Five months since the season began and just two short weeks since they were crowned section champions, the Beaver Area football team’s 2024 season comes to an end.

After a short bye week, the Bobcats were at home for another matchup against the Avonworth Antelopes.

The Lopes fell to the Bobcats just two weeks before this game during the final regular season game.

Tensions and excitement were high because of the heated rivalry and the smack talk that was happening for two weeks straight.

This time the Antelopes were ready for all of the Bobcats’ tricks.

In the first half, Avonworth scored 21 unanswered points, and all three touchdowns were scored by the same player.

Despite Beaver Area’s ability to normally come back in the second half (during games like Imani Christian and Westinghouse) the Bobcats just couldn’t stop the Antelope offense nor break through their defense.

During the third and fourth quarter, Avonworth changed nothing and scored yet another three touchdowns.

The Lopes relied heavily on the run game having only one passing touchdown and less than ten completed passes the entire game.

With all of the attention on Avonworth’s loss two weeks ago, critics and fans remarked about how much the offensive line was the downfall of the Avonworth team.

The O-line must have practiced hard or bulked up because a set of two running-back brothers were able to score a collective five rushing touchdowns on the Bobcats.

Nico and Luca Neal became the Antelope’s Amari Jackson and Qualan Cain with every play being handed off to them.

Seniors Brady Mayo, Cain, and Jackson, who are the Bobcats’ stars, were heavily covered for all four quarters.

Despite the coverage, junior and quarterback Travis Clear connected with Jackson in the beginning of the third quarter for a 51-yard reception touchdown.

Likewise, Cain was able to run for a 14-yard rushing touchdown at the end of the third.

Jackson managed to score once more in the fourth to make the final score 42-21.

This meant that for the third year in a row, the Antelopes kicked the Bobcats out of the WPIAL playoffs.

Avonworth coach Duke Johncour stated in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that “They [Beaver Area] had three weapons that are really talented, and we had to defend them all. It was a great effort on our defense. I didn’t want to play Beaver Area again; they’re one of the best teams in the WPIAL.”

The team was crushed by this loss because of their confidence in moving on to play Imani Christian again, but ultimately had to hang up their cleats for the season.

“We were not prepared for Avonworth, but overall we are proud of our season,” said junior Junior Marino.