Westmoreland high school football notebook: Penn-Trafford defense boasts stingy front 7

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 14, 2017 | 4:39 PM

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Penn-Trafford had a big box of bananas in the locker room after last week's home win over Plum. It's a regular pregame and postgame snack at home games.

The Warriors' defense has preferred something sweeter this season: donuts.

They posted their second shutout in three weeks in a 48-0 win over Plum. The defense has eight takeaways, including five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

To opponents, the end zone has been like a doorknob that won't turn. The Warriors have allowed just one touchdown in three games, none in the first half. The run defense has blanketed teams.

“They have a lot of seniors and they're big up front,” Plum coach Matt Morgan said. “The front three are their horses. There's a reason they're the top dogs.”

An experienced and solid front three sets the tone up front for the Warriors in seniors Logan Hawkins, Will Mayr and Cameron Elma. But the linebackers bring the heat, coach John Ruane said.

Seniors Matt Wilkie, Cam Laffoon and Tony Alcott are “One of the most active and athletic linebacking trios we've had,” Ruane said.

Wilkie has a team-high 21 tackles and 2 ¹⁄₂ sacks. Defensive back Caleb Lisbon, a sophomore, has two interceptions.

Last year, the Warriors allowed just 15.1 points per game, the lowest average in the Big East Conference.

“Experience is the best thing you can have on any high school football team,” Ruane said.

Ground zero

Local defenses have held their own so far this season. County teams have been part of seven shutouts.

Norwin has a 24-0 win over Altoona and a 3-0 loss to Penn-Trafford.

Ligonier Valley has wins of 56-0 over Saltsburg and 44-0 vs. Northern Cambria.

And don't fault Belle Vernon too much for a near-shutout against Uniontown. It won 49-2.

The goose eggs have helped produce some stingy defensive averages. Ligonier Valley is allowing 2.0 points a game, Penn-Trafford 2.3, Norwin 3.3 and Belle Vernon 4.0.

Featured game

Friday's Penn-Trafford at Woodland Hills game was selected as part of the Great American Rivalry Series. The series recognizes top games in 40 states and more than 100 cities across the country.

The winning team will be presented a trophy by the Marines, and a MVP will be recognized. In addition, a standout alum from each school will be inducted into the 14th GARS Hall of Fame.

Aiming for the upset?

Greensburg Salem is confident after a 32-15 win at Laurel Highlands. It's early but the Golden Lions (2-1, 2-0) are in a three-way tie for first place in the Class 4A Big Nine Conference with third-ranked Belle Vernon (2-0, 2-0) and No. 1 Thomas Jefferson, the latter of which they host Friday night.

A perennial power and defending WPIAL champion (the Jaguars won Class 3A in 2015), Thomas Jefferson (2-0, 2-0) is averaging 45 points and has allowed just seven.

Greensburg Salem respects their program but knows it must play flawlessly to have a shot.

“TJ is a well coached and a very physical team,” Lions senior quarterback Jake Hoyle said. “It's going to take every person on our team to play their best game so far this year on offense, defense and special teams. We're looking forward to the opportunity to go out and compete against a program like Thomas Jefferson.”

On their turf

Yough finally will get to play a game on its new artificial turf surface Friday when the Cougars host Hopewell at Cougar Mountain Stadium.

There was some concern that work on a new track would interfere with the home opener, but school officials decided Wednesday to have the game go on as scheduled.

“The boys are so pumped to play on (the turf),” Yough coach Scott Wood said.

Yough has home games in three of the next four weeks.

Lauer chasing records

Franklin Regional standout linebacker Bryce Lauer is set to challenge school records for tackles in a season and career. Lauer, a senior who opened the season with a 21-tackle performance against McKeesport, has his sights on Brett Zanotto's marks of 157 stops in a season (13 games) and 293 in a career.

Lauer had 139 tackles last season in 10 games. He has 40 in two games this year.

For his career, Lauer has 246 tackles.

Carter Henderson is second in both categories with 149 season and 291 career. Henderson and Zanotto both are starters at Duquesne this season.

Lauer has 28 solo tackles this season and two of the team's four fumble recoveries.

Kennedy's scoring

Jeannette senior quarterback Robert Kennedy has helped produce 14 touchdowns in three games, all the while showing his versatility.

He has nine passing TDs, four via rushing and another on a punt return. He has thrown for 418 yards and run for 273.

Kennedy grabbed his fifth Division I offer Thursday, from Duquesne. The others are from Howard, Albany, Robert Morris and St. Francis (Pa.).

Tags: Greensburg Salem, Jeannette, Ligonier Valley, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Yough