Sizzling Greensburg Salem rolls past Valley, off to best start since 2011

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, September 6, 2024 | 10:33 PM

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Greensburg Salem honored its conference championship football teams from 2003 and ’04 before Friday night’s kickoff.

Then, the current Golden Lions took the field looking like a team with similar aspirations.

Greensburg Salem continued its best start since 2011, making it a perfect 3 for 3 in home games to start the season, with a 50-14 nonconference victory over Valley at Offutt Field.

The Golden Lions, who had just two wins last season, moved to 3-0 with all-time win No. 714.

“There is an energy and an atmosphere here,” Greensburg Salem coach Ty George said. “It feels different. We want to keep that momentum and keep showing signs of growth.”

Pass-happy Valley slipped to 0-3.

The teams’ first meeting since 1990 saw the Golden Lions run the ball with purpose while also mixing in the pass and making the Vikings work.

Kai Brunot ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns, Brody Chismar rushed for 64 yards, Peyton Chismar ran for 59 yards and a score and Brady Smith added 58 yards in the ground.

Peyton Chismar also threw for 114 yards and two scores. He shared snaps with Brody Chismar, his brother, a rotation that is revealing its reasoning.

“It’s different at practice,” Peyton Chismar said. “It’s a day-by-day, week-by-week thing. We’re focusing on the little things.”

Greensburg Salem built a 30-6 lead by halftime.

It forced a fumble on Valley’s first completion on the opening drive, and Keegan Young recovered for the Golden Lions. That set up a short scoring drive capped by 6-yard touchdown run by Brunot. The extra point was no good.

Valley punted, and the Golden Lions moved the ball again on the ground, with Brody Chismar selling a play fake before dashing 14 yards for a score.

Everyone except Chismar went left, but he went right — to the end zone — and the Golden Lions took a 13-0 lead.

Guided by the throwing arm of Mason Simmons, Valley scored its first touchdown. A 34-yard completion to Zyaan Ferron set up a 20-yard slant by the same combination. The extra point failed, and Greensburg Salem held a 13-6 advantage.

Simmons was 14 of 33 for 175 yards, and Ferron had five catches for 95 yards.

“(Greensburg Salem) came in riding a high,” Valley coach Mark Adams said. “Offensively, they did a great job and they executed their scheme. For us, we’re young and still learning. We’re still finding an identity and finding our way.”

Dom Rosensteel had a 72-yard scoring burst negated by a penalty late in the first quarter, but the wideout found the end zone soon after.

Another Valley miscue produced points for the Golden Lions early in the second quarter. Brunot swooped in to block a punt deep in Vikings’ territory, and Brady Smith recovered.

One play later, Peyton Chismar zipped a 21-yard touchdown down the left sideline to Rosensteel, who caught it in stride as the Golden Lions extended the lead to 20-6.

Ferron had an interception for Valley with 7:22 left in the first half, but the Vikings turned it over on downs.

Tanner Schmidt kicked a 29-yard field goal just before the half.

Rosensteel opened the scoring in the second half with a 39-yard touchdown grab from Peyton Chismar to make it 36-6.

Max Topper also had a scoring catch, from Brody Chismar, to kick-start the mercy rule, and Peyton Chismar scored on a 19-yard run in the fourth.

Workhorse back Nicolas Heakins scored on a short run late in the final period for Valley. He ran for 51 tough yards on 17 carries.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg Salem, Valley