Seton LaSalle RB Deanes uses 2nd-half surge to hold off Burrell

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 16, 2017 | 12:18 AM

Seton LaSalle senior running back Lionel Deanes ran for more than 200 yards in each of his first two games this season. Deanes couldn't make it three in a row, but it didn't matter.

Burrell held Deanes to 21 yards in the first half before the running back took over the game in the second half as No. 3 Seton LaSalle defeated the Bucs, 35-19, in the WPIAL Class 3A Allegheny Conference Friday at Peters Township.

“They packed the box on him. It looked like they manned up on the outside. We've got to do a better job of throwing the ball. Teams will pack the box against that kid. You got to throw the ball and answer back that way,” Seton coach Rob Carter said.

“Toward the end, we were able to wear them down enough that we were able to hold onto that victory. It wasn't pretty by any means. I need to make sure these kids are ready to play week-to-week.”

Even as Deanes was just getting on track in the second half, the Bucs (1-2, 0-2), who had 267 yards of total offense, stayed within striking distance, down eight points heading into the fourth quarter.

Things got even better for the Bucs on the first play of the fourth quarter when junior running back Logan Bitar scampered down the right sideline for an 89-yard touchdown to narrow the deficit to two points.

“We haven't dealt with adversity well so far, but tonight we dealt with it much better,” Burrell coach Dave Bellinotti said. “We fought, clawed and scratched. That is what we were looking for from our kids.”

However, Deanes, who finished with 133 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 23 carries, responded for the Rebels on the next drive with a 40-yard touchdown run to put Seton LaSalle (3-0, 3-0) back ahead 28-19.

“It's nice when you have that guy to go to. Lionel is a very good player and very good kid,” Carter said. “When you have a kid like that, you know you can lean on him. He didn't have his best game, but I think you saw toward the end, he did what he had to do.”

Deanes, who finished with 89 yards receiving on five catches, started the scoring for the Rebels, who had 410 yards of total offense, with a 30-yard touchdown reception from senior quarterback Matt Banbury with less than a minute left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Rebels junior Nick Vari recovered a fumble and took it 31 yards for a touchdown.

However, on the next Rebels drive, Burrell junior Luke Kastelic picked off Banbury and returned it deep into Rebels territory. A couple of plays later, senior quarterback Seth Tatrn, who finished with 69 rushing yards on six carries, scrambled for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 14-6.

The Bucs, who lost to Seton LaSalle, 27-16, last season, were unable to hold the Rebels on the next drive and allowed a fourth-down conversion.

A couple plays later, Deanes scored from 1 yard to extend the Rebels' lead with six minutes remaining in the first half.

In the third quarter, the Bucs picked off another Banbury pass to set up a 13-yard touchdown run off the right side by Bitar, who finished with 154 yards on 19 carries.

“We knew it was going to take a monumental effort to compete with these guys, and we competed,” Bellinotti said.

“It's a huge improvement from last week, and as a head coach that's what you look for. They improved. They tried and executed the game plan to the best of their ability.”

Banbury, who scored from 9 yards late in the fourth quarter, completed 18 of 29 passes for 236 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions and rushed for 40 yards.

Andrew John is freelance writer.

Tags: Burrell, Seton-LaSalle