Burgettstown football off to best start in 11 years

One of the seven unbeaten WPIAL Class AA football teams at the one-third mark of the regular season is Burgettstown. Blue Devils coach Mark Taylor admits "not many people outside of our locker room would have expected that."

Burgettstown ran its record to 3-0 for the first time since 2000 last Saturday when it defeated South Allegheny 26-6. The Blue Devils opened the season with a 33-7 victory over South Side Beaver then walloped Deer Lakes 54-14 in their second game.

The key for Burgettstown has been a strong running game that produces time-consuming drives, somewhat ironic since Taylor was a wide receiver at Blackhawk High School and Youngstown State. Quarterback Ryan Dupain led the way against South Allegheny by throwing for 150 yards and rushing for 70 more while running back John Dugas added 105 yards on the ground. Burgettstown's defense was suffocating as it had five sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Burgettstown now moves into Century Conference play and the competition figures to be tougher with back-to-back road games at Steel Valley (2-1) on Friday night and South Fayette (2-1) on Sept. 30.