Latrobe football receives wild card for WPIAL playoffs; Greensburg Salem also in

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, October 26, 2024 | 7:01 PM

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Latrobe football coach Ron Prady said he slept well Friday night.

He didn’t fret about if his team was going to be selected for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.

Prady knew his team had a good resume and proved itself during the season.

“I figured one of the ‘wild cards’ could go to us,” Prady said. “There were a couple teams that could also claim to that.”

When the WPIAL revealed the Class 5A parings for the 2024 tournament Saturday afternoon, Prady was relieved to see the committee thought enough to put them in. Latrobe earned a No. 12 seed and will travel to No. 5 Bethel Park at 7 p.m. Friday.

A couple of other coaches were holding their breath. Greensburg Salem earned a spot in Class 3A for the first time since 2018. Belle Vernon, the returning Class 3A WPIAL and PIAA champions, got in over West Mifflin in Class 4A, and Jeannette, which defeated Riverview, 34-20, on Saturday, was selected in Class A.

Other Westmoreland County in the playoffs are Penn-Trafford and Franklin Regional in 4A; Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland in 3A; and Monessen in Class A.

Latrobe (5-5) made the playoffs for the third consecutive season under Prady. The Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals last season.

Prady said he doesn’t know much about Bethel Park other than it has a good quarterback in Tanner Pfeuffer and played in a good conference.

“We devoted much of our time to Penn-Trafford,” Prady said of Friday’s opponent. “Some of our coaches like doing predictions, and they had us in. We’ll be spending a lot of time preparing for them the next few days.”

Penn-Trafford (8-2) is riding a six-game winning streak into the playoffs. The Warriors are seeded No. 6 and will host No. 11 South Fayette (6-4). The Lions dropped a 28-7 decision to Moon on Friday, but Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane said the Lions are well-coached and prepared.

“We don’t know much about them, but their coach has been successful on the college and high school levels,” Ruane said. “We’ve made great strides this year. The offensive and defensive lines have really jelled, and our defense has won us a lot of games.”

Franklin Regional (7-3) has won some crazy games this season, including Friday when it rallied from a two-touchdown deficit in the final three minutes to defeat Armstrong, 29-26.

The ninth-seeded Panthers will visit No. 8 North Hills (8-2), which has not won a playoff game since 2010.

Greensburg Salem (7-3) finished the season by upsetting Southmoreland, 28-21, on Senior Night.

Golden Lions coach Ty George, who took over the program two years ago, waited patiently to hear if his team received a wild-card berth. Greensburg Salem did and was awarded a 12th seed. It opens against No. 5 Avonworth (7-3).

“It’s been a great 24 hours,” George said. “Making the playoffs is huge for the program. It gets us back to a playoff level.”

While there is joy in the county seat, Southmoreland coach Tim Bukowski is dealing with numerous injuries. The Scotties (7-3) are seeded No. 8 and will host No. 9 Highlands (5-4).

Bukowski said he’s never seen so many injuries hit at the same time.

“I’m waiting to hear reports from the players,” Bukowski said. “We’ll see who we have available.”

Southmoreland and Highlands scrimmaged before the season, so Bukowski knows he is facing a talented quarterback in Menage Lucas. He just hopes his quarterback, Anthony Smith, can play.

Southmoreland has never won a playoff game.

Mt. Pleasant (6-4) is seeded 10th and visits No. 7 Freeport (7-3) on Friday.

Vikings coach Jason Fazekas said his staff is familiar with the Yellowjackets.

Quarterback Cole Chatfield was held out of Friday’s game against Elizabeth Forward, but Fazekas said he should return.

Belle Vernon, despite losing to Trinity on Friday, made the playoffs as a sixth seed and will face No. 3 McKeesport. The Leopards lost to the Tigers, 28-7, on Sept. 13.

Jeannette (7-3) was seeded 13th and will travel to New Castle to face No. 4 Neshannock (9-1).

Jayhawks coach Tommy Paulone Jr. said his team handled their business by defeating Riverview but has a short week to prepare.

“We’re happy to make the playoffs,” Paulone said. “We’ll be ready for the challenge that faces us.”

No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic (8-2), fresh off its win against Leechburg, will host No. 12 Monessen (7-3).

The Greyhounds are coming off consecutive losses to Bishop Canevin and Cornell.

Friday playoff games kick off at 7 p.m.

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.