Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2024 Week 4

By: Bill Beckner Jr. And Paul Schofield
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | 7:49 PM

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Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Westmoreland County in Week 4 of the 2024 season:

Class 6A

No. 2 Central Catholic (2-2, 1-0) at Hempfield (1-3, 0-1)

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

Last week’s result: Central Catholic 59, Mt. Lebanon 7; North Allegheny 42, Hempfield 14

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Central Catholic evened its record with commanding win against Mt. Lebanon. Jy’Aire Walls was 10 of 11 for 221 yards and a touchdown, and Xavier Thomas grabbed six receptions for 157 yards and a score. The Vikings’ losses are to St. Frances (Md.) and Pine-Richland. … Hempfield pulled even with top-ranked North Allegheny at the half before getting shut out 28-0 in the second half. Aidan Allison caught a touchdown pass from Dom Detruf.

Norwin (2-2, 0-1) at No. 1 North Allegheny (4-0, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Newman Stadium, McCandless

Last week’s result: Seneca Valley 26, Norwin 6; North Allegheny 42, Hempfield 14

Last year’s meeting: North Allegheny 53, Norwin 25

Despite some early momentum, Norwin turned the ball over three times in the first half last week and Seneca Valley pounced with points off of all three. Norwin gave up a 74-yard fumble recovery and a blocked punt. Tristyn Tavares threw for 130 yards and ran for 60 in the loss. The Knights were down five starters. … Luke Rohan scored three consecutive touchdowns to lead North Allegheny out of a 14-14 halftime tie against Hempfield. Colman Craft and Jackson Failla also scored for the Tigers, the two-time defending WPIAL champions under coach Art Walker.

Class 5A Big East Conference

Armstrong (2-2, 0-0) at Latrobe (3-1, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Latrobe

Last week’s result: Canon-McMillan 45, Armstrong 35; Franklin Regional 3, Latrobe 0

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Armstrong allowed more than 450 total yards in a loss to Canon-McMillan. River Hawks quarterback Jayden Oliver threw four touchdown passes and rushed for one in the loss. He completed 17 of 29 passes for 296 yards. Kyan Kline caught two touchdown passes. … The Wildcats’ offense turned the ball over three times and was held to fewer than 155 yards. Alex Tatsch rushed for 112 yards. Quarterback Brad Wetzel was held in check.

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

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

Last week’s result: Franklin Regional 3, Latrobe 0; Gateway 28, Kiski Area 7

Last year’s meeting: Gateway 44, Franklin Regional 24

Franklin Regional’s defense limited Latrobe to 153 yards of offense, and running back Kyle Dupill rushed for 161 yards. The Panthers’ lines controlled the trenches on both sides of the ball. It was a nice bounce back after a disappointing loss at Upper St. Clair. Joey Bayne booted a 22-yard field goal. … Gateway’s Amari Gans rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass from Eisidro Bryant, who threw a touchdown pass to Dyson Harper. Gateway used three quarterbacks. The Gators picked off three passes.

Penn-Trafford (2-2, 0-1) at Kiski Area (1-3, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Richard J. Dilts Stadium, Allegheny Township

Last week’s result: Woodland Hills 35, Penn-Trafford 21; Gateway 28, Kiski Area 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

The Warriors turned the ball over four times in their loss to Woodland Hills. Tasso Whipple was held to 93 yards. Jack Weishaar caught two touchdown passes. … The Cavaliers have dropped three consecutive games after opening the season by defeating Knoch. Quarterback Carson Heinle completed 12 of 21 passes for 151 yards against Gateway but was intercepted three times. Andrew Finney caught six passes in the loss.

Class 2A Allegheny Conference

Ligonier Valley (2-2, 1-0) vs. OLSH (1-2, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Tigers Stadium, Moon

Last week’s result: Ligonier Valley 40, Shady Side Academy 28; South Allegheny 23, OLSH 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

This is the first meeting between the schools. … The Rams snapped a two-game losing streak with a big win against Shady Side Academy. Quarterback Bowie Schreyer completed 9 of 11 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver/defensive back Mark Jablunovsky had eight catches for 202 yards and two scores. He also intercepted a pass. … OLSH quarterback Vann Kavals completed 12 of 27 passes for 168 yards in loss to South Allegheny. His top targets were Frank Schulz and Ethan Davis, each catching four passes.

Class A Black Hills Conference

No. 1 Fort Cherry (4-0, 1-0) at Monessen (4-0, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Monessen Memorial Stadium, Monessen

Last week’s result: Fort Cherry 42, Chartiers-Houston 6; Monessen 20, Serra Catholic 14

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

The defending WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up, Fort Cherry handled Chartiers-Houston as standout Matt Sieg ran for 225 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries. Ryan Huey and Christian Yanosko also scored. Fort Cherry averages 40.7 points. … Monessen again relied on TyVaughn Kershaw, who ran for 166 yards and two touchdowns as the Greyhounds (49.2 ppg) overcame a slow start. They trailed 7-6 at the half.

Class A Eastern Conference

Brentwood (2-2, 1-1) at Greensburg Central Catholic (1-2, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Centurion Stadium, Carbon

Last week’s result: Brentwood 48, Springdale 6; Clairton 47, Greensburg Central Catholic 0

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Brentwood reached .500 with its second straight win as Colton Rosing ran for 222 yards and three touchdowns in a runaway against short-handed Springdale. Forrest Betz had two touchdown catches for a total of 129 yards. … Vaunted Clairton controlled the line play and kept GCC quiet last week. GCC had not been shut out since the opening game of the 2021 season, a 38-0 loss to Upper St. Clair. The Centurions gave up seven rushing touchdowns to the Bears, who managed to keep GCC star Samir Crosby out of the end zone.

Nonconference

Ambridge (2-1) at Greensburg Salem (4-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Offutt Field, Greensburg

Last week’s result: Ambridge 28, Mt. Pleasant 10; Greensburg Salem 7, Ringgold 0

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Ambridge took momentum away from Mt. Pleasant with an 18-point victory at Moe Rubenstein Stadium. The Bridgers’ other win came against Western Beaver (30-14). They lost to Hopewell in overtime 35-34, and bad weather prompted a postponement in Week 1 against Laurel Highlands. … Greensburg Salem kept rolling, extending its best start since 2011. The Golden Lions have not been 5-0 since 1999. They won a defensive struggle last week against Ringgold with the only scoring coming on Brody Chismar’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Max Topper. The duo also hooked up for a score in the previous week. This will be the team’s fourth home game of the season. They will play six at Offutt Field.

Indiana (1-3) at Derry (2-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Trojans Stadium, Derry

Last week’s result: Laurel Highlands 10, Indiana 7; Derry 32, Burrell 13

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Indiana is struggling to score. It has scored four touchdowns, two rushing by quarterback Quinn Lipiniskis, who has thrown a touchdown to Rocco Cosentino. Elijah Thomas also scored. Its victory was 14-13 against Ringgold. … Damauri Robinson and Justin Papuga each scored two touchdowns for the Trojans in their win against Burrell. Papuga rushed for 97 yards and Robinson 95 yards. Derry’s other win was against Freeport, which defeated Indiana in Week Zero.

Laurel Highlands (2-1) at Mt. Pleasant (2-2)

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

Last week’s result: Laurel Highlands 10, Indiana 7; Ambridge 28, Mount Pleasant 10

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

The Mustangs used a field goal by Tanner Bruzda to defeat Indiana. Division I prospect Antwan Black has five catches for 94 yards, and quarterback Noah Lion has completed 20 of 37 passes for 237 yards. He has rushed for 153 yards. Scott McClay is his favorite target. … Mt. Pleasant got a 35-yard field goal from Jarret Garn and an 86-yard kickoff return from Garrett Eicher in its loss at Ambridge. Garn has rushed for a team-high 250 yards, scored three touchdowns and has booted three field goals. Brody Hutter has scored four touchdowns.

South Fayette (4-0) at Belle Vernon (1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, James Weir Stadium, Belle Vernon

Last week’s result: South Fayette 38, Elizabeth Forward 19; McKeesport 28, Belle Vernon 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

South Fayette kept its record clean with an impressive win over Elizabeth Forward. Like previous teams, the Lions can sling it around. Drew Welhorsky passed for 279 yards and five touchdowns last week. He has 855 yards and eight TDs with no interceptions this season. … Belle Vernon continued to have issues with hard-hitting McKeesport. Penn State commit Kemon Spell showed why he is one the top backs in the WPIAL, rushing for 130 yards and three TDs. Kole Doppelheuer found the end zone late for the Leopards.

Southmoreland (3-1) at Ringgold (1-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Joe Montana Stadium, Monongahela

Last week’s result: Blackhawk 45, Southmoreland 20; Greensburg Salem 7, Ringgold 0

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Southmoreland suffered its first loss, falling to Blackhawk in the teams’ first meeting. The Cougars racked up 240 yards in the first half and 357 for the game. Anthony Smith threw three interceptions, completing 14 of 29 for 196 yards. Elliot Premus caught seven passes for 109 yards, and Ethan Shawley scored twice. … Ringgold, a week after snapping a 27-game losing streak with a win over Yough, was blanked by surging Greensburg Salem. The Rams have averaged 12 points in four games.

Yough (2-2) at Blackhawk (2-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Blackhawk High School Stadium, Chippewa Township

Last week’s result: New Castle 27, Yough 7; Blackhawk 45, Southmoreland 20

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Yough opened the scoring last week against New Castle, but the Red Hurricanes’ speed was too much for the Cougars, who dropped their second consecutive game. Quarterback Raidon Kuroda has rushed for 453 yards and five touchdowns and has completed 22 of 44 passes for 349 yards and five touchdowns. Aiden Shaffer, Ryan Sarver and Aidan Thornton each had two touchdowns. … For Blackhawk, Brayden McCarthy has rushed for 368 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Quarterback Stephan Knalley has completed 41 of 80 passes for 832 yards and nine touchdowns.

Tags: Ambridge, Armstrong, Belle Vernon, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Central Catholic, Derry Area, Fort Cherry, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Indiana, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Laurel Highlands, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, North Allegheny, Norwin, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn-Trafford, Ringgold, South Fayette, Southmoreland, Yough