Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2024 Week 2

By: Triblive And Bill Beckner Jr. And Paul Schofield
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 | 8:14 PM

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Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Westmoreland County in Week 2 of the 2024 season:

Nonconference

Burrell (0-2) at Mt. Pleasant (1-1)

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

Last week’s results: Shady Side Academy 42, Burrell 7; Mt. Pleasant 36, Greensburg C.C. 35 (2OT)

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Burrell kept pace with Shady Side in the first quarter before the Bulldogs erupted for 20 points in the second and cruised past the Buccaneers, who have two touchdowns in as many games. Trey Coury had a rushing touchdown last week. … Mt. Pleasant rebounded from a one-point loss with a one-point win, taking host Greensburg Central Catholic to overtime before coming away with a thrilling win. Steve Predajna caught a touchdown pass in the second overtime, then ran in the 2-point conversion for the win. The Vikings have a potent rushing attack and use multiple backs.

2-3A Central Valley (0-2) at Belle Vernon (0-0)

7 p.m. Friday, James Weir Stadium, Rostraver

Last week’s results: Thomas Jefferson 27, Central Valley 13; Belle Vernon at Aliquippa, ppd.

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Jance Henry ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns, but Central Valley fell to Thomas Jefferson, which came at the Warriors with a balanced offense. Henry scored on runs of 3 and 57 yards. The Warriors lost to Montour, 24-14, in Week Zero. … Belle Vernon does not have a decision on its record two weeks into the season. That is because it did not play a Week Zero game, and last week’s game never made it out of the first quarter at Aliquippa because of lightning delays and was canceled. Anthony Crews, Kole Doppelheuer and Alonzo Wade are key playmakers for the Leopards, who won back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA championships in 3A.

Deer Lakes (2-0) at Derry (1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Trojans Stadium, Derry

Last week’s results: Deer Lakes 35, South Park 22; Derry 21, Freeport 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Deer Lakes is off to a good start after rallying to defeat South Park last week. Zier Williams rushed for 118 yards and scored three touchdowns, and quarterback Jake Fleisher ran 38 yards for a score and threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Maddox Sudayu. The Lancers’ defense allowed 389 yards on the ground to the Eagles. … Derry rebounded from a Week Zero loss to Ligonier Valley with a solid win against Freeport. Damauri Robinson rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and quarterback Anthony Sacco tossed a 33-yard touchdown to Max Doperak. … Derry has won three of the four meetings. Deer Lakes’ win came in 2021.

Franklin Regional (2-0) at 3-5A Upper St. Clair (2-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Panther Stadium, Upper St. Clair

Last week’s results: Franklin Regional 49, Hempfield 26; Upper St. Clair 41, Canon-McMillan 6

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

A matchup of Panthers whose stadiums also have the same name, this is a game that could catch the eye of the WPIAL committee come playoff time. … Franklin Regional hit on all cylinders against Hempfield, with Kyle Dupill rushing for 107 yards and three touchdowns, Chase Lemke passing for three scores and the defense producing a pick-6 by Darwin Jones, not to mention an 82-yard kickoff return score by Jaymier Austin. The Panthers put up 42 points in the opener. … Upper St. Clair dominated Canon-McMillan as Randy Yan opened the scoring with a 17-yard pick-6, and Jacobo Echeverria Lozano kicked a field goal before the offense got rolling. Julian Dahlem, a proven leader of the offense, threw for 165 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for two scores.

Greensburg C.C. (1-1) at Apollo-Ridge (0-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Owens Field, Apollo

Last week’s results: Mt. Pleasant 35, Greensburg Central Catholic 34 (2OT); Jeannette 42, Apollo-Ridge 28

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

GCC’s Samir Crosby continued to be the toughest player on the field to tackle as he passed for 218 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 124 yards and two scores in the double-overtime loss to Mt. Pleasant. Landon Honick is one of his top targets. He caught six receptions for 129 yards and a TD last week. GCC is scoring an average of 40 points but allowing 38. … Apollo-Ridge rallied for 21 points in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings already had dug themselves in too deep of a hole to come back against Jeannette. Alexander Clawson was 20 of 33 for 240 yards and three touchdowns, and Corey Mackintosh rushed for 109 yards in the loss.

Hempfield (0-2) at Kiski Area (1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Richard J. Dilts Stadium, Allegheny Township

Last week’s results: Franklin Regional 49, Hempfield 26; Norwin 33, Kiski Area 21

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Despite some punch from its offense sparked by the return of quarterback Dom Detruf, Hempfield dropped its 11th straight game as Franklin Regional rolled up 49 points. Detruf passed for 302 yards and three touchdowns, including a 65-yard bomb to Nick Marquis on his second completion, but the Spartans gave away four turnovers and a long kickoff return touchdown to deflate some positives. … Kiski Area gave up 20 second-quarter points to Norwin after scoring first, but could not rally in the second half. Carson Heinle, a big-play quarterback, was 13 of 17 for 236 yards and two touchdowns and did not throw an interception. Wideout Aven Shirley caught six receptions for 128 yards and two scores. Veteran coach Sam Albert has had various stops, including Butler, Valley, Freeport and Highlands.

Jeannette (2-0) at Ligonier Valley (1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Weller Field, Ligonier

Last week’s results: Jeannette 42, Apollo-Ridge 28; Greensburg Salem 43, Ligonier Valley 14

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Jeannette rolled to its second consecutive victory with a dominating performance against the Vikings. The Jayhawks built a 42-7 lead after allowing the game’s first points. Jayce Powell scored three times (two receiving and a 60-yard punt return), and quarterback Kymon’e Brown scored twice and had three touchdown passes. He completed 5 of 9 passes for 94 yards and rushed for 114 yards. Eli Jones rushed for 117 yards. … John Jablunovsky rushed for 120 yards and scored on an 82-yard run for Ligonier Valley last week. Mark Jablunovsky caught a 74-yard touchdown pass, and Bowie Schreyer completed 9 of 18 passes for 168 yards.

Monessen (2-0) at Beth-Center (0-1)

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

Last week’s results: Monessen 62, West Greene 6; Leechburg 42, Beth-Center 8

Last year’s meeting: Monessen 36, Beth-Center 16

Monessen’s Kershaw brothers — Tyvaughn and Tim — turned in quite a performance against West Greene. Tim scored three touchdowns, including an 86-yard interception return. He also rushed for 101 yards on two carries. Tyvaughn scored five touchdowns, including an 89-yard punt return. He rushed for 184 yards on seven carries. He averages 25 yards a carry in two games and has a WPIAL-leading 10 touchdowns. … Beth-Center has a roster of 26, which includes 13 freshmen. Running back Teagan Veatch and quarterback Jonah Sussan return in the backfield. Coach Tony Ruscitto is 84 years old.

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

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

Last week’s results: Montour at Moon, ppd.; Penn-Trafford 28, Mt. Lebanon 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

These teams squared off in the 2021 WPIAL Class 5A championship game with the Warriors pulling out a 24-21 victory. … Moon had its game against Montour canceled because of lightning. The Tigers defense looked strong in the season opener against Trinity. Quarterback Andrew Cross completed only 3 of 8 passes for 82 yards, but two went for touchdowns. … Penn-Trafford bounced back from a Week Zero loss to defeat Mt. Lebanon. Penn-Trafford quarterback Jonny Lovre completed 17 of 26 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown, and running back Tasso Whipple rushed for 136 yards. Lovre and Jack Weishaar hooked up for 10 catches for 130 yards. Whipple has rushed for 310 yards this season. … Penn-Trafford leads the series 4-2-1. The first game played was in 1972, a 26-22 Penn-Trafford win.

Ringgold (0-2) at Yough (2-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Cougar Mountain, Herminie

Last week’s results: Indiana 14, Ringgold 13 (OT); Yough 21, Charleroi 9.

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Ringgold quarterback Szyair Dungee rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to Jacob Vecchio last week. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards. Demetri Lowe had six catches for 104 yards. Ringgold went for a 2-point conversion in overtime and failed. … The last time Yough opened the season 2-0 was in 2013. The Cougars used a big second half to rally and defeat Charleroi. Quarterback Raidon Kuroda rushed 186 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 99 yards. Aidan Thornton rushed for 69 yards and ran 30 yards for a touchdown. … This is the first meeting between the schools.

Southmoreland (2-0) at Laurel Highlands (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustang Stadium, Uniontown

Last week’s results: Southmoreland 49, East Allegheny 14; Laurel Highlands at Ambridge, ppd.

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

High-scoring Southmoreland continued to spread the wealth as four players scored points against East Allegheny. Freshman quarterback Anthony Smith threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for a score. Elliot Premus caught six or 127 and two scores, and Makel Darnell had a rushing and receiving TD. Stanley Chapman also ran one in, and Jackson Mickens added a safety. … After two stoppages because of lightning, Laurel Highlands and Ambridge decided to cancel their Week 1 matchup. Laurel Highlands opened with a 45-20 win over Uniontown as Antwan Black had a 50-yard touchdown catch and a 15-yard TD run. Noah Lion is another offensive weapon for the Mustangs.

Valley (0-2) at Greensburg Salem (2-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Offutt Field, Greensburg

Last week’s results: Riverview 38, Valley 36; Greensburg Salem 43, Ligonier Valley 14

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

These squads have not played since 1990, when the game ended in a 6-6, lightning-shortened stalemate. Greensburg Salem leads the all-time series 5-3-3. … Against Riverview last week, Valley scored six touchdowns to the Raiders’ five but failed on conversion attempts. Nicholas Heakins scored three touchdowns, including a 99-yard kickoff return. He rushed for 140 yards. Quarterback Mason Simmons completed 4 of 6 passes for 143 yards and two scores, and Zayaan Farron caught six passes for 139 yards. … For Greensburg Salem, Kai Brunot rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown, and Max Topper scored on a 70-yard pass and 25-yard interception return to pace the Golden Lions to the school’s 713th victory. The Chismar brothers — Peyton and Brody — combined to complete 5 of 12 passes for 116 yards and two scores.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Beth-Center, Central Valley, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Laurel Highlands, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Moon, Mt. Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Ringgold, Southmoreland, Upper St. Clair, Yough