the lead to 33-6.
In addition to the four takeaways, Leechburg held Riverview to 175 yards of offense.
Riverview freshman running back Dean Cecere capped the scoring with a 60-yard touchdown run late in the game to make the score 41-12.
