FOX CHAPEL — With a one-score lead in the second half, Fox Chapel coach Bryan Deal put the game on the shoulders of his defense.

It proved to be a wise decision.

Despite the fact that the Foxes' offense gained just 40 yards and one first down over the final two quarters, the team's defense turned away Seneca Valley on five second half drives in a 14-6 win Thursday night in the season finale for both teams.

"I thought our defense played very well tonight," said Deal. "(Seneca Valley) hit two long pass plays on us and that was basically it. They had a few decent runs, but we kept everything in front of us."

The Raiders' first three drives of the second half began at or beyond the 50-yard line.

Their initial series of the third quarter saw the team march 44 yards in seven plays, down to Fox Chapel's six-yard line. But a fourth-down pass intended for Kevin Mayberry in the end zone fell incomplete.

It was the closest SV would come to pulling even.

"Our defense pretty much shut them down in the second half," said Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle. "But we couldn't take advantage of our second-half opportunities."

The Raiders' frustration reached its pinnacle late in the game.

SV (1-9) took over at its own 33-yard line with 4:03 remaining and facing the eight-point deficit.

Fox Chapel's defense proceeded to sack quarterback Kevan Smith on three consecutive plays for a combined loss of 30 yards.

Facing a fourth-and-40 from its own three-yard line, Seneca Valley had no choice but to punt.

The Foxes took over with 2:24 left to play and ran out the clock.

The evening didn't begin well for Smith, either.

On the second play of the game, his attempt to complete a quick slant was intercepted by Fox Chapel lineman John Sasson, who rumbled 15 yards for the game's first score.

"Words can't describe how big that play was for us," said Deal. "When (Seneca Valley) ended up scoring, it didn't put them ahead and that was big."

At least the Raiders made the most of their one score.

With 5:35 left in the opening quarter, SV took over at its own 13-yard line. On first down, Smith let go on a pass down the right sideline to Zach Duggan, who had beaten his man by three steps.

The 87-yard play is the longest scoring pass in team history, though the Raiders missed the extra point and still trailed 7-6.

The Foxes (2-8) had a long pass play as well, but it wasn't designed to go for a score.

Midway through the second quarter, Fox Chapel quarterback Joe Donahoe hit receiver Terry Hartford on a slant pattern that was designed to pick up a first down.

But the 6-foot-1 junior broke a tackle and raced across the field and down the left sideline for a 54-yard touchdown.

"He made somebody miss and picked up a few key blocks downfield," said Deal. "He's capable of making plays like that, but we haven't been able to get him the ball."

It was the first time Fox Chapel's seniors tasted victory on their home field.

"When you're 1-8 with one game to play, there's only so much you can draw upon to motivate the kids," said Deal. "The fact that our seniors had never won on their home field, that certainly served as motivation."

For Butschle, his team's three turnovers and eight penalties were an all-too familiar theme this season.

"We've been making those mistakes all year," he said. "It's something we'll need to improve on."