Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2023 Week 6

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 6:52 PM

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Class 5A Big East Conference

Gateway (3-3, 3-0) at Penn-Trafford (3-3, 2-0)

7:30 p.m., Friday, Warrior Stadium, Harrison City

Last week: Gateway 63, Hempfield 21; Penn-Trafford 56, Norwin 28

Last year’s result: Gateway 21, Penn-Trafford 10

Who will get to ring the bell after this game? It’s the annual “Battle for the Victory Bell” between these squads. Revived in 2012, it was originally the coveted trophy given to the winner of the Pitcairn (Gateway) and Trafford (Penn-Trafford) game. … First place is on the line. … The Gators have won three consecutive games since the return of quarterback Brad Birch and have averaged 52 points. … Penn-Trafford has won consecutive games behind the strong running of Tasso Whipple and Ben Grabowski. The duo combined to rush for 400 yards and scored six touchdowns last week.

Norwin (2-4, 1-1) at Franklin Regional (4-2, 1-1)

7 p.m., Friday, Panther Stadium, Murrysville

Last week: Penn-Trafford 56, Norwin 28; Franklin Regional 45, Plum 26

Last year’s result: Franklin Regional 35, Norwin 0

This is a big game for both teams as they try to stay in playoff contention. Norwin has a dangerous passing attack behind sophomore Tristyn Tavares and receivers Jackson Pons, Luke Denny and Jake Knight. Preventing points has been the Knights’ problem. … Franklin Regional junior running back Kyle Dupill rushed for 240 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Panthers rallied from a 20-3 deficit to defeat Plum.

Class 4A Big Seven Conference

Latrobe (4-2, 2-1) at Ringgold (0-6, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Joe Montana Stadium, Monongahela

Last week: Latrobe 25, Trinity 7; McKeesport 48, Ringgold 0

Last year’s result: Latrobe 42, Ringgold 0

Latrobe is back in form after a loss to Thomas Jefferson, winning back-to-back conference games. It will face a Ringgold team that has given up the most points in the WPIAL (276). … The Wildcats have an underrated defense that has produced 11 interceptions, four of which were returned for touchdowns, including two by Ja’Tawn Williams. … Latrobe has nice balance in the run and pass game.

Class 3A Interstate Conference

Greensburg Salem (1-5, 0-1) at 1-Belle Vernon (4-1, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, James Weir Stadium, Belle Vernon

Last week: Mt. Pleasant 38, Greensburg Salem 7; Belle Vernon 57, South Allegheny 6

Last year’s result: Belle Vernon 51, Greensburg Salem 7

It looks like this could be another day at The Beach for Belle Vernon, which last week put up a season-high 57 points, the most it has scored since 2019. … Quinton Martin, the state’s top college recruit (Penn State), scored four touchdowns, and quarterback Braden Laux was 9 of 10 passing. … Greensburg Salem was roughed up by Mt. Pleasant because it could not slow the run. Freshman quarterback Brody Chismar made his first start and completed 20 of 35 passes but threw three picks.

South Allegheny (1-5, 0-1) at Southmoreland (3-3, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Russ Grimm Field, Alverton

Last week: Elizabeth Forward 31, Southmoreland 24; Belle Vernon 57, South Allegheny 6

Last year’s result: Southmoreland 36, South Allegheny 6

Southmoreland will look to right the ship as it returns home on a three-game losing streak. South Allegheny, which has dropped five straight, could be the perfect remedy. … Kadin Keefer threw for a season-high 261 yards and two touchdowns, Ty Keffer had five catches for 107 yards and a score and Da’sjon Craggette rushed for 108 yards and caught a TD last week. It was the Scotties’ biggest point output since Week 2. … Malakai Myers had the only touchdown for the Gladiators last week.

Class 2A Allegheny Conference

Burrell (3-3, 2-1) at Ligonier Valley (2-4, 1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Weller Field, Ligonier

Last week: Imani Christian 35, Burrell 8; Yough 21, Ligonier Valley 0

Last year’s result: Ligonier Valley 29, Burrell 15

Burrell had a three-game winning streak halted to fall back to .500. The Bucs did not score until the fourth quarter against Imani Christian. … Ligonier Valley is on a two-game slide. The Rams have been shut out in back-to-back games, the first time that has happened since 2006. … This will be the Rams’ fifth home game of the season.

Derry (3-3, 2-1) at 2-Steel Valley (4-1, 3-0)

7 p.m. Friday, William V. Campbell Field, Munhall

Last week: Serra Catholic 27, Derry 12; Steel Valley 49, Apollo-Ridge 17

Last year’s result: Steel Valley 49, Derry 0

Improved Derry fell back to earth a bit last week after back-to-back wins, and the Trojans face a much greater test this week with the Ironmen, who allow less than 10 points a game. … Ahmad Ward has been one of the top rushers in 3A this season for Derry. … Donald Barksdale is a playmaker for Steel Valley. He ran for 196 yards and four touchdowns last week.

Serra Catholic (1-4, 1-1) at Yough (2-4, 1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Cougar Mountain Stadium, Sewickley Township

Last week: Serra Catholic 27, Derry 12; Yough 21, Ligonier Valley 0

Last year’s result: Serra Catholic 28, Yough 14

Yough snapped a two-game conference losing streak as its rushing attack continued to progress. Raidon Kuroda (138) and Shane Swope (130) each ran for over 130 yards and scored a touchdown against Ligonier Valley. Swope had a 90-yard run. … Serra Catholic overcame an early deficit to get past Derry for its first win as Quadir Stribling completed 19 of 27 passes for 192 yards and a score.

Class A Eastern Conference

Frazier (0-6, 0-3) at Greensburg Central Catholic (3-3, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Centurion Stadium, Carbon

Last week: Leechburg 59, Frazier 8; Clairton 40, Greensburg Central Catholic 28

Last year’s result: Greensburg Central Catholic 47, Frazier 0

After playing close with Clairton for much of last week’s game, Greensburg Central Catholic is confident but looking to fix self-inflicted mistakes as it returns home. … Pete Mazowiecki and Landon Honick caught touchdown passes from Tyree Turner, who passed for 208 yards in the loss. Running back Nick Dlugos is one to watch. … Frazier is trying to snap an eight-game losing streak. The Commodores are giving up 45.3 points.

Jeannette (5-1, 2-0) at Leechburg (4-2, 2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Veterans Memorial Stadium, Leechburg

Last week: Jeannette 42, Riverview 22; Leechburg 59, Frazier 8

Last year’s result: Leechburg 58, Jeannette 21

Perhaps the hottest team in the conference, Jeannette has four straight wins and is making big plays with Payton Molter, Noah Sanders, Kymone Brown and others. Molter threw three TDs to Brown in back-to-back games. … The Jayhawks are averaging 40.5 points during the win streak. … Leechburg tied a season-high with 59 points last week as the Blue Devils rebounded from a 42-14 loss to Clairton. Jayden Floyd leads the rushing attack.

Class A Tri-County South Conference

Carmichaels (2-4, 1-2) at Monessen (1-5, 0-3)

7 p.m., Friday, Memorial Stadium, Monessen

Last week: Beth-Center 34, Carmichaels 20; West Greene 41, Monessen 32

Last year’s result: Carmichaels 40, Monessen 36

This is an unfamiliar position for these squads in the conference, looking up in standings from the bottom. … The Mikes are coming off a tough loss to Beth-Center. Quarterback A.J. Donaldson has scored six touchdowns and thrown for a score for the Mikes. … The Greyhounds were outscored by West Greene in a high-scoring affair. They are led by sophomore running back/quarterback TyVaughn Kershaw.

Nonconference

Class 5A Hempfield (1-5, 0-2) at Class 6A Seneca Valley (1-5, 0-2)

7 p.m., Friday, NexTier Stadium, Harmony

Last week: Gateway 63, Hempfield 21; Seneca Valley 55, Butler 0

Last year’s result: Seneca Valley 42, Hempfield 12

These teams are struggling to find wins. The Spartans are riding a five-game losing streak, and the Raiders ended their five-game losing streak against Butler last week. … Hempfield made a quarterback switch, and sophomore Dom Detruf threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns against the Gators. He also rushed for a score as Hempfield rallied from a 21-0 deficit to close the Gateway lead to 28-21 in the third quarter. … Seneca Valley quarterback Sean O’Shea completed 4 of 7 passes for 187 yards and two scores. He also rushed for two touchdowns.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Burrell, Carmichaels, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Frazier, Gateway, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Leechburg, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Ringgold, Seneca Valley, Serra Catholic, South Allegheny, Southmoreland, Steel Valley, Yough