Final Class 6A playoff berths on the line as Mt. Lebanon visits Norwin in Week 9

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 7:48 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

How big is Friday’s Class 6A Conference battle between No. 5 Mt. Lebanon and No. 3 Norwin at Norwin Knights Stadium?

GIGANTIC.

The final two playoff berths are on the line for both teams. Norwin is looking to reach to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

If Norwin (6-3, 3-2) wins, it clinches the No. 3 seed and eliminates Mt. Lebanon (2-7, 2-3). The Knights can also clinch even if they lose, and Central Catholic defeats Canon-McMillan.

Mt. Lebanon clinches with a victory and a Canon-McMillan loss. The Blue Devils, who qualified for the playoffs last year, are 11-0 all-time against the Knights.

“No one gave us a chance last year, and we still qualified,” Mt. Lebanon coach Greg Perry said. “We are in the same situation. It is win or go home.”

Even though Norwin has a higher percentage of making the playoffs, Knights coach Mike Brown said they are not counting on Central Catholic to win.

“We control our own destiny,” Brown said. “We want to take care of our business. We will remind them that all week.”

The game features two talented quarterbacks: Mt. Lebanon’s Patrick Smith and Norwin’s Tristyn Tavares.

Both are dangerous runners and solid passers.

“We must decide how we defend him,” Perry said of Tavares. “Do we stop his running and force him to beat us through the air? Or do we defend the pass? We allow 240 yards per game through the air.”

Mt. Lebanon’s defense also must worry about Norwin running back Giovanni Rothrauff, who has rushed for 1,159 yards this season.

Tavares has rushed for 705 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has completed 71 of 144 passes for 890 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“The quarterback is the one that makes them go,” Perry said. “That is our focus.”

Perry calls Smith a quiet team leader.

“Our players love playing for Patrick,” Perry said. “He raises their play. He plays on every snap. He is a leader.”

Smith has rushed for 1,170 yards and 13 touchdowns and completed 91 of 189 passes for 1,034 yards and four touchdowns.

“Smith is a strong, physical runner,” Brown said. “He also can throw. He has some talented receivers. He also is an outstanding outside linebacker. He makes their team go.

“Their defensive line is strong. It is probably one of the better lines we will face. We will have our hands full with them.”

Perry said his team is dealing with is a depth problem.

“We have eight guys (who play) both ways, so we are getting gassed in the second half,” Perry said. “Norwin is faced with that, too. We have been playing better the past few games.”

Brown said Mt. Lebanon’s record is deceiving. The Blue Devils began the season with games against Upper St. Clair, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township and Central Catholic.

“They are a really good 2-7 team,” Brown said. “They have a lot of talent.”

The Knights are coming off a thrilling 24-21 victory against Canon-McMillan. Mt. Lebanon kept its playoff hopes alive by defeating Hempfield, 28-6.

“It is nice that we put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs this late in the season,” Brown said.

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: Canon-McMillan, Norwin