Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2023 Week 7

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 | 6:31 PM

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Class 5A Big East Conference

Franklin Regional (5-2, 2-1) at Hempfield (1-6, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Spartan Stadium, Hempfield

Last week: Franklin Regional 37, Norwin 29; Seneca Valley 42, Hempfield 13

Last year’s result: Franklin Regional 56, Hempfield 21

Franklin Regional can get a share of the conference title if it wins out, as long as Gateway loses its last Big East game to Norwin. … The Panthers are in good position to earn a playoff berth but can’t slip up against a Hempfield team hungry to snap a six-game losing streak. … Chase Lemke and Ayden Hudock had career games against Norwin. Lemke threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns, and Hudock had five catches for 168 yards and three TDs to go with a 92-yard kick return score. … Keiran Lippman went from quarterback to receiver for Hempfield, giving way to Dom Detruf. Lippman had six catches for 77 yards and two TDs last game.

Penn-Trafford (3-4, 2-1) at Plum (2-5, 0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustangs Stadium, Plum Borough

Last week: Gateway 31, Penn-Trafford 27; South Fayette 24, Plum 13

Last year’s meeting: Penn-Trafford 35, Plum 21

The Warriors try to rebound after a hard-fought loss to Gateway, and Plum chases its first conference win. … The Warriors offense is starting to click behind the running of Tasso Whipple, who scored three times against the Gators, and Ben Grabowski. … The Mustangs average more than 21 points but allow more than 29 points per game. Still, they are a dangerous team that can’t be taken lightly despite losing five consecutive games. The Warriors must be wary of Darian Nelson, who has scored eight touchdowns, and Nick Odom, who has scored six times.

Class 4A Big Seven Conference

Connellsville (4-3, 1-2) at Latrobe (5-2, 3-1)

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

Last week: McKeesport 48, Connellsville 6; Latrobe 35, Ringgold 6

Last year’s result: Latrobe 43, Connellsville 13

Latrobe will look to win its fourth straight game after outscoring teams 97-13 over the last three. … The Wildcats are becoming more dangerous with a balanced run-pass combination led by quarterback John Wetzel, receiver Ja’Tawn Williams and running backs Alex Tatsch and Brady Prohovic. Tatsch, a standout linebacker, pulled in Division I offers from Virginia Tech and Liberty last week. … Connellsville had a two-game winning streak ended by McKeesport. The Falcons have scored 177 points and given up 179. … Sophomore lineman Michael Work is a spectacle at 6-foot-7, 404 pounds.

Class 3A Interstate Conference

No. 1 Belle Vernon (5-1, 2-0) at Mt. Pleasant (5-2, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Mt. Pleasant Area Stadium, Mt. Pleasant

Last week: Belle Vernon 53, Greensburg Salem 7; Elizabeth Forward 39, Mt. Pleasant 25

Last year’s meeting: Belle Vernon 55, Mt. Pleasant 7

This would have been a much bigger game if the Vikings would have found a way to defeat Elizabeth Forward last week. It would have been the Vikings’ second consecutive first-place showdown. … The Leopards are the reigning WPIAL and PIAA champions for a reason: They have a high-powered offense led by Penn State recruit Quinton Martin as well as a stingy defense. … The Vikings need to play a great game to stay with the top-ranked Leopards. Getting linebacker Jackson Hutter back from injury would help.

Southmoreland (4-3, 1-1) at Greensburg Salem (1-6, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Offutt Field, Greensburg

Last week: Southmoreland 42, South Allegheny 20; Belle Vernon 53, Greensburg Salem 7

Last year’s meeting: Southmoreland 42, Greensburg Salem 21

The Scotties ended a three-game slide with a dominating performance against South Allegheny and look to collect a second conference win against the struggling Golden Lions. … Southmoreland’s (Kadin) Keefer to (Ty) Keffer connection hooked up for three scores last week. … The Golden Lions hope to pull off some Offutt Field magic to upset the Scotties. Wide receiver Dom Rosensteel has been the main target of the quarterbacks.

Class 2A Allegheny Conference

Imani Christian (4-2, 2-1) at Derry (3-4, 2-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Trojan Stadium, Derry

Last week: Imani Christian 60, Apollo-Ridge 13; Steel Valley 38, Derry 0

Last year’s result: Imani Christian 44, Derry 17

The highest-scoring team in the conference at 36.8 points per game, Imani Christian has scored 40 or more points three times. … The Saints’ losses are to Steelton-Highspire and Steel Valley. Quarterback Steve Vandiver threw for 252 yards and four touchdowns last week, and Dayshaun Burnett scored four times, on two passes, a rush and a fumble recovery. … Derry has dropped two in a row after winning in back-to-back weeks. The Trojans could not finish drives against Steel Valley and weren’t able to contain the run. Ahmad Ward is one of the top tailbacks in the conference.

Ligonier Valley (2-5, 1-3) at Serra Catholic (2-4, 2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Eagles Stadium, McKeesport

Last week: Burrell 33, Ligonier Valley 13; Serra Catholic 40, Yough 12

Last year’s meeting: Serra Catholic 27, Ligonier Valley 18

The Rams are in the midst of a three-game losing streak and must control the clock with their running game to keep Serra’s high-powered offense off the field. … Ligonier Valley’s John Jablunovsky has switched from running back to wildcat quarterback. … Serra Catholic is led by quarterback Quadir Stribling, who has thrown for 1,364 yards and 14 touchdowns. Wide receiver De’reon Washington has eight touchdowns for the Eagles.

Yough (2-5, 1-3) at Apollo-Ridge (1-6, 0-4)

7 p.m. Friday, Owens Field, Apollo

Last week: Serra Catholic 40, Yough 12; Imani Christian 60, Apollo-Ridge 13

Last year’s result: Apollo-Ridge 26, Yough 13

Which team doesn’t want to finish last in the conference? … Yough appeared to be heading in the right direction after a 21-0 win over Ligonier Valley, but Serra Catholic roared back from a 6-0 deficit to flatten the Cougars, who gave up 357 passing yards and four touchdowns to Quadir Stribling. Mikey Nogy and Antonio Marra had TD runs in the loss. … Apollo-Ridge has dropped six straight after a season-opening win over Leechburg. The Vikings are giving up 37.3 points per game. Karter Schrock is a playmaker to key on.

Class A Tri-County South Conference

Monessen (2-5, 1-3) at Jefferson-Morgan (4-3, 3-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Parker Field, Jefferson

Last week: Monessen 14, Carmichaels 13; Jefferson-Morgan 50, Mapletown 21

Last year’s meeting: Monessen 70, Jefferson-Morgan 30

The Greyhounds put up 70 on the Rockets in 2022. A lot of those same weapons on offense return for Monessen, but Jefferson-Morgan has shown improvement across the board this season. … The Greyhounds need a win to stay in the playoff picture. Tyvaughn Kershaw leads the Hounds in rushing yards and touchdowns with six. … The Rockets rely on the running trio of Colin Bisceglia (470 yards), Houston Guseman (469) and John Woodward (419). Guseman also is a threat throwing the ball.

Nonconference

Norwin (2-5) at 6A No. 2 North Allegheny (6-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday, Newman Stadium, McCandless

Last week: Franklin Regional 37, Norwin 29; North Allegheny 43, Mt. Lebanon 7

Last year’s result: North Allegheny 38, Norwin 13

A break from conference play will match two former 6A opponents. … North Allegheny’s only loss was to Central Catholic. A power running game is led by Tyree Alualu, while Khiryn Boyd is a big-play threat in the passing game for quarterback Logan Kushner. Alualu is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Tyson Alualu. … Norwin came back to put a scare into Franklin Regional with a second-half rally but fell short. Sophomore quarterback Tristyn Tavares continues to grow into his role. He threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns last week with Jackson Pons and Luke Denny each going over 100 yards receiving.

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