Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2023 Week 1

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 | 7:08 PM

Class A No. 2 Bishop Canevin (0-0) at Greensburg Central Catholic (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Centurions Stadium, Carbon

Last week: Bishop Canevin did not play; Greensburg Central Catholic 37, Mt. Pleasant 24

Last year’s meeting: Bishop Canevin 30, Greensburg Central Catholic 14

Two Class A playoff contenders meet in a matchup that features offenses with big-play potential. Can GCC pull the upset if the Crusaders are rusty? … The 2021 WPIAL champion Crusaders will roll out a dynamic roster that includes wideout Jason Cross, a West Virginia commit, and defensive end Daiveon Taylor, who has offers from Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia. … Tyree Turner and Samir Crosby will try to match the Crusaders’ playmakers. Last week, Turner threw for three touchdowns and ran for two others. Crosby had a receiving touchdown, a rushing TD and two interceptions on defense.

Southmoreland (1-0) at Ligonier Valley (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Weller Field, Ligonier

Last week: Southmoreland 34, McGuffey 7; Ligonier Valley 28, Springdale 14

Last year’s meeting: Ligonier Valley 27, Southmoreland 18

Which red-white-and-black uniformed team can sustain the momentum of a strong start? … Known for its passing game, Southmoreland dominated on the ground in Week Zero. Da’sjon Craggette ran for 217 yards and two scores, and QB Kaiden Keefer ran for a TD and threw for another. … John Jablonovsky also ran wild for Ligonier Valley to the tune of 208 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams attempted only three passes.

Class 5A No. 1 Penn Hills (1-0) at Norwin (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Norwin Knights Stadium, North Huntingdon

Last week: Penn Hills 33, Seneca Valley 20; Upper St. Clair 24, Norwin 21

Last year’s meeting: Penn Hills 26, Norwin 7

The top-ranked team in 5A will invade Norwin, which looked improved in its opener. … QB Julian Duggar, a Pitt recruit, drives the bus for Penn Hills, but the Indians can score from anywhere. In the opener, Tajuan Bandy had a pick-6 and Martel Palmer Mollett a 69-yard kickoff return for a score. … Norwin’s passing game gave USC fits last week. Jackson Pons, a Miami (Ohio) commit, had two touchdown receptions, and sophomore Tristyn Tavares threw for 213 yards and three TDs.

Mt. Pleasant (0-1) at Yough (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Cougar Mountain Stadium, Herminie

Last week: Greensburg Central Catholic 37, Mt. Pleasant 24; South Allegheny 28, Yough 14

Last year’s meeting: Mt. Pleasant 35, Yough 7

Somebody will get their first win in a matchup of Westmnoreland County programs. … Mt. Pleasant had plenty of highlights in its opener. Garrett Eicher had two rushing touchdowns, and Dante Giallonardo caught a 52-yard touchdown from Cole Chatfield. But the Vikings need to shore up their second-half defense after giving up 30 points to GCC after halftime. … Julian Varrenti and Raidon Kuroda ran for bookend touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters in Yough’s opener.

Jeannette (1-0) at East Allegheny (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Churchman Stadium, North Versailles

Last week: Jeannette 16, Burrell 13; South Park 22, East Allegheny 16

Last year’s meeting: East Allegheny 31, Jeannette 12

A promising start for both teams make this game more interesting than first thought. … QB Payton Molter was a difference maker for the Jayhawks, running 27 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns and leading the team to nine fourth-quarter points. … East Allegheny’s offense starts with QB Michael Cahill, who threw for 203 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score last week. The Wildcats are coached by Dom Pecora, a Norwin graduate who runs Dom’s Pizzeria in Trafford.

Hempfield (1-0) at Connellsville (1-0)

7 p.m., Friday, Connellsville Stadium, Connellsville

Last week: Hempfield 45, Greensburg Salem 6; Connellsville 48, Albert Gallatin 13

Last year’s meeting: Hempfield 49, Connellsville 0

Former Foothills Conference rivals tangle, and one will be 2-0 when the game ends. …. In coach Nick Keefer’s debut, Hempfield was opportunistic — taking advantage of two Greensburg Salem special teams gaffes — and punishing — getting three rushing TDs from Rogan Katchur. … Connellsville made plenty of big plays in Week Zero. QB Anthony Piasecki threw four touchdown passes, and Jayden McBride scored on a kickoff return and a reception.

Penn-Trafford (0-1) at McKeesport (1-0)

7 p.m., Friday, Weigle-Schaeffer Memorial Stadium, McKeesport

Last week: Canon-McMillan 14, Penn-Trafford 0; McKeesport 35, West Mifflin 7

Last year’s meeting: McKeesport 19, Penn-Trafford 7

This game matches teams that had strong defensive efforts in Week Zero. … With QB Johnny Lovre completing 17 of 31 passes for 214 yards, the Warriors were in a position to win their opener. They just gave up two giant plays: a run and a fumble return that covered more than 90 yards each. … McKeesport’s trademark ground game looks to be humming along. The Tigers got two touchdowns each from Anthony Boyd and Kemon Spell.

Monessen (0-1) at Cornell (1-0)

7 p.m., Friday, Frank Letteri Stadium, Coraopolis

Last week: Washington 49, Monessen 20; Cornell 20, Seton-La Salle 19

Last year’s meeting: Cornell 35, Monessen 6

This game has the potential of being a high-scoring affair. Both teams have big-play threats. … Home-run hitter Tyvaughn Kershaw leads the way for the Greyhounds. He had two touchdowns in the opener. … Watch out for Cornell’s Drevon Newton on both sides of the ball. He returned an interception 60 yards for a score and caught a 25-yard touchdown pass last week.

Greensburg Salem (0-1) at Derry (0-1)

7 p.m., Friday, Trojan Stadium, Derry

Last week: Hempfield 45, Greensburg Salem 6; Latrobe 56, Derry 14

Last year’s meeting: Greensburg Salem 26, Derry 17

A matchup of two teams that got off to rough starts in Week Zero. … Tight end Julian Stevens could provide a spark for Greensburg Salem. He caught three passes for 66 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown from Adam Dipasqualein the opener. .. Derry fell behind early and couldn’t recover, but the Trojans made at least one big play to remember: a 72-yard TD pass from Mason Beeman to Damauri Robinson.

Belle Vernon (0-0) at Laurel Highlands (1-0)

7 p.m., Friday, Mustang Stadium, Uniontown

Last week: Belle Vernon did not play; Laurel Highlands 50, Uniontown 13

Last year’s meeting: Belle Vernon 41, Laurel Highlands 20

There will be plenty of firepower on the field from both teams. Belle Vernon running back and Penn State commit Quinton Martin and Laurel Highlands wide receiver Antwan Black are the headliners. … Take Martin and add QB Braden Laux, RB Jake Gedekoh and the returning WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A champions will be a handful for anyone. Junior RB/CB Anthony Crews is a player to watch. … Black dominated the opener for Laurel Highlands, scoring three times, including two touchdown catches from quarterback Noah Lion.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Bishop Canevin, Connellsville, Cornell, Derry Area, East Allegheny, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Laurel Highlands, Ligonier Valley, McKeesport, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Yough