Greensburg C.C., Mt. Pleasant coaches looking for improvement in Week 1

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 6:48 PM

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Almost every high school football coach will say they see the most improvement from their team between Week Zero and Week 1 of the season.

That is when coaches will decipher the game film and make corrections.

Mt. Pleasant coach Jason Fazekas and Greensburg Central Catholic coach John Thompson saw a lot their players can work on ahead of their matchup Friday night.

The Vikings fell behind by four scores in the first half and rallied to defeat Jeannette, 29-23. The Centurions jumped out to a two-touchdown lead in their game only to watch Shady Side Academy rally for a 28-26 victory.

“I am looking for improvement every week,” Fazekas said. “I want to see growth in every game.

“I was proud how we responded last week. Down 23-0 and getting the touchdown before halftime changed the momentum. Then we got a turnover and scored early in the second half, which helped. Then we were able to finish the job.”

Fazekas said his experience and depth on the offensive line played a key role in the Vikings’ comeback.

“We were physical against Jeannette’s talented line,” Fazekas said. “It was a good test. It took us time to adjust.”

Cramps played a big role in Greensburg Central Catholic’s loss.

“We were fine in the first half and were in control of the game,” Thompson said. “Then we started cramping up in the second half, and you could tell we were drained. The same thing happened to Shady Side Academy last year. They cramped up. They were in better shape than we were, and that is on me.

“There is no question that I am looking for a better effort this week. Getting to see film of the game allows you to learn a lot. This is a new team, and we are looking for a new identity. It was an eye-opening experience for some of the players.”

Thompson said he expects first-year quarterback Bobby Smithnosky will be better, and his youthful offensive line will be improved.

“Mt. Pleasant is physical, and we have to match its physical play,” Thompson said. “Our defense has to be disciplined and physical against the deceptive offense.”

Mt. Pleasant runs a wing-T offense with a lot of misdirection. Senior running back Stephen Prejanda scored two touchdowns and rushed for 80 yards last week to lead the Vikings.

Greensburg Central Catholic is led by senior Samir Crosby, who is listed as a wide receiver, running back and quarterback. He rushed for 75 yards on nine carries and caught one pass for 30 yards. He scored a touchdown.

Crosby was the Centurions’ quarterback the past two seasons. He completed 81 of 146 passes for 1,483 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. He also rushed for 1,060 yards and 18 touchdowns. He his being recruited as a wide receiver.

“Everyone knows who Crosby is,” Fazekas said. “You must be aware where he lines up. We expect him to be used more this week. Our offensive and defensive lines need to be great for us.

“We just need to continue to work. I felt Dane (Firmstone) did a great job running the offense. If you win on Friday, it makes Saturday better.”

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: Greensburg C.C., Mt. Pleasant