SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017 · 17 BELLE VERNON LEOPARDS (JAMES WEIR STADIUM) 296-230-7 ALL-TIME LEOPARDS LOOK TO FINISH STRONG It’s not about how you start but how you finish, and in 2017 the BelleVernon football team is looking for a better finish than a year ago. After starting 6-0, the Leopards stumbled toward the finish line, losing three of their last four games to finish 7-3 and in a threeway tie for second place in the Class 4A Big 9 Conference. They earned a trip to theWPIAL playoffs, but itwas short-lived.The Leopards suffered a 19-0 loss to West Mifflin, their second setback in three weeks against the Titans, to end the season. “We started off quick and then sputtered toward the end,” fourthyear coach Matt Humbert said. “We were the opposite from a lot of teams. We lost our momentum and confidence, and you never want that to happen. Our kids are resilient for the most part. That tough loss to TJ, and in the fashion that we did, really hurt our pride a little bit. Having to play West Mifflin twice after that wasn’t too advantageous, but it is what it is. Youhave toplaywho youare given, and you can’t be a baby and whine about it.” Heading into the 2017 season, Humbert acknowledges Thomas Jefferson once again will be the favorite in the conference. He also knows his team is only two years removed from an undefeated conference season, including a win at Thomas Jefferson, and a lot of those players are now juniors and seniors. “They should be the favorite year-in and year-out,” Humbert said. “TJ is the real deal and I thinkwe get sick of talking about it. You cannot overshadow the legacy that they have in Western Pennsylvania in football. At the same time, we beat them in the recent past. The kids need to recognize both. They need to respect who theyare but realizeweare not bad, either.” Looking forward to this season, Belle Vernon will have seven returning starters on offense and six on defense, although it will have some key players to replace, including quarterbackMike Fine, who graduated. Fine led the Leopards to a 17-4 record and a regular-season conference championship in his two years. Replacing Fine will either be senior Derek Thomas or sophomore Jared Hartman. Also graduating was top rusher Nick Hall (80 carries, 808 yards, 10 TDs) and receiver Tim Labuda (28 catches, 386 yards, eight TDs). TheLeopards will be able to lean on senior lineman Blake Zubovic (6-6, 295), a Pitt recruit. Since taking over as the head coach at Belle Vernon four years ago, Humbert has continued to preach the motto, “Do Your Job.” From their website to T-shirts, that slogan has been instilled into his players. “All roads lead back to Rome, and that is just doing your job,” Humbert said. “All coaches in America can break downa filmon when they loseand sayeverything thatwent wrong. I don’t overthink it. It is simplistic. I think our kids are resilient. I don’t think we need to have a come-to-Jesus meeting about how we are going to finish stronger. I think we just need to take it week-by-week. “The goal for this year is to just focus on one game at a time. We can’t worryaboutwhoweare playing Week 8, 9 and 10. I think I need to emphasize that even more this year.” With that said, all of Humbert’s focus is turned to Albert Gallatin. The Leopards and Colonials will clash in Week 1 at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 at Belle Vernon. Belle Vernon has woneachof its last five Week 1 games, including defeating Albert Gallatin, 48-14, last year. Drew Karpen is a freelancewriter. by DREW KARPEN BIG 9 Jared Hartman SCHEDULE Coach: Matt Humbert 2016 record: 7-3, 6-2 Date Opponent Time 9.1 Albert Gallatin* 7 9.8 at Uniontown* 7:30 9.15 Ringgold* 7 9.22 Greensburg Salem* 7 9.29 at Laurel Highlands* 7:30 10.6 Trinity* 7 10.13 Thomas Jefferson* 7 10.20 at West Mifflin* 7:30 10.27 at Ambridge 7 STATISTICAL LEADERS Passing Mike Fine+ 62-106, 817 yards, 10 TDs Receiving Tim Labuda+ 28-386 yards, 8 TDs Rushing Nick Hall+ 80-808 yards, 10 TDs *CONFERENCE GAME; +GRADUATED No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl. 1 Anthony Bertram LB/WR 6-0/200 Jr. 2 Larry Callaway LB/RB 5-10/180 So. 3 Zach Powell DB/WR 5-4/100 Fr. 4 Derek Cesovski DB/RB 6-0/190 Sr. 5 Nolan Labuda DB/WR 5-7/195 So. 6 Andrew Pacak LB/WR 6-0/200 So. 7 Jake Fine DB/WR 5-10/155 Jr. 8 Zachary Spano LB/QB 5-9/150 Fr. 9 Jackson Jewell DB/QB 5-5/145 Fr. 10 Ben Tenuta LB/TE 5-10/160 So. 11 Ryan Abbott DB/RB 5-10/160 So. 12 Jared Hartman LB/QB 6-1/200 So. 14 Derek Thomas LB/QB/TE 6-2/235 Sr. 15 Stacia Morgan DB/WR 5-4/125 Fr. 16 Ramon Soto DB/WR 5-7/138 Jr. 17 Hunter Ruokonen DB/WR 5-10/160 So. 20 Issac Evans DB/WR 5-10/150 Jr. 21 Mason Pascoe DB/RB 5-7/155 Jr. 22 Joey Federer DB/RB 5-5/145 Jr. 23 Logan Pfrogner DB/WR 6-2/190 Sr. 24 Jake Haney DB/QB 5-6/120 Fr. 25 Dom Dongilli LB/TE 6-0/180 Sr. 27 Brock Stasko DB/WR 5-7/125 Fr. 28 Dane Anden DB/RB 5-9/150 Fr. 30 Brandon Roche DL/TE 6-0/230 Sr. 31 Dylan Burnworth DB/WR 5-6/130 Fr. 32 Lewis Stilner LB/WR 6-1/165 Fr. 33 Anthony Coccari DB/WR 5-0/130 So. 34 Chad Metikosh LB/RB 5-7/210 Fr. 35 Andrew Glasser LB/RB 6-0/180 Jr. 36 Camden Spoto LB/RB 6-2/200 So. 39 Skyelor Rose LB/TE 5-9/165 Fr. 41 Mitchell Pohlot DE/TE 6-2/185 So. 42 Nino Kuntz LB/RB 6-0/230 Jr. 43 Dylan Haney LB/RB 5-10/210 Sr. 44 Ting Feng Chen LB/RB 5-8/170 Jr. 46 Josh Price LB/TE 6-0/170 So. 48 Anthony Sauritch DB/TE 6-0/185 So. 50 Lucas Girgenrath DL/OL 6-2/220 Fr. 51 Kirk Popelas DL/OL 6-2/260 Jr. 52 Dakota Marion DL/OL 6-1/230 Fr. 53 John Mccahill DL/OL 6-3/260 Jr. 54 Hunter Moody DL/OL 5-9/185 Jr. 55 Ronald Naylor DL/OL 5-10/180 So. 56 Logan Petrosky DL/OL 6-1/265 Sr. 57 Jaquez Martin DL/OL 6-3/215 So. 58 Anthony Evans DL/OL 6-1/235 Fr. 60 Zade Zadrozny DL/OL 6-2/225 So. 61 Eric Oblak DL/OL 6-2/230 Jr. 62 Aundres Naylor DL/OL 5-11/200 Jr. 63 Max Bryer DL/OL 6-1/200 So. 64 Justin Erkroate DL/OL 5-8/260 Sr. 65 Eden Shemesh DL/OL 6-2/230 Fr. 66 Anthony Rebar DL/OL 6-3/240 Jr. 67 Gage Rogge DL/OL 5-10/205 So. 68 Blake Zubovic DL/OL 6-6/305 Sr. 69 Hayden Baron DL/OL 6-0/225 So. 70 Collin Pallotta DL/OL 6-0/260 Jr. 71 Devon Marmie DL/OL 5-9/185 So. 72 Tyler Steban DL/OL 5-7/270 So. 73 Kody Callaway DL/OL 5-5/280 So. 74 Ken Shemish DL/OL 5-9/215 Sr. 75 Cole Youngblood DL/OL 5-5/300 Fr. 75 Chris McCullough K 6-0/220 Sr. 76 Logan Fairbee DL/OL 5-7/270 Fr. 77 Seth Caldwell DL/OL 5-9/190 Jr. 79 Noah Fox DL/OL 6-4/255 Fr. 82 Brandon Barber DB/WR 5-9/140 Fr. 88 Cameron Guess K 6-0/180 So. 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