Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2023 Week 3

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 5:00 PM

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Class 5A Big East Conference

Franklin Regional (2-1) at Gateway (0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Pete Antimarino Stadium, Monroeville

Last week: Franklin Regional 38, Connellsville 0; North Hills 26, Gateway 8

Last year’s result: Franklin Regional 16, Gateway 7

Teams trending in separate directions will open Big East Conference play. … Last year, Franklin Regional upset the then-No. 1 Gators, 16-7, forcing four turnovers and blocking a punt. A staunch defense, led by linebackers Owen Sinclair and Austin Kerns, has propelled Franklin Regional this year, while a complementary running game is rounding into form. … With just 15 points, Gateway has not finished drives in the red zone. Backup QB Elsidro Bryant threw 37 times in the loss last week. Brad Birch did not play for the second straight game after he was involved in a car accident the previous week.

Plum (2-1) at Norwin (1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Norwin Knights Stadium, North Huntingdon

Last week: Shaler 28, Plum 14; Norwin 33, Fox Chapel 18

Last year’s result: Plum 42, Norwin 13

A power running attack meets a go-and-throw approach in another Big East opener. … Offensive centerpiece Nick Odom is a challenge to bring down and makes the Mustangs go. Plum allowed a 282-yard passer last week against Shaler in Keegan Smetanka, so Norwin will look to test that same secondary. … Tristyn Tavares threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns last week, two to Jake Knight.

Class 4A Big Seven Conference

Thomas Jefferson (3-0) at Latrobe (2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Latrobe

Last week: Thomas Jefferson 28, West Mifflin 14; Latrobe 27, Hempfield 7

Last year’s result: Thomas Jefferson 31, Latrobe 21; Thomas Jefferson 21, Latrobe 6 (WPIAL quarterfinals)

The teams open conference play both coming off impressive wins. … TJ running back Elias Lippencott has scored five touchdowns this season and wide receiver Sean Sullivan has 20 catches for 248 yards and three scores. The Jaguars use two quarterbacks – senior Brody Evans and junior Luke Kosko. … Linebacker Alex Tatsch starred against hempfield with two interceptions and two touchdown runs. Junior tackle Caleb Lehman has three sacks. Junior QB John Wetzel has thrown five touchdown passes and rushed for two scores.

Class 2A Allegheny Conference

Apollo-Ridge (1-2) at Ligonier Valley (1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Weller Field, Ligonier

Last week: Deer Lakes 49, Apollo-Ridge 21; Greensburg Salem 34, Ligonier Valley 7

Last year’s result: Ligonier Valley 28, Apollo-Ridge 14

Both teams are coming off losses to bigger schools. … Apollo-Ridge is led by senior quarterback Karter Schrock, who has rushed for 289 yards and scored four touchdowns. He is 12 of 34 for 102 yards and three interceptions. … The Rams are led by junior running back John Jablunovsky, who has rushed for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Bryce Vida has three quarterback sacks.

Yough (1-2) at Derry (1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Trojan Stadium, Derry

Last week: Yough 20, Charleroi 14; Southmoreland 24, Derry 21

Last year’s result: Yough 13, Derry 10

A couple of county teams open Allegheny Conference play with a measure of momentum, even so for Derry after a loss. … Yough rallied from a 14-6 lead at halftime to topple Charleroi as Julia Varrenti ran for 102 yards and QB Raidon Kuroda threw for a TD and ran for two more. … High-flying Southmoreland nearly fell for a trap game against Derry, which snapped a 20-game losing streak the previous week by defeating Greensburg Salem. Ahmad Ward had a workman-like 34 carries, gaining 146 yards with two touchdowns.

Class A Eastern Conference

Jeannette (2-1) at Frazier (0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Frazier Stadium, Perryopolis

Last week: Jeannette 31, Jefferson-Morgan 20; Monessen 48, Frazier 19

Last year’s result: Jeannette 56, Frazier 20

Jeannette’s Air Raid offense takes on a Frazier team prone to allowing big plays. … The Jayhawks piled up 229 yards on the ground last week with Noah Sanders rushing for 111 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. … Frazier was shut out the first two games, 37-0 against California and 28-0 vs. Mapletown. Monessen broke away for some long scoring runs, although Dailan McManus, Frazier’s quarterback, threw for 188 yards and two scores and was not intercepted.

Class A Tri-County South Conference

Bentworth (1-2) at Monessen (1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Monessen

Last week: Leechburg 28, Bentworth 21; Monessen 48, Frazier 19

Last year’s meeting: Monessen 42, Bentworth 9

The Bearcats are led by senior quarterback Vitali Daniels, who has completed 37 of 58 passes for 621 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 152 yards and a score. Junior Lucas Burt has nine catches for 163 yards and four scores, three against Leechburg. … Daevon Burke rushed for 139 yards and scored three touchdowns against Frazier. Sophomore running back Tyvaughn Kershaw is the Greyhounds’ leading rusher and has scored four touchdowns. He rushed for 77 yards against Frazier on four carries.

Nonconference

Class 3A No. 1 Belle Vernon (2-0) at Penn-Trafford (1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Warrior Stadium, Harrison City

Last week: Belle Vernon 21, McKeesport 14 (OT); Penn-Trafford 28, Woodland Hills 26

Last year’s result: Penn-Trafford 14, Belle Vernon 13

These teams have won WPIAL and PIAA titles the last two seasons. Penn-Trafford was a 5A champion in 2021 and Belle Vernon the 3A champion in 2022. Ironically, Penn-Trafford lost to Belle Vernon in 2021 and Penn-Trafford won in 2022. This is Belle Vernon’s first trip to Harrison City. Both teams have solid defenses that will be tested by big play offenses. … The Leopards are led by Penn State recruit Quintin Martin, who rushed for 115 yards and scored four touchdowns. … Penn-Trafford got a big game on the ground last week from Tasso Whipple, who rushed for 220 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Greensburg Salem (1-2) at Deer Lakes (2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Lancer Stadium, West Deer

Last week: Greensburg Salem 34, Ligonier Valley 7; Deer Lakes 49, Apollo-Ridge 21

Last year’s result: Greensburg Salem 28, Deer Lakes 14

One of two more nonconference games before the start of conference play for the Golden Lions and Lancers. … Greensburg Salem is at its best when it starts fast. It was 20-0 after the first quarter last week. QB Peyton Chismar returned after serving a two-game suspension and ran for two touchdowns. Brady Smith rushed for 164 yards and two scores. … A 21-point first quarter propelled Deer Lakes past Apollo-Ridge. Zier Williams ran for 193 yards and two touchdowns, and Derek Burke ran for two TDs and threw for two more.

Shaler (3-0) at Hempfield (1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Bill Abraham Field at Spartan Stadium, Hempfield

Last week: Shaler 28, Fox Chapel 14; Latrobe 27, Hempfield 7

Last year’s result: Hempfield 48, Shaler 7

A year ago it was Hempfield that started out quickly with a senior-dominant team. This year, it’s Shaler. … The Titans are led by quarterback Keegan Smetanka, who has completed 51 of 67 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns. His top targets are Joe DeSabato (21 catches, 246 yards, 3 TDs) and Kaden Orga (15, 243, 1). Running back Nathan Rozzo has rushed for 306 yards and two touchdowns. … Hempfield’s offense has had trouble finishing drives the past two games. Quarterback Keiran Lippmann has completed 34 of 58 passes for 359 yards and wide receiver Mitchell Bitar leads with eight catches for 74 yards. Rogan Katchur and Lucas Moore share the running duties.

Valley (1-2) at Mt. Pleasant (2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Mt. Pleasant Area Stadium, Mt. Pleasant

Last week: Burrell 30, Valley 8; Mt. Pleasant 26, McGuffey 21

Last year’s result: Mt. Pleasant 40, Valley 13

Mt. Pleasant plays a home game after opening the season with three road games. … Valley followed a win over Apollo-Ridge with a loss to neighboring Burrell. Chuck Perkins scored the Vikings’ only touchdown and Derek Hassim had two catches for 120 yards. … The Vikings rallied to defeat McGuffey last week as quarterback Cole Chatfield returned an interception 78 yards for a score and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Luke Nicotera. Running back Garrett Eicher, who has rushed for 249 yards, scored twice, including the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter.

Class 2A No. 1. Washington (3-0) at Greensburg Central Catholic (2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Centurion Stadium, Carbon

Last week: Washington 40, Serra Catholic 15; Greensburg Central Catholic 48, West Greene 30

Last year’s result: Washington 55, Greensburg CC 27

Prepare to see some playmakers. Both teams have quite a few. … Washington, the new No. 1 team in 2A, is averaging 38.3 points, running behind a solid line. Eddie Lewis ran for 153 yards and two TDs, and Percy Dudley added 101 yards and score more scores in last week’s victory. … Tyree Turner and Samir Crosby have been exciting players to watch for GCC. Turner threw for three TDs and ran for two others last week, while Crosby caught a scoring pass and took a kick back 70 yards to the end zone. Crosby has five interceptions.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Bentworth, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Frazier, Gateway, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Shaler, Thomas Jefferson, Washington, Yough