Records don’t tell the tale of Class 5A showdown between Woodland Hills, Penn-Trafford

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 9:28 PM

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Do not look at last week’s Woodland Hills score and think Penn-Trafford is expecting an easy game Friday.

It is better to think the opposite.

Woodland Hills (1-2) dropped a 58-20 decision to Class 6A’s top team, Central Catholic, but Wolverines coach Brian Tarrant felt his team did a lot of good things.

“I like where we are,” Tarrant said. “We played good football at times against Central Catholic. We also played well against North Allegheny and Penn Hills. It was challenging.”

Now the fourth-ranked Wolverines get ready for a showdown against fifth-ranked Penn-Trafford (3-0) at 7 p.m. Friday to kick off WPIAL Class 5A Big East Conference action at the Wolvarena.

The winner could end up claiming the conference title at the end of the season.

The Warriors have found ways to win close games despite not having star junior running back Ben Grabowski the past two games and four-year starting linebacker Jamison Yurt, who was injured in the Shaler scrimmage.

Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane said he hopes Grabowski will return this week, but Yurt will be out for a few more weeks.

“Penn-Trafford will give us a decent challenge,” Tarrant said. “Coach Ruane does a good job giving you different formations, but I feel we match up well against them with our speed and physicality. I like where we are.”

The Wolverines are led by speedy wide receiver Scoop Smith, running back Taylor Reid and veteran quarterback Cam Walter, a four-year starter.

Smith caught two touchdown passes from Walter in the loss to Central Catholic.

The Wolverines had a problem with Central Catholic’s passing attack. Owen Herrick completed 22 of 29 passes for 338 yards and three scores, and Roman Thompson rushed for 106 yards and three scores.

“Woodland Hills has a lot of talent, and they spread it around,” Ruane said. “We must be able keep them in front of us.

“We are happy to be 3-0, but we have a lot of corrections and improvements to make. We have had guys step up.”

Landon Stikkel and Cody Yacamelli have filled in for Grabowski in the backfield, and Stikkel and Luca Butler have shined in Yurt’s absence.

“I have not seen Grabowski the past couple games,” Tarrant said. “But he’s a powerful runner, and we will be prepared for him.”

Grabowski rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener against Norwin.

Another player who has continued to shine is senior quarterback Nate Desmond, who went 15 of 26 for 241 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for a score against Moon. Yacamelli rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

The Warriors rallied to defeat Moon, 25-24.

Ruane said possessing the football is a good idea against Woodland Hills.

“We will do our best to limit their possessions,” Ruane said. “We are not going to change what we do and stick to the game plan. They can grind it out.”

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: Penn-Trafford, Woodland Hills