Trib HSSN football team of the week for Sept. 8, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, September 8, 2025 | 6:49 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – Southmoreland Scotties

Coach: Dustin Shoaf (first season)

Result: Southmoreland 54, Laurel Highlands 7

Record: 3-0 overall

#Earned: There was a time not that long ago that the one distinction the Southmoreland football program had was owning the longest WPIAL playoff drought. Don’t look now, but positive things are happening with the Scotties on the gridiron. Starting with Tim Bukowski and now under the leadership of the youngest WPIAL head football coach in 25-year-old Dustin Shoaf, Southmoreland is off to a 3-0 start for a third straight season. The previous two years led to a trip to the postseason for the Scotties. This week, they will try to do something the two previous teams could not do: get off to a 4-0 start. Last week in their home opener in a battle of 2-0 teams, Southmoreland fell behind Laurel Highlands 7-6 in the opening quarter before scoring 48 unanswered points, 27 coming in the third quarter, on the Scotties way to a convincing 54-7 win over the Mustangs.

Statistical standouts: Coming into the season knowing they would be without 2024 freshman standout quarterback Anthony Smith, who first transferred to Seton LaSalle and then enrolled at Fairmont High School in West Virginia, scoring points has not been a problem for the Scotties thanks to the play of junior quarterback Dawson Wolfe. Against Laurel Highlands, Wolfe was hungry and successful, connecting on 9 of 12 passes for 135 yards and touchdown tosses to senior Ty Whoric of 34 yards and sophomore Jackson Mickens of 17 yards. Wolfe also led the team in rushing with 163 yards on 14 carries and three scores on TD runs of 2, 43 and 5 yards. The Scotties also had two fumble recoveries for touchdowns in the win over the Mustangs from sophomore Luke Stinnett and junior Jake Hull.

Last year: Smith quickly made a name for himself as Southmoreland won its first three games, lost to Class 4A Blackhawk, then ripped off four consecutive wins, including its first three games in the 3A Interstate Conference. However, regular season losses to Elizabeth Forward and Greensburg Salem and a first-round playoff defeat at home to Highlands ended a strong 7-4 season on a down note. Smith finished in the top 10 in the WPIAL in passing with 2,111 yards and 22 touchdowns. Jackson Mickens was second on the team in receiving with 35 catches for 486 yards and six touchdowns.

Remember when: Six years ago, the Southmoreland football team raced out to a 5-0 start before losing its final six games. For most, such a season would be a major disappointment, but at the home of the Scotties, it was cause to celebrate. Southmoreland ended the 2019 season with a loss to Avonworth in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. It was the first taste of November football for the Scotties since a first-round loss to Penn Hills in the 1979 playoffs, ending a 40-year postseason drought. After missing in 2020, Southmoreland has reached the WPIAL playoffs four straight years, but the program is still searching for that elusive first district postseason victory.

Week 2 Honorable Mention

Central Catholic Vikings

Woodland Hills plays its home games at The Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, which has also been the home for several Central Catholic games over the years. However, when the two district powers met in a nonconference game on Saturday, they did so more than 100 miles away in Canton, Ohio. Class 6A top-ranked Central Catholic put in a hall-of-fame type performance by scoring all 58 of its points in the first three quarters. Quarterback Owen Herrick threw for three touchdowns and ran for one and running back Roman Thompson scored three times as the Vikings rolled past the Wolverines, 58-20.

Fox Chapel Foxes

For only the second time this decade, Fox Chapel is sitting with an overall record of over .500 (4-3 during the 2021 season). Following an opening-night loss to Allderdice and a win last week over Baldwin, the Foxes made it two straight wins with a thrilling triumph at Knoch. Fox Chapel quarterback Joe Geller hit on 10 of 19 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns to Max Melocchi, who had five catches for 165 yards, while kicker Harran Zureik booted a 23-yard field goal with nine seconds left to give the Foxes the win over the Knights, 20-18.

Freeport Yellowjackets

While two dozen WPIAL teams entered Week 2 with 2-0 records, there were only three games that pitted those perfect teams against each other this past Friday. One of them was suprising Quaker Valley hosting Freeport, and it didn’t take long for the Yellowjackets to show the surprises were coming to an end. Amos Glenn scored four touchdowns, including returning the opening kickoff 85 yards for a score, as the ‘Jackets scored the first three touchdowns on their way to a 42-7 win over the Quakers.

New Brighton Lions

A year ago in Week 2, New Brighton hosted Northgate at Oak Hill Field and was burned by the Flames, 39-7. The Lions went on to lose five of their last seven games and miss the postseason after a 2-0 start. Following another 2-0 start this season, the winds of change were in the air for the rematch as New Brighton completely turned the tables and won big on the road at Northgate, 38-0.

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Tags: Southmoreland