Photo by Mike Longo Jr.
Moon Linebacker Ben Bladel causes a fumble as he and teammate Jacob Baumgartner sack Bethel Park Quarterback Max Blanc in the Tigers 30-0 win to remain unbeaten at 9-0.WPIAL FOOTBALL WEEK 8
MOON AREA 30, BETHEL PARK 0
By Mike Longo Jr.
When a team develops a certain style of football, it can become predictable to opponents and fans alike.
The Moon Tigers employ a hard-hitting running game that is usually led by Senior Dylan Sleva. That is until the injury bug bites on Oct 22.
To fill the void on offense and continue their smashmouth tactics, Ben Bladel was called up to the running back slot. Another 225-pound bruiser, Bladel allowed Sleva to drop back to defense.
The formula worked and the Tigers comfortably defeated Bethel Park 30-0 to maintain a perfect score record at 9-0 for the season.
Setting the tone of the game, Bladel put the Tigers on the scoreboard with a 26-yard punishing touchdown run on the first possession, and would finish the contest picking up 63 hard-fought rushing yards. Moon Area led the contest 9-0 at the intermission. They added a touch down in the third quarter and two more in the final stanza. Four Tigers would tally touchdowns on the ground, rushing for 295 total yards on the evening, and kicker Jacob Wieland booted a 34-yard field goal to round out the scoring.
Moon's defense posted another stellar performance, limiting Bethel Park's offensive efforts throughout the evening, only allowing nine total offensive yards in the first half and 62 yards for the entire contest.
Bethel Park mounted only one real scoring drive and that was in the third quarter as they headed toward midfield. Bladel raced in and bared down on Black Hawk quarterback Max Blanc, sacking him and forcing a fumble.
The win gave the Tigers at least a share of the Allegheny Six Conference title, and with a win next week over arch-rival West Allegheny, Moon could clench the title outright heading into post-season play.