Samir Crosby, GCC outlast Monessen in wild Class A playoff opener

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, November 1, 2024 | 11:09 PM

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It was quite a show by two of the top juniors in Westmoreland County on Friday during the opening round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

They were as advertised.

Greensburg Central Catholic quarterback Samir Crosby threw four touchdown passes, rushed for a touchdown and returned a 70-yard kickoff return for a score as the Centurions outlasted No. 12 Monessen, 54-38. Landon Honick had five catches for 126 yards and three scores.

Monessen running back TyVaughn Kershaw, not even close to being 100%, pretty much matched Crosby play-for-play. He rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns and switched to quarterback and completed 8 of 12 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, both to Tavian Taylor, who had six catches for 144 yards. Monessen’s regular quarterback, Dennis Hawkins, played receiver because he had an injured hand.

No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic (8-2) next will face No. 13 Jeannette, which stunned No. 4 Neshannock, 23-7, in the quarterfinals.

These teams put up 65 points in the first half with GCC clinging to a 33-32 at halftime lead, but GCC took control against the beat-up Greyhounds in the second half.

“I knew they were a good football team and very athletic,” GCC coach John Thompson said. “The running back was tough, and he was tough to bring down. He was very physical.

“We got up, and I think we got complacent, and Monessen never quit. Special teams were a big reason we won this game.”

The Centurions grabbed a quick 13-0 lead by converting two turnovers into scores. After a Monessen fumble, Crosby and Honick connected on a 31-yard touchdown.

The lead went to 13-0 when Bobby Smithnosky blocked a punt and returned it 21 yards for a score.

“We had too many turnovers,” Monessen coach Wade Brown said. “That really hurt us, and you can’t win games, especially in the playoffs against a good team.

“We came into the game banged up, and we got banged up a lot more. But there are no excuses, we tried out best.”

But Monessen (7-4) wouldn’t quit. Kershaw connected with Taylor on an 18-yard score to trim the lead to 13-8, and Kershaw scored on a 2-yard run to make it 16-13.

That lead was short-lived as Crosby fielded a squib kickoff on the run and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown for a 20-16 lead.

But Monessen answered as Kershaw rolled left and found Taylor for an 80-yard score and a 24-20 lead.

Crosby then did a magic act. Monessen seemed to have him hemmed in but he scrambled and was able to find Jackson Lowden for a 43-yard score. Monessen then failed to cover the ensuing kickoff, and GCC recovered at the 30.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Brown said of Crosby. “We had him bottled up there, and he makes a great play and great throw.”

Crosby and Honick connected on a 22-yard score for a 33-24 lead.

Kayden Kolbeck scored with 8 seconds left in the opening half to cut the lead to 33-32.

Crosby scored on a 26-yard run and then connected on a 24-yard score to Honick to make it 47-32 in the third quarter.

Kershaw added his second score in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard scamper, but GCC iced the game way as Luke Semelka scored on a 2-yard run.

“We didn’t have the best week of practice, and it showed,” Thompson said. “They agreed. Now we get to play against our rival, and it should be a great game.”

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: Greensburg C.C., Monessen