PHOTO GALLERY

The Saint Vincent football team ended the 2019 season with a 27-10 victory over visiting Bethany College on Senior Day in Latrobe.

Mike Stasko ran for 157 yards on 27 carries, setting a modern day single season rushing record, and scored his 10th rushing touchdown of the year, also a single-season record.

The Bison got on the board first, taking advantage of a Bearcat fumble on the opening drive.  Bethany's Dom Salinetro completed a pass to Raekwon Wright from 12 yards out, capping an 11-play, 97-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead.  It would prove to be the only scoring play of the first quarter.

Early in the second the Bearcats' Cam Norris blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt by the Bison.  Micah Harris recovered the ball at the home 30, and Stasko did much of the work from there.  After Lorenzo Cota completed a pass to Stasko for 10 yards, Stasko then moved the ball to the 44 on a 3-yard run.  On the next play, he ran left and followed his blockers, and didn't stop until he reached the end zone 56 yards later.  Nick Srnka added the extra point to tie the game, 7-7.

SVC senior Izaak Gray forced a fumble on the ensuing drive, but SVC was unable to capitalize, eventually having to punt.  After the defense held and forced a Bethany punt, SVC took over possession at its own 17 following a 62-yard boot by Bison punter Anthony Fiasco.  

Cota connected with Keith Kalp on a 21-yard pass that moved the ball just past midfield, and hit Kalp again down the right sideline on a 34-yard strike, making it first-and goal at the Bethany 8.  Two plays later, Cota hit Braden Hone on a fade route in the back left corner of the end zone for a touchdown.  The point after attempt failed, leaving the score at 13-7 with just 34 seconds left in the half.

The Bison moved the ball quickly and managed to get back on the board as time expired, with Sean Cole hitting a 39-yard field that kissed the crossbar and carried through the uprights as time expired, making it 13-10 at the break.

After the team combined for five straight punts to open the second half, SVC took possession at the Bethany 29, following a defensive stand that led to a Bison punt from their own end zone.  Sam Nowicki, who had helped to set up the drive with a 10-yard punt return, hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Cota on the third play of the drive, putting SVC in front, 20-10.

Another defensive stop by the Bearcats led to yet another Bethany punt, and this time SVC took over at their own 30-yard-line on the first play of the fourth quarter.  Stasko and David Marshall Jr combined for 8 rushing plays, then Cota took to the air, finding Andre Dixon in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown pass.  Srnka's point after ended scoring for the day, with SVC in front by 17 points.

Joining Stasko atop the statistic sheet for the day was Cota, who was 10-for-15 through the air for 152 yards and three touchdowns.  Nowicki caught three pases for 39 yards, whlie Kalp and Stasko each had 2 receptions.

Defensively, Norris had 7 tackles, including 2 behind the line for a total of 21 negative yards.  In all, the Bearcats had 9 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 2.5 by senior Cody Henry, and two by Gianni Gonzalez.  Gonzales had 6 tackles overall, while Jack Kilkeary had five.  Gonzalez and Henry each recorded a sack.

Saint Vincent finishes the season with an overall record of 3-7, 3-6 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.  Bethany finishes at 4-6 overall, 4-5 in the PAC.