Trib HSSN high school football team of the week for 2024 Week 5

By: Don Rebel
Monday, September 30, 2024 | 7:52 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – Central Catholic Vikings

Coach: Ryan Lehmeier (second season)

Result: Central Catholic 27, North Allegheny 14

Record: 3-0 in Class 6A, 4-2 overall

#Earned: Eyebrows were raised when two weeks into the 2024 season, Central Catholic was sitting at 0-2. However, there was certainly no panic inside the Oakland locker room of the Vikings after losses to nationally ranked St. Frances Academy of Maryland and Class 5A top-ranked Pine-Richland. Central Catholic crushed a good Woodland Hills team and captured wins in its first two Class 6A games by outscoring Mt. Lebanon and Hempfield 101-7. That set up what many feel was the 6A regular season title game against defending champion North Allegheny this past Friday. The Tigers scored first and took a 14-11 lead into the locker room. The Vikings turned up the defense in the second half and outscored NA 16-0 to pick up the huge 27-14 win and take over first place all alone in 6A.

Statistical standouts: The Vikings have been paced on offense all season by senior quarterback Jy’Aire Walls. He came into the game against North Allegheny having completed 51 of 89 passes for 980 yards and nine touchdowns through Week 5. A big game wasn’t needed from their signal caller as Walls was 5 of 15 passing for only 94 yards. He did score a touchdown on a 1-yard run. The damage for Central Catholic came in their run game with senior running back Elijah Faulkner putting up a blue collar performance. Faulkner carried the ball 27 times for 127 yards and an 18-yard scoring run. Junior Colsen Gatten had a 25-yard pick-six for the Vikings and senior kicker Billy Lech showed off his strong leg with a 54-yard field goal.

Last year: In Ryan Lehmeier’s first year as Central Catholic coach, taking over for the legendary Terry Totten, the Vikings stormed out to a 6-0 start by scoring 251 points for an average of 42 points per game. The Vikings suffered their first loss of the season in a nonconference showdown with Pine-Richland, 26-19. Central Catholic won its final three regular season games to win the 6A regular season and earn the top seed. Following a 35-point win over Mt. Lebanon in the district semifinals, the Vikings lost the rematch to North Allegheny in the 6A championship game for the second straight season in a wild title game, 44-41.

Remember when: Central Catholic has won eight WPIAL football championships, all between 2003-2020, along with four PIAA state crowns. Five years ago, the Vikings captured gold for the seventh time when they defeated Pine-Richland in the 6A finals, 10-7. This season marks the 20th anniversary of one of the best teams in WPIAL history. Central Catholic won the Quad East Conference and finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record. In the WPIAL 4A playoffs, the Vikings defeated Kiski Area, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair and Gateway in the championship game by a combined score of 130-19 with two shutouts to repeat as district champions. Central Catholic was even better in the PIAA postseason, crushing McDowell, Bishop McDevitt (which featured future Pitt and NFL running back LeSean McCoy) and Neshaminy by a combined score of 137-17 to win state gold for the second time in school history.

Week 5 Honorable Mention

Bethel Park Black Hawks

The black and orange dynamic duo from Bethel Park spent the first five weeks feasting on nonconference opponents. Friday, they finally got a chance to snack at the elite 5A Allegheny Six Conference table and they ate well once again. Senior quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer hit on 20 of 29 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns while senior running back Ja’Vaughn Moore carried the ball 33 times for 201 yards and two scores as the Black Hawks remained undefeated with a conference opening win over Moon, 45-36.

Avonworth Antelopes

Avonworth fell behind early but chipped away before taking the lead for good against visiting Central Valley in a 3A Western Hills Conference showdown. Junior running back Luca Neal rushed for 153 yards and junior quarterback Carson Bellinger and senior running back Nico Neal scored on touchdown runs while junior defensive back Cooper Scharding returned a fumble 25 yards for a score as the Antelopes edged the Warriors, 21-14, to take over sole possession of first place in the conference.

Monessen Greyhounds

On a Saturday night Class A nonconference special in Hookstown, Monessen brought the big plays in many shapes and sizes in handing host South Side its first loss of the season, 32-17. Junior running back TyVaughn Kershaw had a big game, rushing for 157 yards and returning a kick 96 yards for a score that helped turn the tide in the Greyhounds’ favor. He also threw a 50-yard halfback option touchdown pass to sophomore Jay’veyon Jeffries, who scored twice. Junior running back Tavian Taylor scored on an 82-yard run and made a game-sealing interception that turned into a 69-yard touchdown when Kershaw picked up Taylor’s fumble inside the South Side 5 and took it across the goal line.

2024 Trib HSSN teams of the week

Week 4 – Central Valley Warriors

Week 3 – South Allegheny Gladiators

Week 2 – Jefferson-Morgan Rockets

Week 1 – Bethel Park Black Hawks

Week Zero – Blackhawk Cougars

Tags: Central Catholic