Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2023 Week 9

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 | 6:14 PM

Class 5A Big East Conference

Hempfield (1-8, 0-4) at Norwin (2-7, 1-3)

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

Last week: Plum 38, Hempfield 20; Gateway 48, Norwin 20

Last year’s result: Hempfield 34, Norwin 7

• Neither team is going to the playoffs, so this is their bowl game. … Hempfield has a shot to break an eight-game losing streak and build momentum for next season. … Norwin can end a five-game skid with its second home win of the season. Luke Denny has been one to watch of late. He had a 98-yard kick return TD last week. Quarterback Tristyn Tavares has more than 2,000 yards passing for the year.

Class 3A Interstate Conference

2-Elizabeth Forward (9-0) at 1-Belle Vernon (7-1)

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

Last week: Elizabeth Forward 48, Greensburg Salem 13

Last year’s result: Belle Vernon 48, Elizabeth Forward 14

• It all comes down to this with the winner earning the Interstate title. … The teams have combined for 13 straight wins. EF’s Ryan Messina threw for 214 yards and four TDs last week. … Belle Vernon is averaging nearly 54 points per game in the conference. Belle Vernon ran for 362 yards in Week 8, but its unheralded defense shut out Southmoreland for three quarters.

South Allegheny (1-8, 0-4) at Greensburg Salem (1-8, 0-4)

7 p.m. Friday, Offutt Field, Greensburg

Last week: Mt. Pleasant 42, South Allegheny 27; Elizabeth Forward 48, Greensburg Salem 13

Last year’s meeting: Greensburg Salem 42, South Allegheny 28

• The season finale for both teams looking to end the year with their second win. South Allegheny has dropped eight consecutive games and Greensburg Salem six. … The Gladiators are led by running back Cameron Epps, who rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Mt. Pleasant. … Greensburg Salem freshman quarterback Brody Chismar rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass Elizabeth Forward.

Southmoreland (5-4, 2-2) at Mt. Pleasant (6-3, 2-2)

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

Last week: Belle Vernon 49, Southmoreland 7; Mt. Pleasant 42, South Allegheny 27

Last year’s result: Mt. Pleasant 42, Southmoreland 17

• Bottled up offensively against Belle Vernon, the Scotties will look to rebound. Both teams have clinched playoff spots, but the winner will get third place. … Southmoreland’s passing game was held in check, and the Scotties allowed nearly 400 rushing yards last week. Da’sjon Craggette has over 1,000 yards rushing for the second year in a row. … Mt. Pleasant erased a two-game losing streak.

Class 2A Allegheny Conference

Ligonier Valley (2-7, 1-5) at Derry (4-5, 3-3)

7 p.m. Friday at Trojan Stadium, Derry

Last week: Imani Christian 31, Ligonier Valley 0; Derry 29, Burrell 22

Last year’s meeting: Ligonier Valley 51, Derry 7

• The Trojans clinched a berth in the WPIAL playoffs by defeating Burrell. … The Rams are missing the playoffs for only the second time since 2014. Leading rusher John Jablunovsky missed the Imani Christian game with an injury. Freshman Pat Latin performed well in his place. … Trojans’ running back Ahmad Ward has rushed for 1,030 yards and 14 touchdowns on 195 carries. He scored four times in the win against Burrell.

Yough (2-7, 1-5) at Imani Christian (6-2, 4-1)

7 p.m. Friday, UPMC Graham Field, Wilkinsburg

Last week: Steel Valley 35, Yough 14; Imani Christian 31, Ligonier Valley 0

Last year’s meeting: Yough 15, Imani Christian 12

• The Cougars look to end the season on a winning note. They faced a talented and quick Saints team that features three NCAA Division I players. … The Cougars rushed for 200 yards against the Ironmen, and Shane Swope and Mike Nogy scored touchdowns on the ground. … Imani Christian’s Che’Von Allen caught two touchdown passes. Gabe Jenkins rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown. The Saints look to secure second place in the conference.

Class A Eastern Conference

4-Clairton (7-2, 5-0) at Jeannette (7-2, 4-1)

7 p.m. Friday, McKee Stadium, Jeannette

Last week: Clairton 50, Frazier 6; Jeannette 49, Springdale 12

Last year’s result: Clairton 43, Jeannette 0

• Either the Eastern Conference will be all Clairton’s, or the Bears will have to share the title. Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic still can earn a co-title. … Clairton is 7-0 after an 0-2 start and has sound wins against GCC and Rochester. Running back Drahcir Jones has over 950 yards rushing, and Michael Wright has passed for over 950 for the Bears. … Jeannette hasn’t beaten Clairton since 2020, but the Jayhawks are much improved from a 3-8 mark last year.

Greensburg C.C. (6-3, 4-1) at Leechburg (6-3, 3-2)

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

Last week: Greensburg Central Catholic 21, Riverview 14; Leechburg 27, Shenango 26

Last year’s result: GCC 48, Leechburg 21

• Playoff positioning is at stake here, not to mention GCC still has a shot at a share of the conference title. … GCC is looking for a sharper performance after allowing Riverview to hang around last week. The defense, though, did hold tight on several second-half drives by the Raiders. … Leechburg, which has won three of its last four, rallied from a 26-14 deficit to squeak past Shenango. Jayden Floyd was 18 of 25 for 138 yards and ran for three TDs. Floyd is the 17th quarterback in WPIAL history to run and pass for 1,000 yards in a season.

Class A Tri-County South Conference

Monessen (3-6, 2-4) at Beth-Center (3-6, 3-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Beth-Center Stadium, Fredericktown

Last week: Monessen 36, Mapletown20; California 62, Beth-Center 6

Last year’s meeting: Monessen 44, Beth-Center 22

• This is a playoff game for these teams. The winner will secure a spot in the WPIAL postseason as long as 8-1 California defeats 3-6 Bentworth. … The Greyhounds are coming off a 36-20 victory against Mapletown thanks to five touchdown passes from Dennis Hawkins, who completed 17 of 27 passes for 361 yards. TyVaughn Kershaw and Lorenzo Gardner scored twice each. … In the loss to rival California, B-C running back Ethan Varesko rushed for 123 yards and scored on a 73-yard run. He has scored 12 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

Nonconference

Latrobe (6-3) at Butler (2-7)

7 p.m. Friday, Art Bernardi Stadium, Butler

Last week: McKeesport 42, Latrobe 14; Erie McDowell 52, Butler 12

Last year’s meeting: Latrobe 28, Butler 14

• The Wildcats prep for the WPIAL playoffs with a nonconference road trip. They look to bounce back after a tough loss at McKeesport. Quarterback John Wetzel scored a touchdown and ran well against the Tigers. … The Golden Tornado is led by quarterback Braydon Littlejohn, who has passed for 319 yards and run for 418 yards. Landon Lacey has scored five touchdowns. The Golden Tornado have dropped six consecutive games.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Beth-Center, Butler, Derry Area, Greensburg Salem, Imani Christian, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, South Allegheny, Yough