There is no doubt that we take our high school football seriously in the Mid-Mon Valley.

Especially when any of our local teams get into the WPIAL playoffs.

But sometimes things in life happen that remind us that football is just a game and you put things in their proper perspective.

Take Belle Vernon Area senior Philip Taylor.

Taylor played a huge game for the Leopards on Friday night in a 36-7 first-round Class AAA win over Chartiers Valley.

Taylor played considerable time at cornerback on defense and also as a receiver/running back on offense.

After the game ended, as has been a custom for the Leps under coach Matt Humbert, the team gathered on the field for a postgame meeting and the presenting of the game ball.

Friday’s game ball went to Taylor.

Not so much because of what he did on the field Friday night, but mostly because he played the game with a heavy heart.

Taylor lost his mother just two days earlier. Korey McQuillis lost her battle with cancer and had been ill for a lengthy time. Humbert said the team was aware that her passing would be soon.

“Still, it’s tough to play with a heavy heart,” Humbert said. “We were all privy to the situation. It makes you step back and realize that football is really so frivolous in reality. Yet, for him, (football) is good because it gives him a way to escape his grief for a while.

“The players were extra motivated Friday because they wanted to get that game ball for him. It’s not much, but it was what they wanted to give him.”

Taylor is actually the second BVA player to lose a parent during the season as senior Sebastian Rainey’s father, Drew, passed away earlier.

“I think it means a lot to have teammates to rally around at a time like this,” Humbert said. “Sunday night the team went to the viewing. I’m sure he appreciates the support. Football is just a game, but it does provide a closeness that is valuable for the players.”

Leps lose leader

While BVA was hammering Chartiers Valley, there was some bad news from the game.

Starting defensive tackle Naquiwan Dixon suffered a knee injury that will probably end his high school football career.

“We will find out for sure (today), but it doesn’t look good,” Humbert said.

Dixon’s spot will be filled on defense by Nick Sweitzer.

“Nick’s not a shabby replacement, but we have had a luxury of not having linemen go both ways,” Humbert said. “Nick played there last year, so we are sure he will do OK.”

Best conference?

Going into the Class AAA playoffs, the general consensus was that the Parkway Conference was the strongest of the three in the field.

However, the quarterfinal field includes just two teams from the Parkway – Central Valley (9-1) and West Allegheny (8-2) – and three each from the Big 10, BVA (10-0), Ringgold (9-1) and Thomas Jefferson (8-2) and Greater Allegheny, Mars (9-1), Franklin Regional (8-2), Hampton (7-3).

The Parkway went 2-4 in the first round while the Big 10 and Greater Allegheny both went 3-2.

Big Seven, Part II

Frazier (10-0), winning its first playoff game in more than two decades, will get for its reward a second encounter with a Big Seven Conference team.

The Commodores stopped South Side Beaver, 33-32, in overtime Friday and will now meet Big Seven champion Shenango this week at Chartiers-Houston. Shenango (8-2) beat SSB, 27-7, on Oct. 9.

Playoff ticket sales

BVA athletic director Jesse Cramer announced that tickets for Friday’s game against Franklin Regional will be sold 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 8 to 11 a.m. Friday in the athletic office. In addition, there will be an evening sale 6 to 7 p.m. in the athletic office. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students. No student tickets will be sold at the gate.

Jeff Oliver is a sports editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2666 or joliver@tribweb.com.

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