Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2024 Week 10

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | 7:15 PM

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Class 5A first round 

9-Franklin Regional (7-3) at 8-North Hills (8-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Martorelli Stadium, Ross Township

Last week’s results: Franklin Regional 29, Armstrong 26; North Hills 10, Central Valley 7

Winner plays: At 1-Pine-Richland (8-1) 7 p.m. next Friday in quarterfinals

Franklin Regional finished third in the Big East Conference but has dropped two of its last three games. Running back Kyle Dupill has five 200-yard rushing games this season and seven for his career. He has rushed for 1,773 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Chase Lemke has thrown for 1,228 yards and 14 TDs. Andrew Devola has a team-high 64 tackles and six sacks. He had 12 stops and blocked a field goal last week. The Panthers were the No. 8 seed last year and lost to No. 1 Peters Township, 35-0. … North Hills is known for its strong defense. The Indians are allowing just 12.4 points per game. They are 4-1 at home this season and have wins over Hempfield, Norwin, Seneca Valley and Mars. Jack Martin had a touchdown run last week. North Hills made the playoffs two years ago and lost to Bethel Park in the first round, 19-17.

12-Latrobe (5-5) at 5-Bethel Park (8-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Bethel Park Stadium, Bethel Park

Last week’s results: Penn-Trafford 20, Latrobe 13; Peters Township 31, Bethel Park 28

Winner plays: At 4-Woodland Hills (8-2) 7 p.m. next Friday in quarterfinals

Matchup: This is the first meeting between the schools. The Wildcats have reached the quarterfinals the past two seasons. The Wildcats are 3-12 in the WPIAL playoffs. Latrobe senior Alex Tatsch, who rushed for 725 yards, is out with a shoulder injury. QB John Wetzel rushed for 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns and has completed 64 0f 111 passes for 880 yards and six scores. The Wildcats only ran six offensive plays in the second half last week against Penn-Trafford. … The Wildcats must defend a Bethel Park offense that averages 43 points per game. QB Tanner Pfeuffer has completed 128 of 214 passes for 2,251 yards and 29 touchdowns. RB JaVaughn Moore has rushed for 1,603 yards and 23 touchdowns. WR Mitt Paschl has 33 catches for 590 yards 12 scores. Bethel Park is 21-29 in the WPIAL playoffs.

12-South Fayette (6-4) at 6-Penn-Trafford (8-2)

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

Last week’s results: Moon 28, South Fayette 7; Penn-Trafford 20, Latrobe 13

Winner plays: At 3-Peters Township (9-1) next Friday in quarterfinals

Matchup: This is the first time Penn-Trafford and South Fayette will meet. South Fayette and Trafford met six times from 1960-1965 and split the series, 3-3. … South Fayette, which made the playoffs from 2009-2020, has not made the playoffs the past three seasons. The Lions have won five WPIAL titles and own a 29-21 record in the WPIAL playoffs. QB Drew Welhorsky has thrown for 1,695 yards and 14 touchdowns and run for 850 yards and 11 scores. WR Alex Deanes has 31 catches for 402 yards. … Penn-Trafford is 24-31 in the WPIAL playoffs. The Warriors haven’t won a playoff game since 2021 when they won the WPIAL and PIAA title. RB Tasso Whipple has rushed for 1,490 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has 14 catches for 236 yards.

Class 4A first round

6-Belle Vernon (4-4) at 3-McKeesport (6-4)

7 p.m. Friday, Weigle-Schaeffer Memorial Stadium, McKeesport

Last week’s results: Trinity 31, Belle Vernon 21; McKeesport 46, Knoch 14

Winner plays: Winner of 7-Mars (5-5)/2-Montour (8-1) next Friday in the semifinals (time, site TBA)

Matchup: These teams squared off earlier this season. The Leopards weren’t at full strength, and the Tigers were coming off a stunning 34-31 loss to Thomas Jefferson. Belle Vernon is healthier now. It is averaging 30 points per game but is coming off a loss to Trinity. QB Curtis Wade has completed 55 of 94 passes for 956 yards and 12 scores. RB Kole Doppelheuer has rushed for 606 yards and has caught 18 passes for 353 yards. He has 13 touchdowns. Anthony Crews has 19 catches for 287 yards and seven scores. The Leopards’ playoff record is 28-30. … The Tigers, who are averaging 33.7 points per game, are led by RB Kemon Spell, a Penn State commit, who has rushed for 1,062 yards and 19 touchdowns. Anthony Cromerdie has rushed for 580 yards. The Tigers’ playoff record is 37-31.

Class 3A first round

9-Highlands (5-4) at 8-Southmoreland (7-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Russ Grimm Field, Alverton

Last week’s results: Highlands 56, Valley 0; Greensburg Salem 28, Southmoreland 21

Winner plays: 1-Imani Christian (10-0) 7 p.m. next Friday at UPMC Graham Field in quarterfinals

High-scoring Highlands ended up fourth in the Allegheny Seven Conference behind Imani Christian, Deer Lakes and Freeport. Quarterback Menage Lucas has thrown for 1,288 yards and 18 touchdowns and run for 1,293 yards for a team that averages 38.8 points. Montrell Johnson has 25 receptions for 405 yards and six TDs, while Jahmar Wright has 15 catches for 414 yards and five scores. Highlands was the No. 12 seed last year and lost to No. 5 Central Valley, 28-7. The previous year, the Golden Rams lost to Latrobe in the first round, 28-21 in overtime. … Southmoreland clinched a playoff spot last week despite losing because it lost by less than nine points. Injuries and illness have beset the Scotties, who could be down a half-dozen or more starters in the playoff opener. Freshman quarterback Anthony Smith is questionable (concussion). He needs 17 passing yards to reach 2,000 for the season. He already had the Scotties’ single-season record (1,983). Cam Phillips has rushed for 803 yards and seven touchdowns. Elliot Premus, who was injured last week, leads the team with 46 receptions for 867 yards and eight scores. Jackson Mickens has 32 grabs for 441 yards and six scores. Ethan Shawley and Dawson Wolfe, who have combined for 153 tackles, are not expected to play (illness). Southmoreland has made the playoffs four straight times but the team has never won a playoff game.

12-Greensburg Salem (7-3) at 5-Avonworth (7-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Lenzner Field, Ohio Township

Last week’s results: Greensburg Salem 28, Avonworth 21; Beaver 34, Avonworth 14

Winner plays: At 4-Beaver (8-2), 7 p.m. next Friday

Wild-card selection Greensburg Salem is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. The Golden Lions’ last playoff win came in 2000. This is their first winning season since 2011. Brody Chismar has shown flashes of being a dual-threat quarterback. Last week, he passed for 103 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 71 yards and a score. Kai Brunot and Brady Smith also are rushing threats. … Avonworth, which was ranked No. 2 last week, will look to rebound from a 20-point loss to No. 4-ranked Beaver. The Antelopes fell behind 27-0. Billy Onyshko threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Carson Bellinger, and Nico Neal scored on a short run in the loss. Avonworth has two WPIAL championships, in 1959 and 2019. It reached the finals the last two years but lost to Belle Vernon both times.

Class A first round

13-Jeannette (7-3) at 4-Neshannock (9-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Bob Bleggi Stadium, New Castle

Last week’s results: Jeannette 34, Riverview 20; Neshannock 27, Laurel 7

Winner plays: Winner of 12-Monessen (7-3)/5-Greensburg Central Catholic (7-2) (time, date TBA) in quarterfinals

Jeannette was awarded a wild-card spot in the bracket after finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Jayhawks take a three-game winning streak into the postseason. Kymon’e Brown has thrown for 1,325 yards and 19 touchdowns and has 947 rushing yards and five TDs. Eli Jones leads the defense with 57 tackles, and Nick Stuchell has 56. Jeannette lost to California in the first round last year, 44-7. The 10-time WPIAL champion Jayhawks’ last WPIAL playoff win was the 2020 championship victory over Clairton, 45-14. The Jayhawks are averaging 30.5 points and allowing 28.9. … Neshannock moved down from Class 2A, where it made the semifinals in 2022 and the quarters last year. The Big Seven Conference champions are averaging 34.6 points. Their only loss was to unbeaten Ellwood City, 28-21. Last week, Jino Mozzocio threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns against Laurel. He has 1,371 yards and 14 TDs and also had 661 yards rushing and 13 TDs. Anthony Eakin is the leading runner with 840 yards. Go-to receiver Dom Cubellis has 40 receptions for 495 yards. Neshannock is seeking its first WPIAL title.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Avonworth, Belle Vernon, Bethel Park, Franklin Regional, Freeport, Greensburg Salem, Highlands, Jeannette, Latrobe, McKeesport, Mt. Pleasant, Neshannock, North Hills, Penn-Trafford, South Fayette, Southmoreland