Westmoreland County high school football notebook: 3 teams could clinch playoff spots in Week 8

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, October 19, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Four Westmoreland County teams have clinched WPIAL playoff berths, but more can secure spots this week.

There are two weeks left in the regular season. Playoff pairings will come out Oct. 28.

Already in the postseason are Latrobe (6-2, 4-1) in Class 4A, Belle Vernon (6-1, 3-0) and Southmoreland (5-3, 2-1) in 3A and Jeannette (6-2, 3-1) in Class A.

This week, Mt. Pleasant (5-3, 1-2) can clinch with a win over South Allegheny (1-7, 0-3) in 3A, and Greensburg Central Catholic (5-3, 3-1) gets in with a win over Riverview (4-4, 1-3) in Class A.

In 2A, Derry (3-5, 2-3) can clinch with a win over Burrell (4-4, 3-2) and a Ligonier Valley (2-6, 1-4) loss to Imani Christian (5-2, 3-1).

Next Friday, the winner of Penn-Trafford (4-4, 3-1) at Franklin Regional (6-2, 3-1) will qualify for the 5A postseason, with the loser in contention for a wild-card spot.

Pitt offers Tatsch

The list of college suitors for Latrobe linebacker Alex Tatsch is growing.

Pitt offered a scholarship to the 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior, who also plays running back for the Wildcats.

A few days earlier, Wisconsin offered him. That makes nine Power 5 offers for Tatsch, who is tied for the team lead in tackles (65) with junior Braden Bronson.

Tatsch has five tackles for loss, four sacks and three interceptions.

Another former local standout is a sophomore at Wisconsin. Cade Yacamelli, a Penn-Trafford alum who helped lead the Warriors to WPIAL and PIAA 5A titles in 2021, is a third-string running back for the Badgers.

Latrobe coach Ron Prady, a former Penn-Trafford assistant, has coached Tatsch and Yacamelli.

Jablunovsky at QB

Coaches often say they make moves in the lineup to get a spark or to get the ball in their best player’s hands.

That is the case at Ligonier Valley, where speedster John Jablunovsky has moved to wildcat quarterback.

“We have had a package in for him all season,” Rams coach Roger Beitel said. “I like that we scored 13 points with him running (the wildcat) compared to seven first downs the week before. Anything that allows for our team to have success is a good thing.”

Test for Leopards?

Few teams have had the offensive weapons to match Belle Vernon, but the top-ranked Leopards will get a different challenge this week from Southmoreland in a Class 3A Interstate game in Alverton.

No conference team has tested state No. 1 Belle Vernon yet. It has beaten South Allegheny, 57-6, Greensburg Salem, 53-7, and Mt. Pleasant, 55-7.

“The thing with Southmoreland is they’re well rounded,” Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert said. “The running back (Da’sjon Craggette) is legit. (Ty) Keffer is an all-conference wide receiver. They do a lot of things well.”

The matchup to watch could be between Keffer and Quinton Martin, who could go head to head when Southmoreland has the ball.

Martin, a Penn State recruit, also catches passes on the outside.

Senior quarterback Braden Laux is expected to play for the Leopards despite an injury to the pinky finger of his throwing hand. He sat most of last week’s game against Mt. Pleasant.

Shawley dominating

Junior middle linebacker Ethan Shawley is having some season for Southmoreland.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Shawley has a remarkable 106 tackles, which ranks him among the top 5 in the state, according to MaxPreps.

“He’s a leader, and his motor never stops,” Southmoreland coach Tim Bukowski said. “He wants to make every tackle.”

Shawley also has six sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.

A transfer from Greensburg Central Catholic, he attends Geibel, which has a football co-operative with Southmoreland.

Stay for the band

At least two county teams have adopted a new custom. When a home game ends, they stay to watch the band perform.

Last week at Hempfield, the Spartans remained on the field for the band’s full performance after a loss to Franklin Regional.

“It is only appropriate,” Hempfield athletic director Brandon Rapp said. “Just like a soccer team going to another soccer team’s senior night. We all support each other.”

Franklin Regional sticks around for one song after home games.

“It’s good for us to show support to them,” Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy said. “They support us.”

Brozeski at W&J

Dave Brozeski missed coaching football after he stepped down as Norwin’s head coach after nine seasons. So he latched on with his college alma mater.

Brozeski is an assistant at Washington & Jefferson, where he is coaching defensive backs.

When Brozeski played for the Presidents, the team went 43-6 with four PAC titles and four NCAA playoff appearances. He is in the W&J Hall of Fame.

After he is done teaching chemistry on school days at Norwin, he heads to Washington to work with his new team.

Derry reunion

Derry will honor its 1983 Keystone Conference championship team on the 40th anniversary of the title.

Team members and staff from that season will gather at 4 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Dino’s Sports Lounge in Latrobe.

They actually have been gathering every 10 years since the memorable season to talk memories, such as a defense they referred to as “The Wall.”

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Southmoreland