Familiar foes collide when Penn-Trafford, Moon square off in Class 5A quarterfinals

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 4:35 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

A bye week allowed Penn-Trafford to spend extra time in the film room.

“In two weeks, we’ve watched 11 Moon games,” Warriors coach John Ruane said.

The Warriors already were familiar with Moon before spending hours learning more about the Tigers in a darkened room.

Now, they feel like they know the them from front to back.

Fourth-seeded Penn-Trafford (9-1) has a win over Moon (8-3) this season — a 25-24 comeback in the third week — and the teams will meet again Friday night in a WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal playoff game at Penn-Trafford’s Warrior Stadium.

The teams have played three times since 2021, and all three have been one-score games. Penn-Trafford has won all three — including a 24-21 final in ’21 and 14-7 result last year.

“Knowing them better, and all of the X’s and O’s, is a big part (of preparation), and we got a full two weeks,” said Warriors H-back and linebacker Jamison Yurt, who didn’t play against Moon the first time because of a knee injury. “We have to keep momentum going this time. Last game (against Moon), we came out weak in some points.”

Penn-Trafford trailed 24-12 early in the fourth quarter before scoring two touchdowns in six minutes to rally past the Tigers, who beat Armstrong, 48-21, in the first round for their fourth straight win.

“It’s going to be a one-possession game,” Moon coach Ryan Linn said. “I feel whatever team either makes the big plays or forces the turnover will win. Someone will have to make some plays in the passing game as well to lighten the box for the run game to be effective.”

The Tigers were No. 5 in the Trib HSSN rankings when the Warriors clipped them.

Down by five, the Warriors forced a punt and got the ball back with 58 seconds left and no timeouts. They drove 95 yards to stun the Tigers after Landyn Stikkel caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Nate Desmond with 6.8 seconds left.

“That was a really physical, hard-hitting game both ways,” Ruane said. “We need to be able to get the upper hand early. Our special teams play was bad that game, so we have to be better there.”

Penn-Trafford led 12-0 on touchdown runs by Cody Yacamelli and Desmond, but the Warriors missed both extra points and then had a punt blocked and Braeden Stuart took it 25 yards for a Tigers score.

Stuart added a rushing TD, Evan Senkevich made a 39-yard field goal and Sevi Vandetti caught a 33-yard TD from Andrew Cross to put Moon in front 24-12 after three quarters.

Linn said the Tigers can’t give up big plays.

“When we are on offense, we have to maintain possession of the ball,” Linn said. “In our first meeting, we had one of our worst offensive games of the year with only 170 total yards. So, we need to get first downs and put long drives together.

“We can’t go three-and-out and give them short fields to work with.”

Running back Ben Grabowski also did not play in the first Moon game for the Warriors. He and Yurt are healthy this week, as is Nick Ponko, who was injured in the second half against Moon and did not return.

“The lose-and-you’re done mentality is a big motivator for both teams,” Ruane said. “They have some guys back who didn’t play against us, as well. Ben is our bell cow, and Jamison was our leading tackler for two years. It’s nice to add some depth.

“I love our senior group. There is a ton of camaraderie, and they love to come to practice.”

The quarterbacks are expected to have key roles — as playmakers and game managers.

Cross is a dual-threat quarterback who leads the Tigers in multiple ways. Desmond threw for 241 yards in the first game against Moon.

Desmond has thrown for 1,385 yards and 10 TDs. Grabowski has 794 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, Yacamelli 747 yards and 12 TDs.

Ponko leads with 38 receptions for 660 yards and five TDs.

Linn said the Warriors coaches call a sound game.

“They also are very good with their offensive personnel and force you to be prepared because of the number of players coming in and out on a given play,” Linn said. “As well as using different ball carriers. Grabowski will be a sure factor in the game.”

The winner will play the victor of No. 8 Shaler (4-7) and No. 1 Pine-Richland (9-1) in the semifinals next Friday.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Moon, Penn-Trafford