West Allegheny football grinds out rivalry win over Moon Area

There could have been nerves along the West Allegheny sidelines late in the game despite a 21-13 lead as Moon completed five straight passes to get inside the Indians' 20-yard line.

Just last week, West Allegheny dropped a 1-point decision to Montour.

"I wasn't nervous, but I was a little anxious," said West Allegheny coach Bob Palko, in his second stint as head coach after winning state titles the first time around.

"We need to get these guys to understand what it takes to win."

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The team understood this game as they forced a fumble, Austin Probert recovered, and West Allegheny ran out the clock for the win.

Palko's post-game instructions to his team was all about those lessons learned and he continued to teach.

"We're always teaching, we can't waste these moments," Palko said. "We have gold nuggets here that we have to develop."

Palko's lessons are not falling on deaf ears, either as the team continues to grow in preparation for conference play next week.

"It feels amazing to win this game," said senior Brodie Cornell, who scored the final two touchdowns, gaining 59 yards rushing, 57 receiving, and added a 43-yard punt return. His dad, Bryan, has been on the West Allegheny staff since Palko's first term.

"There are always butterflies before every game but coach had us ready," Cornell said. "I grew up around Coach Palko, he was like a second dad to me. To play three years and then get a chance to play for him is great."

It isn't only the seniors that are taking advantage of the opportunity. Junior Nico Police scored the Indians' first touchdown on a 15-yard run and intercepted a pass to set up the second.

"This is an unbelievable feeling and we just want to soak up every minute," Police said. "On the interception, we were playing quarters and reading the quarterback's eyes. We knew they'd be throwing a lot."

Moon did, indeed, throw a lot. Junior Cristiano Kinol threw 40 times, completing 22 for 281 yards. Senior Savario Vandetti caught eight of those passes for 157 yards and scored the first touchdown on a 38-yard punt return.

Despite those numbers, though, Kinol wasn't the only outstanding quarterback on the field. Senior Mason Bryan rushed 24 times for 120 yards and passed for 73 yards and two touchdowns. His fakes were good enough that he was usually tackled even when he handed the ball off, too.

"When I first started as quarterback when I was a kid," Bryan said with a smile. "I thought the quarterback was the one who didn't get hit.

"But it's always great to beat Moon — we grew up with most of those kids; I wish they were in our section, but it's still good to get a win."

As he watched the interview, Palko interjected, "That's one gritty kid."

It seems, in fact, that Palko is intent on developing a whole lot of gritty kids.