Lions Win Championship

BURGETTSTOWN - Head coach Rob Dupain and his coaching staff have led their charges, the "Nuts and Bolts" team, to its first Tri-State Football League conference championship and undefeated status in nine years.

With a 32-6 victory over the visiting Potter Red Devils on Saturday, the smallest and youngest of the three Lions teams to put on the pads saw its record jump to 8-0, including the team's first victory ever over Quaker Valley.

Quarter one of this week's contest saw a surprising Potter team take their first possession in for a touchdown, and following a failed extra-point attempt and futility on both squads' parts, that was the only scoring of the period.

It wasn't long, however, until the Burgettstown team "let the dogs out," and, led by quarterback Ryan Lounder and Josh Noce, the hosts tied the score with Noce's running.

The Red Devils couldn't reciprocate, so the boys in blue graciously accepted the return of the ball, this time with Noce speeding to a 36-yard TD. Potter's next try to at least tie the score ended with a stop near the 1-yard line, with Darrell Bails halting Cody Gillock just before the end zone.

At the half, the score was Burgettstown 12, Potter 6.

The second half was more of the same for both teams, as the Red Devils couldn't get back on track, and the Nuts and Bolts couldn't be derailed. Austin Safreed intercepted a Potter pass attempt, which gave his teammates all of the momentum they needed to have Noce hit paydirt again, this time a 13-yarder.

Lounder's point-after attempt was successful, and Burgettstown led 19-6.

Next to experience the elation of putting up points for the home team was Darrell Bails, whose 41-yard TD and a good extra point put the home fans into cheers, their team now ahead 26-6.

Frustration continued to plague the Red Devils from that point on, as they failed to capitalize on their next three possessions, and a Lounder-to-Bails pass went for another score, this time a 42-yard prize at 2:50 on the clock, making the final score, Burgettstown 32, Potter 6.

The final games for all three of the Lions teams will be this Sunday at McGuffey, game times at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.