Westmoreland high school football notebook: Latrobe’s big win changes wild-card picture

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 6:36 PM

Latrobe threw the Big East Conference for a loop.

The Wildcats, decimated by injuries but not ready to pack it in, knocked off Gateway, 28-27, to throw its hat into the ring for a potential wild-card spot.

Latrobe is 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the conference.

The top three teams in each Class 5A conference, as well as three wild-card teams chosen by the WPIAL, qualify for the playoffs. Woodland Hills (7-2, 5-0), Penn-Trafford (7-2) and Franklin Regional (6-3, 3-2) have clinched with one week left in the regular season.

Latrobe hosts Penn-Trafford next week.

Bowen remembered

Yough and Hempfield each held a moment of silence Friday night for late coach Rich Bowen, who died last week after a battle with cancer.

Yough had T-shirts made with Bowen’s picture on the front, and presented his wife, Denise, with a plaque.

Bowen, held in high regard across the WPIAL, was football coach and athletic director at Yough from 2001-05.

He coached at Serra Catholic, Elizabeth Forward, Hempfield and Waynesburg University.

“We really wanted to show how much he meant to our program,” Yough coach Ben Hoffer said. “Nobody has ever said a bad word about coach Bowen.”

Bowen was an assistant at Greensburg Salem this season.

“It’s a credit to Rich, the people he impacted and the respect he earned from so many people,” Greensburg Salem coach Ty George said.

Perfect 10

Belle Vernon quarterback Curtis Wade didn’t miss in Friday’s 49-7 victory over Ringgold.

Wade was a perfect 10 for 10, throwing for a career-high 233 yards and three touchdowns.

Anthony Crews was his top target, catching four for 118 yards and two scores.

Bye week

Greensburg Central Catholic had an unexpected Friday night off after Frazier contacted it Thursday afternoon to postpone the teams’ game.

GCC laid low with a light practice Friday at Centurion Stadium.

“We let the kids have fun,” coach JT Thompson said. “We played some 7-on-7 with the linemen involved. It was good team bonding.”

Thompson wasn’t sure if he was going to take the time to scout opponents.

“Maybe a date night with my wife,” he said. “She sacrifices a lot during the season.”

Tavares plays

Norwin junior quarterback Tristyn Tavares was listed by coach Mike Brown as week-to-week with an injured knee.

Tavares played Friday and nearly led the Knights to a win.

He completed 24 of 37 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-26 loss to Canon-McMillan.

Extra points

Kyle Dupill ran for 208 yards on 30 carries in a 27-17 loss to Woodland Hills. It is the fourth 200-yard game of the season and sixth of his career. … Brody Hutter had a blocked punt for a touchdown in Mt. Pleasant’s 31-14 win over Derry. … Derry’s Dylan Pitzer, a Mt. Pleasant transfer who was ruled in eligible for wrestling season, scored a touchdown in Friday’s loss. … There were five one-point games Friday in th WPIAL: Canon-McMillan 27, Norwin 26; Latrobe 28, Gateway 27; Kiski Area 15, Plum 14; Montour 36, Aliquippa 35; and Carlynton 28, Washington 27.

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., Greensburg Salem, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford