Westmoreland County football notebook: All 3 phases clicking for Jeannette

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 8:01 AM

Jeannette has been spreading the wealth with an all-hands-on-deck approach of late.

The Jayhawks only have 22 players, but seven have found the end zone in the last three weeks — in six different ways.

Jeannette (8-3), which will face Clairton (10-1) on Friday night in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals at Franklin Regional, has scored seven rushing touchdowns, four via the pass, two on a kick and punt return, two on interception returns and another on a blocked punt.

In addition, McAlister Steele has accounted for 25 points, including 15 on five field goals.

When Jeannette played Riverview, the offense, defense and special teams each accounted for 12 points in a 36-0 win.

Kymon’e Brown threw for a score, ran for another and added a pick-6.

All three phases have been producing for the Jayhawks, who are a win away from a second straight trip to the semifinals.

Last week, in a 38-24 win over Bentworth in the first round, Noah Sunder had a blocked punt score.

“All the unsung heroes have to step up again this week,” coach Tommy Paulone said. “That is a tribute to our staff preparing our guys and putting them in position to make those plays. It’s an environment of team, with everyone contributing.”

History lesson

The three remaining local teams in the WPIAL playoffs are looking to add to or break streaks against their quarterfinal opponents.

Norwin will play at North Allegheny on Friday. Norwin is 0-16 all-time against the Tigers.

Penn-Trafford, meantime, will host Moon. The Warriors have won three straight against the Tigers.

And Jeannette faces Clairton, a team it has lost to six straight times.

Norwin and North Allegheny are conference opponents, as are Jeannette and Clairton. Oddly, Moon and Penn-Trafford used to be. In the 1970s, they both played in the Keystone Conference.

Norwin has never reached the WPIAL finals, so Friday’s game is arguably the biggest in program history.

Penn-Trafford leads the all-time series with Moon, 6-2-1. No game between the teams has been decided by more than seven points.

Penn-Trafford beat the Tigers, 24-21, to win the WPIAL 5A championship.

Guest speaker

Jeannette had a special guest in to speak to the team this week as the Jayhawks prep for their rematch with Clairton.

Longtime Franklin Regional coach Greg Botta talked to the team about the importance of playing for one another and for the community.

Botta resigned in 2021 after 27 seasons with the Panthers. He won 177 games, seven conference titles and a WPIAL and PIAA championship.

Smith shines

Anthony Smith, whose winding road has taken him from Southmoreland to Seton LaSalle to outside of the WPIAL, had an impressive debut season at Fairmont Senior High School in West Virginia.

Smith, a sophomore quarterback, has thrown for 2,038 yards and has 31 total touchdowns with one regular-season game left.

Smith has two 300-plus-yard games, including a 392-yard effort and six touchdowns in a 61-30 win over Buckshannon-Upshur. 

He finished 21 of 41 for 318 yards and three scores in a 62-28 loss to Bridgeport in the regular-season finale.

Senior Gabe Kubasky, another transfer from Southmoreland, played in six games for Fairmont and has a team-high 24 receptions for 395 yards and four TDs.

Cernuto coaching

Speaking of former Southmoreland quarterbacks, Zach Cernuto has joined the coaching ranks.

A 2021 graduate, Cernuto spent this season as an assistant at West Mifflin. The Titans finished 3-7 and in fourth place in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference.

Cernuto was a standout tight end and H-back at Washington & Jefferson.

Stat leaders

With the regular season complete, the Westmoreland County rushing title can be awarded to a big-play quarterback.

Burrell’s Antonio Perkins had a breakthrough season, rushing for 1,603 yards — 360 and five touchdowns last week — and 23 TDs on 203 carries.

Giovanni Rothrauff of Norwin came in second with 1,398 yards on a workmanlike 244 attempts — third most in the WPIAL.

Hempfield’s Dom Detruf was the top passer in the county. He completed 167 of 258 attempts for 2,235 yards and 21 touchdowns. Only three other quarterbacks threw for 2,000 yards this season in the WPIAL.

Kymon’e Brown of Jeannette was 79 of 165 for 1,490 yards and 15 scores.

Jack Kopas, Detruf’s top target, had 63 receptions for 787 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Jayce Powell of Jeannette finished with 37 catches for 788 yards and eight scores.

Recruiting

Jeannette senior wide receiver and linebacker Noah Sunder announced he will continue his playing career at Waynesburg.

He said it

“You never want to feel good about a loss.”

— Norwin coach Mike Brown after a 20-17 defeat against North Allegheny earlier in the season.

He said it II

“We have to focus on what we can do, not what we can’t do.”

— Jeannette coach Tommy Paulone on his team’s approach against Clairton.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Jeannette, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland