South Fayette’s Jamie Diven named Trib HSSN Football Player of the Week

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, November 11, 2018 | 11:06 PM

For 10 weeks, Jamie Diven has quietly kept the tradition of outstanding quarterback play going at South Fayette.

Diven’s numbers weren’t so quiet in Week 11.

The senior lefty was slinging in the rain Friday, as he led the Lions to a 28-10 victory over Belle Vernon. South Fayette earned a spot in the WPIAL championship game for the first time since six classification-expansion in 2015.

“Jamie continues to get more comfortable each week and battled the rain and wind to have a tremendous game against a defense that was tremendous all season,” South Fayette coach Joe Rossi said.

Diven connected on 21 of 33 attempts for 333 yards and touchdown passes of 39, 3 and 26 yards.

Was the gameplan to throw that often on a rainy, windy night?

“Our plan is to always take what the defense gives us, and I know our offensive staff liked some of the matchups with our wide receivers,” Rossi said. “We never set a number as to how many throws we want. It’s just kind of like taking what we like on that day.”

Diven, who also scored on a 12-yard run, is the latest in a great line of quarterbacks in the past decade-plus at South Fayette. So how does his season shape up to what other great Lions signal callers like the Brumbaugh brothers (Christian and Brett) and Drew Saxton?

“Jamie’s arm strength may be the best of all the quarterbacks we have had, and he has some of the same qualities as the others such as football smarts,” Rossi said. “We talk a lot about football IQ with all of our players. You get that from loving the game and watching the game.”

South Fayette lost its season opener to Upper St. Clair in Week Zero and has ripped off 11 straight wins since then as they won the Northwest Eight Conference title and back-to-back playoff games.

A trip to Heinz Field is on the schedule now for the Lions as they take on the big cat in Class 4A in Thomas Jefferson on Saturday evening.

“Jamie has to play within the game plan and not try to do too much,” said Rossi. “Take what they give us and make sure he takes care of the ball. You can’t beat TJ if you don’t take care of the ball. They don’t turn the ball over much and capitalize on other teams mistakes.”

Since moving into the same classification, many have been waiting for a showdown between these two great programs. Now it becomes official.

“They have their brand, and we have ours,” Rossi said. “Should make for a fun day. Nothing is better than playing at Heinz.”

WPIAL Week Eleven Honorable Mentions

Jake Mineweaser, Seneca Valley

When the WPIAL unveiled its new postseason format last winter, everybody said what a huge advantage the top two finishers in Class 6A would have come playoff time with a bye in the quarterfinals and a home game in the semifinals awaiting them. So much for advantages as Jake Mineweaser and Seneca Valley proved. The senior running back rushed for 191 yards and scored bookend touchdowns on a 9-yard run in the first and a 12-yard capper in the fourth as the Raiders earned a second trip to the 6A title game in three years with a 31-14 stunner of previously unbeaten North Allegheny.

Tank Smith, Penn Hills

The Penn Hills running back has become a driving force for the No. 2 seed in the Class 5A playoffs, and he’s living up to his name. Tank Smith left a lot of carnage on the field in the Indians quarterfinals battle against McKeesport. Smith rushed for 218 yards on 24 carries and scored on an 8-yard run that sealed a 34-7 Penn Hills victory that lifts the Indians into the WPIAL semifinals for a second consecutive season.

Max Shaw, Thomas Jefferson

With Thomas Jefferson earning another berth in the district championship game, it’s time to prepare for my public address announcing duties at Heinz Field. “Max Shaw on the carry for the Jaguars.” Say that another 30-plus times and we should be good. In the Class 4A semifinals, Shaw had 33 carries for 314 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Jaguars rolled to a 47-7 win over Blackhawk.

Onreey Stewart and Justin Flack, Derry

It was a team effort for Derry as they pulled off one of the biggest come-from-behind victories in district postseason history, but space limits us to praising just two right here. Onreey Stewart rushed for 203 yards and scored the first of three fourth-quarter Trojans touchdowns on a 60-yard run, and Justin Flack scored on a 4-yard second quarter run and a 1-yard fourth quarter plunge that tied the score, then broke the deadlock with a 38-yard interception return for the winning score with 1:47 left as Derry wiped out a 21-point second half deficit to earn an improbable 36-29 win and a berth in the WPIAL 3A championship game.

Darius Goosby, Rochester

It had been seven years since Rochester had earned a trip to the WPIAL finals. That might not sound like much, but that was eternity by Rams standard since they became a Class A force back in the 1990s. That clock is ticking no more as Rochester earned a berth with a dominating performance against defending champion Jeannette. Once again, an outstanding ground attack was key as the Rams have had five 100-yard rushers in two playoff games, including 183 yards by Darius Goosby, who added a 58-yard scoring run in the Rams 27-0 whitewash of the Jayhawks.

Bonus mentions

Here are other performances that led to semifinals wins and a berth in the WPIAL finals on Saturday at Heinz Field as the journey on the Highway to Heinz has concludes in 6A, 4A, 3A and 1A. Pine-Richland: Luke Meckler had 124 yards and two touchdowns. Aliquippa; Avante McKenzie 137 yards and four touchdowns. OLSH “Tyler Bradley 8 of 13 passing for 150 yards and four touchdowns

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at drebel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TheDonRebel.