Trib HSSN high school football team of the week for Nov. 4, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Monday, November 4, 2024 | 11:13 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – Highlands Golden Rams

Coach: Matt Bonislawski (third season)

Result: Highlands 56, Southmoreland 20

Record: 6-4 overall

#Earned: At midseason, the Golden Rams were suffering through a three-game losing streak in which they were the heartbreak kids of the district, losing three of four games by a total of four points. But the Golden Rams showed off a lot of resiliency by lowering their heads and ramming their final three opponents in the regular season by a combined score of 153-43. Leading host Southmoreland after the first quarter in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round playoff game last Friday, the third highest-scoring offense in 3A exploded for 28 points in the second quarter as Highlands took control and led by 22 points at halftime. The Golden Rams didn’t let their foot off the gas in the second half, outscoring the Scotties 21-7 to win going away and advance to the district quarterfinals with a big 56-20 win. No. 9 seed Highlands now gets a rematch with Allegheny 7 Conference champion Imani Christian in the second round, seven weeks after the Golden Rams’ gut-wrenching 12-10 loss to the undefeated Saints.

Statistical standouts: Highlands senior quarterback Menage Lucas might be one of the most underrated players in the district. Perhaps few outside of the A-K Valley have noticed him, but he is enjoying a big season. Despite missing parts of games due to injury, he has completed 62 of 117 passes for 1,288 yards and 18 touchdowns, plus he leads the Golden Rams in rushing with 1,293 yards on 132 carries and is tops in scoring with 19 touchdown runs. Against Southmoreland, Lucas threw for 155 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 131 yards and three scores. Senior Darius Cherry rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown against the Scotties and is now 120 yards shy of 1,000 for the season. Senior wide receiver Montrell Johnson and junior wide out Jahmar Wright combined for five catches for 145 yards and three TDs in the Golden Rams’ first playoff victory since 2014.

Last year: Coming off a nine-win season and a second-place finish in the 4A Greater Allegheny Conference in 2022, Highlands needed back-to-back wins over Armstrong and Hampton to finish in a three-way tie for third place. Once the tiebreakers were figured out, the Golden Rams earned a playoff spot but lost in the Class 3A first round at Central Valley, 28-7, marking the third straight season Highlands lost in the opening round of the playoffs.

Remember when: The playoff victory over Southmoreland was the first in 10 years for the program. Highlands’ last postseason victory was over New Brighton in the 2014 2A first round, 24-19. The last time the Golden Rams won two playoffs games in a season was 16 years ago when Highlands beat Laurel Highlands in the 3A first round, 49-14, and then edged Montour in the quarterfinals, 35-34. The Golden Rams fell to Blackhawk in the 2008 semifinals, 36-7. Highlands also won two playoff games and lost in the semifinals in 2001 when it was led by junior quarterback and current head coach Matt Bonislawski. The school district’s only WPIAL football championship came 84 years ago when Tarentum finished a perfect 10-0 after defeating Mt. Pleasant-Ramsey in the Class 2A title game, 14-12.

Week 10 honorable mention

Franklin Regional Panthers

Trailing on the road in the fourth quarter, Franklin Regional needed a big play against North Hills. A bad snap on a punt that went for an Indians safety and a six-point deficit was what they were looking for. However, the Panthers defense did make the big play by recovering a fumble in North Hills territory, leading to senior quarterback Chase Lemke hitting sophomore tight end Cole Devola on a 17-yard TD pass to help the Panthers win their first playoff game in six years, 17-16. Lemke also scored on a short run and senior kicker Joey Bayne added a 32-yard field goal.

South Allegheny Gladiators

The amazing turnaround season for South Allegheny continued Friday as the team captured the program’s first playoff victory in nearly 40 years. Senior quarterback Ryan Cortes hit on 13 of 22 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns, three of which went the way of junior wide receiver Drew Cook, while senior running back Cam Epps rushed for 185 yards and scored two touchdowns, one coming on an 82-yard pass from Cortes as the host Gladiators rolled over Waynesburg, 53-14. Following a one-win season a year ago, SA has nine wins after its first postseason triumph since 1986.

Jeannette Jayhawks

On opening weekend of the WPIAL playoffs, there were four double-digit seeds that pulled off upset wins on the road, including No. 10 California, No. 11 South Side and No. 11 North Catholic, but the highest-seed stunner was pulled off by Class A No. 13 Jeannette. This season, the streaky Jayhawks won four straight and lost three games in a row but have now won four consecutive games again by shocking host Neshannock. Sensational junior quarterback Kymon’e Brown threw for 101 yards and ran for 156 yards, including scoring runs of 18 and 60 yards to wipe out an early seven-point deficit. Sophomore Jayce Powell put the Jayhawks up for good with an 87-yard kickoff return to the house to begin the second half as Jeannette eliminated Neshannock, 23-7.

2024 Trib HSSN Teams of the Week

Week 9 – Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Week 8 – Montour Spartans

Week 7 – Woodland Hills Wolverines

Week 6 – Ellwood City Wolverines

Week 5 – Central Catholic Vikings

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: Highlands