Ligonier Valley sophomore Levi Foust has always been dangerous with the football in his hands.

This season, he’s showing that his arm can be every bit as dangerous as his legs.

Foust put together a huge all-around performance in the Rams’ 52-12 victory over Carlynton, accounting for six touchdowns to earn Westmoreland Sports Network Player of the Week honors, presented by State Farm Agent Alex Hetrick in Delmont.

The sophomore quarterback completed 10-of-14 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 102 yards and two more scores. And his night wasn’t finished when Ligonier Valley’s offense left the field. Foust also contributed eight tackles on defense.

Despite the eye-popping individual numbers, Foust was quick to spread the credit around.

“Our key has really been our offensive line, the way they’ve been blocking,” Foust said. “It’s really easy to run the ball when you get seven or eight yards without being touched.”

Foust also credited the Rams’ skill players for turning routine plays into big ones. That was especially evident against Carlynton, when Anthony Petalino caught three of Foust’s four touchdown passes.

Foust’s favorite touchdown of the night came on a rollout following a fake handoff to Blake Kitt. After recognizing the defense before the snap, he made a defender miss, rolled outside and found Petalino open.

“I hit him in stride and he finished off the score with a touchdown,” Foust explained. “It was a really good play by him and everyone did good on that play.”

The connection between Foust and Petalino has been years in the making. The two have played football together since sixth grade, and Foust has watched his teammate develop into a playmaker on both sides of the ball.

“When you have people like him, they can catch the ball and make things happen after the catch,” Foust added.

The victory was also a historic one for Ligonier Valley, marking the 500th win in program history. It was a milestone the Rams knew was within reach before taking the field. Foust said head coach Roger Beitel made sure his players understood what was at stake.

“Coach Beitel stamped it in our minds that when we win, we’re going to party like rock stars."

Once the Rams secured No. 500, they did plenty of celebrating.

“Everyone went crazy,” Foust said. “It was just really cool to be a part of.”

Foust did plenty of damage with his legs as a freshman, but one of the biggest developments in his game this season has been his improvement as a passer.

That progress didn't happen by accident.

During the offseason, Foust worked with coaches to fine-tune his accuracy and his ability to put touch on throws. The Rams also participated in several 7-on-7 tournaments, knowing they would need a more developed passing attack to win their biggest games.

“We knew we would have to throw the ball in order to win big games,” Foust said.

Even after a six-touchdown performance, Foust believes there is plenty of room to improve. He wants to continue developing as a passer while also becoming more impactful defensively. Playing both ways can be physically demanding, but Foust wouldn't have it any other way.

“It takes a toll on your body, but I love doing it,” he said. “It’s what I’m coached to do, so I’m going to do it.”

That mentality fits the standard Beitel has established within the Ligonier Valley program. Foust describes his head coach as both strict and selfless, someone who keeps the focus on his players while demanding complete commitment.

“You’ve got to dive into the deep end,” Foust said. “You don’t just dip your toe in the water. You’ve got to be all in, or you’re not going to make it on this football team.”

Foust is also a wrestler at Ligonier Valley and believes the sport has helped make him a better football player, particularly when it comes to tackling, reaction time and playing quickly.

“You’ve got to be quick in wrestling, just like you’ve got to be quick in football in order to make the big plays,” Foust said.

Foust mentioned one of the things he enjoys most about football is the relationships he has built through the sport. Many of the teammates surrounding him today are friends he initially met through football when he was younger.

Now those longtime friends are winning together, and Foust is emerging as one of the key pieces for a Ligonier Valley team that has gotten off to an unbeaten start.

“That’s how I really got to know them all,” Foust said about playing with his teammates at a young age. “That’s what I love about it.”