Minersville senior football players gather for a photo following the 43-8 Battle in the Backyard victory at Nativity on Friday night (Left to right, Justin Cutler, Cam Rogers, Colby Leshko, Jordan Bowers, Cam Quinones, Jayce Rizzardi, and Derek Derenzo (photo by Robbie McGrath)
SAINT CLAIR — Minersville’s senior class accomplished something Friday night that no other group in program history has done.
The Battlin’ Miners defeated Nativity for the fourth time during their seniors’ careers, riding outstanding performances from Derek Derenzo and John Lutsky to a 43-8 victory in the ninth annual Battle in the Backyard at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Lutsky and Derenzo rushed for three touchdowns apiece and combined for 302 yards on the ground as Minersville (3-7, 2-5 D-II) closed its season with a rivalry victory.
Nativity (1-9, 0-7 D-II) briefly grabbed an 8-7 lead in the first quarter before Minersville responded with 36 unanswered points.
The Green Wave attempted an onside kick to open their Senior Night game, but Minersville recovered and quickly went to work.
After Derenzo converted a fourth down on a fake punt, Lutsky broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run to give the Miners a 7-0 lead.
Nativity appeared to have an immediate answer when Owen Holley connected with Danny Trezise for a 51-yard touchdown, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty.
The Green Wave eventually found the end zone on the same possession. Holley connected with Cole Felty for a 10-yard touchdown pass, and Felty added the two-point conversion to put Nativity ahead, 8-7, with less than four minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
The lead lasted only three plays.
Lutsky scored again, this time on a 6-yard run, before Derenzo connected with Jordan Bowers for the two-point conversion to put Minersville back in front, 15-8.
The Miners never trailed again.
Minersville’s defense forced a turnover on downs on Nativity’s ensuing possession, and Derenzo capped the next drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 22-8.
The Miners carried that advantage into halftime behind a powerful ground attack that Nativity struggled to contain.
Lutsky was especially explosive.
The junior needed just nine carries to rush for 183 yards, averaging more than 20 yards per attempt. Derenzo, a senior, added 119 yards on 18 carries as the duo accounted for all but six of Minersville’s 308 rushing yards.
Nativity’s Owen Holley (8) and Minersville’s Derek Derenzo (12) display their MVP trophies following Friday night’s Battle in the Backyard. Holley received the John Lieberman Memorial Award as Nativity’s MVP, while Derenzo received the Brian Laudeman Memorial Award as Minersville’s MVP. (Photo by Robbie McGrath)
Minersville wasted little time putting the game out of reach in the third quarter.
The defense opened the second half by forcing its third turnover on downs, and Derenzo followed with an 8-yard touchdown run to make it 29-8 with 9:31 remaining in the quarter.
After forcing a Nativity three-and-out, Lutsky broke free for his longest run of the night, racing 63 yards for his third touchdown and extending Minersville’s lead to 36-8.
Derenzo then helped set up the final score with a long punt return that gave Minersville possession at the Nativity 6-yard line. He scored on the next play, completing his three-touchdown performance and giving the Miners a 43-8 advantage with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter.
Minersville finished with 356 yards of total offense, including 308 on the ground, while holding Nativity to 159 total yards and just 57 rushing yards.
Holley completed 14 of 27 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Green Wave. Liam Garrity caught three passes for 37 yards, while Cole Felty added two receptions for 14 yards and Nativity’s lone touchdown.
Minersville football players pose with the Battle in the Backyard trophy following Friday night’s 43-8 victory over Nativity. (Photo by Robbie McGrath)
The Minersville defense continued to make key stops on fourth down before Cam Rogers recorded the game’s only interception late in the fourth quarter.
With 2:09 remaining, Minersville began taking knees to run out the clock, bringing the ninth annual Battle in the Backyard to a close and sending the rivalry trophy back to Minersville.
Following the game, each team’s MVP award was presented after voting by media members in attendance.
Derenzo received the Brian Laudeman Memorial Award as Minersville’s MVP, while Holley was presented with the John Lieberman Memorial Award as Nativity’s MVP.
Nativity’s Owen Holley (8) and Minersville’s Derek Derenzo (12) with their MVP trophies following Friday night’s Battle in the Backyard. Holley received the John Lieberman Memorial Award, Nativity’s MVP. Derenzo received the Brian Laudeman Memorial Award, Minersville’s MVP (photo by Robbie McGrath)
Despite scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 119 yards, Derenzo gave plenty of credit to his backfield partner after receiving the honor, saying he believed Lutsky deserved the award.
The Miners have now won five consecutive Battle in the Backyard games and six straight meetings against Nativity overall, including their 19-13 overtime victory in a 2023 District 11 Class 1A semifinal.
The victory provided a fitting ending for a Minersville senior class that includes Derenzo, Bowers, Rogers, Jayce Rizzardi, Colby Leshko, Cam Quinones and Chase Beach.
“They’re a great group of kids,” Minersville coach Justin Frantz said of his seniors. “They’re tough — and some of them have been on the field since freshman year.”
For those seniors, the victory also completed a four-year run without a loss to their rival Green Wave.
Although the Miners will lose several key players, including Derenzo and Bowers, they will return Lutsky following his breakout junior season, along with sophomore quarterback Kushon Sims and several other key contributors.
For coach Pat Mason’s Nativity squad, the Green Wave will lose senior Jacob Williams but are expected to return several key contributors, including Holley, Cole Felty, Cooper Felty, Garrity and Trezise.
For Minersville’s seniors, Friday night provided one final opportunity to walk off the field together — with the Battle in the Backyard trophy coming home with them once again.
The Minersville football players pose with the Battle in the Backyard trophy following Friday night’s 43-8 win at Nativity (photo by Robbie McGrath).
Game Summary
Minersville 43, Nativity BVM 8
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Min (3-7, 2-5) | 15 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 43 |
| Nat (1-9, 0-7) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Min — Lutsky 51 run (Bowers kick)
Nat — Cole Felty 10 pass from Holley (2-point conversion good)
Min — Lutsky 6 run (2-point conversion good)
Min — Derenzo 1 run (Bowers kick)
Min — Derenzo 8 run (Bowers kick)
Min — Lutsky 63 run (Bowers kick)
Min — Derenzo 6 run (Bowers kick)
Team Statistics
Min-Nat
Rushes-Yards — 32-308 23-57
Passes —- 2-6-0 14-27-1
Passing Yards —- 48 102
Total Yards —- 356 159
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Minersville — Lutsky 9-183, Derenzo 18-119, Ballard 2-4, Cutler 1-2, Bowers 1-0, Rogers 1-0. Nativity — Trezise 6-26, Holley 6-22, Williams 8-21, Werez 1-(-5), Cole Felty 2-(-7).
PASSING: Minersville — Derenzo 2-5-0, 48; Sims 0-1-0, 0. Nativity — Holley 14-27-1, 102.
RECEIVING: Minersville — Rogers 1-30, Bowers 1-18. Nativity — Garrity 3-37, Uhrin 3-25, Williams 4-16, Cole Felty 2-14, Clews 1-6, Trezise 1-4.
INTERCEPTIONS: Minersville — Rogers.