Giovanni Rothrauff rushes for career-record 260 yards as Norwin clips Mt. Lebanon to clinch 3rd place
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Friday, October 24, 2025 | 10:30 PM
Norwin’s Giovanni Rothrauff takes off on a long first-quarter run to set up a touchdown against Mt. Lebanon on Friday.
Mt. Lebanon’s Kevin King defends on a pass intended for Norwin’s Jake Knight on Friday.
Norwin’s Zach Pawling defends on a pass intended for Mt. Lebanon’s Maxton Siegel on Friday.
Norwin’s Jonah Fierle and Michael DeFazio celebrate with Josh Lenart after Lenart’s sack against Mt. Lebanon’s Patrick Smith on Friday.
Norwin’s Zack Pawling and Jake Knight catch up to Mt. Lebanon’s Patrick Smith on Friday.
Norwin’s Potter Brozeski celebrates with Tristyn Tavares after Tavares’ touchdown run against Mt. Lebanon on Friday.
Norwin’s Potter Brozeski pulls in a pass over Mt. Lebanon’s Jacob Zaber on Friday.
Mt. Lebanon’s Maxton Siegel pulls in a pass past Norwin’s Ben Markel on Friday.
Norwin quarterback Tristyn Tavares throws a touchdown pass to Zack Pawling against Mt. Lebanon on Friday.
Norwin running back Giovanni Rothrauff cuts up on Mt. Lebanon’s Sam McAuley on Friday.
Norwin’s Tristyn Tavares scores a touchdown over Mt. Lebanon’s Sam McAuley on Friday.
Norwin’s Jonah Fierle drops Mt. Lebanon’s Kris Kambitsis for a loss Friday.
Norwin’s Giovanni Rothrauff takes off on a long first-quarter run to set up a touchdown against Mt. Lebanon on Friday.
Norwin’s Josh Lenart sacks Mt. Lebanon quarterback Patrick Smith on Friday.
Norwin’s Ben Markel celebrates with Zack Pawling after Pawling’s touchdown against Mt. Lebanon on Friday.
Norwin running back Giovanni Rothrauff steps through the tackle attempt by Mt. Lebanon’s Sam McAuley on Friday.
When Mt. Lebanon coach Greg Perry talked about the Norwin football team, he heaped praise on quarterback Tristyn Tavares.
Perry’s defense did an excellent job containing the slick Tavares.
But Norwin is more than just Tavares. Junior running back Giovanni Rothrauff showed why.
Rothrauff rushed for a career- record 260 yards, and Tavares had a hand in both Norwin scores as the No. 3 Knights closed Norwin Knights Stadium with 14-7 victory against No. 5 Mt. Lebanon on Friday in a WPIAL Class 6A Conference game.
The Knights (8-3, 4-2) clinched third place and will open the WPIAL playoffs on Nov. 7 at No. 2 North Allegheny.
Mt. Lebanon (2-8, 2-4) needed a win to make the playoffs.
It was also Norwin’s first win against Mt. Lebanon in 12 meetings.
Norwin took a 7-0 lead on its first possession of the game.
Tavares scored on a 1-yard run. The touchdown was set up by a 79-yard run from Rothrauff.
“When I saw that quote, it gave me more motivation to work hard,” Rothrauff said. “My offensive line did a great job opening holes. Our game plan was to run right at them.”
The Knights threatened three other times in the first half, but each time the Mt. Lebanon defense turned them away.
“My football team gave us great effort,” Perry said. “We had opportunities. When you are struggling a little bit. … We did not take advantage of our opportunities.”
Norwin’s defense did a great job against Mt. Lebanon senior quarterback Pat Smith all game except for one play.
On the Blue Devils’ first play of the third quarter, Smith connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass to Maxton Siegel to tie the score 7-7.
Smith was held to 38 yards rushing and completed only 5 of 23 passes for 137 yards.
“We needed a couple wide receivers to step up, and we got one,” Perry said. “Their running back had a great game. His first run of the game set us back.”
Norwin responded late in the third quarter behind the running of Rothrauff. The Knights drove 57 yards with Tavares connected on a 4-yard touchdown pass to Zach Pawling.
Tavares completed 13 of 23 passes for 152 yards.
Norwin junior defensive back Cooper Miller picked off a Smith pass attempt in the third quarter in Norwin territory.
“Both defenses were awesome,” Norwin coach Mike Brown said. “They did a good job against Tristyn. We did a good job containing Smith. He is one of the best high school players I have seen in a while.
“We needed someone to step up, and that was Gio. The offensive line has been doing a great job all year.”
The Knights defense turned away the Blue Devils late in the fourth quarter to preserve the win. Mt. Lebanon drove to the Norwin 23, but Smith failed on two pass attempts to end the drive.
“This is a massive win for the program being the last game here for the seniors and juniors,” Brown said. “I could not be prouder. They made the plays and put in the work.”
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: Mt. lebanon, Norwin
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