Westmoreland County’s don’t-miss high school football matchups for Week 2

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 | 7:18 PM

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Class 6A

Norwin (1-1, 0-1) at Hempfield (1-1, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Spartan Stadium, Hempfield

On the air: TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: North Allegheny 56, Norwin 14; Pine-Richland 49, Hempfield 0

Coaches: Dave Brozeski, Norwin; Rich Bowen, Hempfield

Top players: Gianni Rizzo, Norwin (Sr., 6-2, 215, WR/LB); Blake Remaley, Hempfield (Jr., 6-2, 215, QB)

Keep an eye on: Zeke Houser, Norwin (Sr., 6-1, 190); Mario Perkins, Hempfield (So., 5-10, 165, RB/DB)

Momentum: Norwin. Despite a blowout loss to high-powered North Allegheny, the Knights remain a strong playoff contender in top-heavy 6A.

Four downs: 1. Norwin junior quarterback Jack Salopek has thrown for 375 yards and five touchdowns. In last year’s 24-14 win at Hempfield, he passed for 165 and ran for 53. Norwin rallied for two scores inside the final seven minutes, including a game-sealing pick-6 by John Piekut. 2. Both teams fell victim to the mercy rule last week in conference-opening losses. 3. Hempfield senior David Greene underwent ACL surgery Friday and is likely done for the season. 4. Rizzo was effective running the ball out of the Wildcat last week. He scored on a reception and via rush.

Extra point: Hempfield junior quarterback Blake Remaley injured his non-throwing arm last week but is expected to play this week.

Class 5A Big East

Connellsville (1-1, 0-1) at Penn-Trafford (0-2, 0-1)

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

On the air: TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: McKeesport 57, Connellsville 14; Gateway 27, Penn-Trafford 7

Coaches: Marko Thomas, Connellsville; John Ruane, Penn-Trafford

Top players: Josh Maher, Connellsville (Sr., 6-6, 190, QB); Caleb Lisbon, Penn-Trafford (Jr., 6-1, 195, RB/DB)

Keep an eye on: Dimitri George, Penn-Trafford (Sr., 5-10, 175, WR/DB)

Momentum: Penn-Trafford. Despite a rare two-game losing skid, the Warriors return home after two tough rivalry games. They have not lost at Warrior Stadium since 2016.

Four downs: 1. Maher is an underrated passer. He threw for 191 yards and three scores in the Falcons’ opener. 2. Warriors quarterback Gabe Dunlap has passed and rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his two starts. 3. The Warriors have given up 444 yards in passing yardage in two weeks. 4. Thomas is a former Penn-Trafford star receiver.

Extra point: Penn-Trafford has not started a season with two straight losses since 2009. It has not started 0-3 since 2007.

Franklin Regional (1-0, 1-0) at Latrobe (0-2, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium, Latrobe

On the air: 1480 AM; TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: Franklin Regional 45, Plum 7; Penn Hills 50, Latrobe 13

Coaches: Greg Botta, Franklin Regional; Jason Marucco, Latrobe

Top players: Adam Rudzinski, Franklin Regional (Sr., 6-1, 190, QB); Zakharee Williams, Latrobe (Sr., 5-9, 170, SB/DB)

Keep an eye on: Nathan Clair (Sr., 5-10, 200, K/P)

Momentum: Franklin Regional. The Panthers did not play a Week Zero game but looked sharp in their opener with a sound win over Plum.

Four downs: 1. Rudzinski accounted for five touchdowns in the opener, three passing and two rushing. He threw for 1,090 yards and 10 scores last season. 2. Justin Johns had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown last week for the Panthers. 3. Latrobe led No. 2 Penn Hills, 7-0, thanks to an aggressive approach. The Wildcats called a fake punt and blocked a field goal early. 4. Williams is a threat to score for the Wildcats. he caught a deep ball for the opening score against Penn Hills.

Extra point: Franklin Regional has been one of the WPIAL’s top defensive teams for years. The Panthers have given up an average of less than 17 points a game for eight straight seasons.

Class 3A Big East

Mt. Pleasant (0-2, 0-0) at Yough (1-1, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Cougar Mountain Stadium, Herminie

Last week: Hopewell 21, Mt. Pleasant 19; Yough 42, Uniontown 30

Coaches: Jason Fazekas, Mt. Pleasant; Scott Wood, Yough

Top players: Dustin Shoaf, Yough (Sr., 6-2, 215, RB/DB); Lucas Pieszak, Mt. Pleasant (Sr., 6-4, 190, Sr.)

Keep an eye on: Jake Johnson, Mt. Pleasant (Jr., 6-3, 180, WR/DB)

Momentum: Yough. With the running game rolling last week on the road, the Cougars return home with confidence.

Four downs: 1. Shoaf, the WPIAL’s regular-season rushing champ last year, ran for 299 yards on just 15 carries last week. 2. Johnson caught three touchdowns against Hopewell, including from 82 and 55 yards. 3. Yough QB Jake Sever threw for two scores last week, both to sophomore Gamal Marballie. 4. Mt. Pleasant won last year’s meeting, 45-7.

Extra point: Mt. Pleasant has a winning tradition. Last year, an eight-year playoff streak ended. The Vikings have not started a season 0-3 in more than 15 years.

Class 2A Interstate

Southmoreland (1-1, 0-1) at Carmichaels (0-1, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Carmichaels High School Stadium, Carmichaels

On the air: TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: Frazier 36, Southmoreland 17; Beth-Center 44, Carmichaels 8

Coaches: Dave Keefer, Southmoreland; Ryan Krull, Carmichaels

Top players: Ronnie Robinson, Southmoreland (Sr., 5-7, 160, RB/DB), Mike Stewart, Carmichaels (Fr., 5-10, 165, RB)

Keep an eye on: Zach Cernuto, Southmoreland (So., 5-10, 170, QB)

Momentum: Southmoreland. Despite a loss last week to Frazier, the Scotties still are confident after snapping a 13-game losing streak in Week Zero.

Four downs: 1. Carmichaels did not play a Week Zero game. 2. The Mikes allowed Beth-Center to produce two 100-yard rushers last week. They fell behind 29-0 by halftime. 3. Southmoreland’s defense wasn’t as strong as it was in the opener as the Scotties gave up three touchdown passes. 4. Carmichaels made the Class A playoffs last year and lost to Clairton in the quarterfinals.

Extra point: Keefer also has coached track and field and golf in the district.

Class A Eastern

Greensburg C.C. (2-0, 1-0) at No. 3 Clairton (1-0, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Neil C. Brown Field, Clairton

On the air: TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: Clairton picked up a forfeit victory against Mapletown; Greensburg Central Catholic 35, Riverview 0

Coaches: Aaron Smetanka, Greensburg Central Catholic; Wayne Wade, Clairton

Top players: Max Pisula, Greensburg Central Catholic (Sr., 6-2, 212, QB/LB); Brendan Parsons (Jr., 5-9, 160, QB)

Keep an eye on: Bryce Kurpiel, Greensburg Central Catholic (Sr., 6-1, 160, WR/DB)

Momentum: Clairton. The Bears officially haven’t played a game yet this season. They scrimmaged in Week Zero and had their game against Mapletown canceled in Week 1.

Fourth downs: 1. Greensburg Central quarterback Max Pisula rushed for a touchdown and tossed two TD passes against Riverview. 2. Clairton ended the 2017 season with a loss to Jeannette. 3. GCC’s Luke Mazowiecki returned an interception for a touchdown last week. 4. Clairton is looking for a big season from sophomore lineman Demetrius Weatherspoon.

Extra point: Since Greensburg Central Catholic dropped to Class A in 2014, Clairton has outscored the Centurions 240-7 in four games.

Nonconference

Mars (2-0, 0-0) at Greensburg Salem (1-1, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Offutt Field, Greensburg

On the air: 910 AM, 98.7 FM; TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: Mars 23, Moon 13; Greensburg Salem 41, Trinity 13

Coaches: Scott Heinauer, Mars; Dave Keefer, Greensburg Salem

Top players: Garrett Reinke, Mars (Sr., 5-8, 170, RB); Dajauhn Hertzog, Greensburg Salem (Sr., 5-8, 160, WR/DB)

Keep an eye on: Aaren Putt, Greensburg Salem (Jr., 5-6, 170, RB/DB)

Momentum: Greensburg Salem. The Golden Lions bounced back to defeat Trinity in a Class 4A Big 8 Conference game and will see how they stack up against 5A Mars.

Fourth downs: 1. Mars has collected two close wins to open the season, edging West Mifflin, a future GS opponent, 7-6, in Week Zero. 2. GS wide receiver Ty Williams caught a touchdown pass and had a huge kickoff return to set up a score against Trinity. 3. Mars relies on a Wing-T offense and will utilize multiple running backs. 4. The GS offensive line needs to continue to improve and open up running lanes for the quarterback Trent Patrick and Putt.

Extra point: This is Mars coach Scott Heinauer’s 27th season as coach. The Planets played in Class 4A in 2017.

Nonconference

South Park (0-2, 0-0) at No. 5 Derry (2-0, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Trojan Stadium, Derry

Last week: Beaver Falls 39, South Park 21; Derry 19, Freeport 13, OT

Coaches: Marty Rieck, South Park; Tim Sweeney, Derry

Top players: Rudy Mihoces, South Park (Jr., 5-11, 190, RB); Colton Nemcheck, Derry (Sr., 6-0, 175, RB/LB)

Keep an eye on: Dom DeLuca, Derry (Sr., 6-3, 220, FB/DE)

Momentum: Derry. The Trojans are getting healthy with the return of Nemcheck, who helped in a big victory at Freeport.

Fourth downs: 1. South Park’s Mihoces rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Beaver Falls. 2. Derry RB Justin Flack rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown against Freeport. 3. South Park allowed kickoff and fumble returns for touchdowns. 4. Derry also allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown last week.

Extra point: With realignment, South Park and Derry were moved to different conferences. Both played in the Interstate Conference in 2016 and 2017.

Nonconference

Springdale (0-1) at Monessen (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium, Monessen

Last week: Imani Christian 38, Springdale 0; Monessen 30, California 20

Coaches: Seth Napierkowski, Springdale; Mike Blainfield, Monessen

Top players: Christian Vokes, Springdale (Jr., 5-8, 140, RB/WR/DB); Dwayne Howell, Monessen (Jr., 6-2, 170, QB/DB)

Keep an eye on: Vaughan Taylor, Monessen (Sr., 5-11, 190, RB/LB)

Momentum: Monessen. The Greyhounds knocked off the defending conference champion Trojans. Cal beat Monessen, 53-0, last year.

Four downs: 1. The Greyhounds scored the final 16 points — all in the fourth quarter — to rally past the Trojans; 2. Springdale’s game with Imani Christian last Saturday afternoon was ended at halftime after high temperatures and humidity were taking their toll on both teams; 3. Monessen freshman Devin Whitlock factored into both fourth-quarter scores last Friday as he rushed for one and threw for the other. He ended the game with 12 carries for 110 yards; 4. Springdale’s offense was limited to 37 yards and committed five turnovers against Imani.

Extra point: A Week Zero matchup between Monessen and rival Charleroi was canceled because of a pregame threat made against Charleroi students.

District 6 Heritage

Ligonier Valley (2-0, 2-0) at United (1-1, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Thomas J. Madill Field, Armagh

Last week: Ligonier Valley 48, Penns Manor 8; United 57, Blairsville 28

Coaches: Roger Beitel, Ligonier Valley; Kevin Marabito, United

Top players: Sullivan Schueltz, Ligonier Valley (Sr., 5-11, 170, WR/DB); Hunter Cameron, United (So., 5-10, 170, RB/DB)

Keep an eye on: Sam Sheeder, Ligonier Valley (Jr., 5-9, 190. QB/RB/WR/LB)

Momentum: Ligonier Valley. The Rams’ offense is humming, scoring 104 points in two games.

Fourth downs: 1. Ligonier Valley running back Kyrie Miller rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown against Penns Manor. 2. United junior quarterback back Kyle Silk rushed for 296 yards and seven touchdowns. 3. Ligonier Valley senior WR Aaron Tutino scored three touchdowns and was the receiver on a hook-and-ladder play to Zach Beitel that resulted in a touchdown. 4. Cameron chipped in with 170 yards and a score.

Extra point: Ligonier Valley’s defense, which has allowed eight points, will be tested by the 1-2 duo of Silk and Cameron.

Tags: Carmichaels, Clairton, Connellsville, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mars, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, South Park, Southmoreland, Springdale, United, Yough