One Rival Down, One To Go As USC Beats Bethel Park 55-0

"I think we won this game on Monday or Tuesday," said Coach Jim Render immediately following USC's 55-0 win at Bethel Park.

The Panthers are very serious about preparing for their biggest rivals. They were the better team, and they were on a mission as the offense moved the ball at will and the defense was an immovable object on senior night at Bethel Park.

"We had a great week of practice," said USC quarterback Dakota Conwell.

The Panthers will be taking their next opponent, Mt. Lebanon very seriously as well.  They are an even bigger rival than Bethel Park and much more is on the line.

After Mt. Lebanon disposed of 42-21 on Friday night, they will be undefeated when they visit Upper St. Clair next Friday with the Great Southern Conference crown at stake.

The Panthers have now shutout their second straight opponent by the score of 55-0.  They have five shutouts in eight contests. Bethel Park didn't even manage a first down during the first half.

Bethel Park QB Sean Seavy starting his second game in a row for the injured Anthony Cinnello clearly kept this a one dimentional game for the Hawks.  He only passing attempt of the game was incomplete and clearly Bethel Park head coach Jeff Matheny was not about to put the ball in the air Friday night.

It took the Panthers 11 plays to go 60 yards and complete their first scoring drive of the night. Conwell completed both his passes and Zach Deitrick took it in from 1-yard out to give Upper St. Clair a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Carleton Gibson set the Panthers up with an interception the first play after the kickoff return and brought it back to the Bethel Park 27-yard line. Dakota Conwell then ran for 26 yards to the 1 yard line, and following it up with a TD on the very next play.  It was 13-0 USC with 4:40 left after a missed extra point.

USC would need just one play for their next scoring drive. Conwell hit his favorite target Mike Wilcox from 35-yards out to make it 20-0 still in the first quarter.  Wilcox just sat in the back of the endzone practically uncovered and Conwell just saw him in the nick of time.

"He had to wait a little bit for that one, I have to recognize him a little quicker," said Conwell.

USC's star quarterback is hitting his stride these days completing 4-5 passes in the first half for 85 yards and a touchdown while running for two more scores and 56 yards on the ground.

After a Conwell 1-yard TD made it 27-0 in the second quarter, Zach Deitrick added his second TD run of the game to make it 34-0 USC with 5:17 left in the second quarter.

After another three and out for Bethel Park, Ryan Boyd blocked a punt and Morgan Lee returned it for the touchdown. Special teams has been spectacular for USC this year and the TD made it 41-0 at the half. They spend a good portion of their Tuesdays working on punts and it shows.

On the very first play of the second half, Deitrick ran down the left sideline 72 yards for another touchdown to make it 48-0. It was a bittersweet score for Render, who had wanted his starters to play a little bit more into the second half after only playing the first half last week.

After the game he was asked if it concerned him that his starters were not getting enough playing time to be ready for important fourth quarter snaps in the playoffs.

"Absolutely. I left in the first group and they score on the first play. Conditioning is important," Render said.

He said no one can't fault the first team, which is playing inspired football as the season progresses.

"I think we're playing our best football of the year," Conwell said.

The Panthers will be looking to keep it going next week when they host Mt. Lebanon in the final regular season game of the year. It's their biggest rival, in the biggest game of the year.

Author's note: Congratulations to Coach Render, who won his 350th career game Friday night. He laughed it off when I told him they say the next 350 are the toughest.