Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2025 Week 1

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 6:48 PM

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Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Week 1 in Westmoreland County:

Nonconference

Aliquippa (0-0) at Belle Vernon (0-0)

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

Last year’s meeting: Aliquippa 12, Belle Vernon 0

This is the season opener for both teams. Belle Vernon has a new coach in Scott Bryer, who replaced Matt Humbert. Mike Warfield returns as the Quips’ coach after taking a sabbatical last year. … Aliquippa must replace numerous starters. QB Marcus Council Jr. returns. His top targets include Josh Lay and Antonio Reddic. The Quips bring back an experienced offensive line. … Belle Vernon also has holes to fill. Senior Curtis Wade returns at quarterback, whereas Deaubre Lightfoot switches from wide receiver to running back. Bryer will be counting on the defense to play well.

Charleroi (0-1) at Yough (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Cougar Mountain, Herminie

Last week: Monessen 44, Charleroi 0; Yough 21, Brentwood 14

Last year’s meeting: Yough 21, Charleroi 9

It is a battle of Cougars on Cougar Mountain. So, which Cougar will rule to mountain? Charleroi is coming off a tough loss to a talented Monessen squad and needs a spark from quarterback Jaxon Klinger and wide receiver Braydon Todaro. Running back Nate Rock hopes to find more running room against Yough. … Yough quarterback Aidan Shaffer rushed for three touchdowns and 132 yards in a win against Brentwood. Sophomore running back John Gergely rushed for 112 yards. Wide receiver Ryan Sarver caught three passes but for only 9 yards.

Derry (1-0) at Freeport (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Freeport Athletic Stadium, Buffalo Township

Last week: Freeport 28, Indiana 0; Derry 33, Ligonier Valley 14

Last year’s meeting: Derry 21, Freeport 7

Derry broke a five-game losing streak and evened the “Riot on the Ridge” series with Ligonier Valley at 2-2 as Max Doherty ran for 148 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Anthony Sacco also threw a pair of scores. The Trojans led 33-0 going to the fourth quarter. … Freeport scored all of its points in the third quarter in a shutout of Indiana. Amos Glenn returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and added a scoring rush, Dawson Gaillot had a 25-yard interception return for a score and Drew Ross had a touchdown run for the Yellowjackets, who made the 3A quarterfinals last year under veteran coach John Gaillot. … The Trojans have won three of the four past games with the Yellowjackets.

Greensburg Salem (0-1) at Ligonier Valley (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Weller Field, Ligonier

Last week: Albert Gallatin 48, Greensburg Salem 33; Derry 33, Ligonier Valley 14

Last year’s meeting: Greensburg Salem 43, Ligonier Valley 14

These teams are looking to bounce back from disappointing road losses. Greensburg Salem had trouble slowing down Albert Gallatin’s running game. Junior quarterback Brody Chismar threw for 65 yards and a touchdown and ran for 114 yards and a score. Max Topper had an 80-yard kickoff return. … Ligonier Valley was led by freshman Levi Foust, who rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, and senior Bowie Schreyer tossed a touchdown pass to Anthony Petalino. The Rams defense must be stronger against the Golden Lions running game. Ligonier Valley has a difficult schedule that includes seven playoff teams — Greensburg Salem, Jeannette, Shady Side Academy, OLSH, South Park, Steel Valley and South Allegheny.

Class 6A No. 3 Hempfield (1-0) at Franklin Regional (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Panther Stadium, Murrysville

Last week: Hempfield 28, North Hills 23; Plum 42, Franklin Regional 13

Last year’s meeting: Franklin Regional 49, Hempfield 26

Dom Detruf threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns, and Aidan Stinebiser rushed for 130 yards and two scores as Hempfield held back North Hills in the opener. The Spartans rolled up 367 total yards. Stinebiser also caught a touchdown pass, and Jack Kopas had five receptions, including one for a TD. … Franklin Regional fell behind 21-0 at the half and did not recover in a one-sided loss to rival Plum. Jet Taylor and Dom Devola had scoring runs in the loss. Plum QB John Nonnenberg threw for 228 yards and four touchdowns on only nine completions. The Panthers had multiple players ejected from last week’s game, so they be short-handed this week.

Class A No. 5 Jeannette (0-1) at Apollo-Ridge (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Owens Field, Apollo

Last week: Mt. Pleasant 29, Jeannette 23; Apollo-Ridge 20, Leechburg 16

Last year’s meeting: Jeannette 42, Apollo-Ridge 28

Reeling after a stunning loss, Jeannette will look to regroup in its second straight road game. The Jayhawks built a 23-0 lead against Mt. Pleasant, only to have the Vikings rally for a 29-23 win. Kymon’e Brown threw for 214 yards and a touchdown and ran for 113 yards and two scores in the setback. Jayce Powell had four receptions for 131 yards and a TD. … Apollo-Ridge avenged a 2024 opening-week loss to Leechburg by beating the Blue Devils, 20-16. The Vikings rallied by scoring the final 13 points, with quarterback Alex Clawson scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 4 minutes, 16 seconds remaining. Clawson combined to run and throw for 220 yards, including 148 passing (9 of 18). Jayden McCray had seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Kiski Area (1-0) at Norwin (0-1)

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

Last week: Kiski Area 21, Knoch 0; Penn-Trafford 34, Norwin 31

Last year’s meeting: Norwin 33, Kiski Area 21

First-year coach Colyn Haugh earned his first win in his first try as the Cavaliers blanked Knoch. Ashton Taylor ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in the victory. Austin Beck booted two field goals, from 37 and 21 yards. … Norwin nearly rallied from 17 points down in the second half but fell just short against rival Penn-Trafford. Quarterback Tristyn Tavares ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 133 and a score with two interceptions. Giovanni Rothrauff added 116 yards on the ground. Norwin scored three second-half touchdowns to close the gap. Tristian Josephic kicked a 35-yard field goal in his debut. … The game reunites old Foothills Conference foes who first met in 1962 with Norwin prevailing 34-0. The rivalry resumed last year following a nine-year hiatus. Kiski Area has a 22-10 lead in the all-time series.

Latrobe (0-1) at Plum (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustang Stadium, Plum

Last week: Connellsville 28, Latrobe 13; Plum 42, Franklin Regional 13

Last year’s meeting: Latrobe 32, Plum 18

Non-WPIAL team Connellsville avenged last year’s 41-0 loss with a 28-13 victory. Connellsville ran for 197 yards against the Wildcats and new coach Tom McIntyre. The Wildcats played without standout receiver and defensive back Andy Tatsch, who was injured in a scrimmage against Penn Hills. AJ Yaboah, who is from Ghana, had a touchdown run. His 80-yard kick return touchdown was erased by penalty. … Plum started fast in an impressive win over Franklin Regional to open the season. Quarterback John Nonnenberg was 9 of 14 for 228 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Mustangs. Brendan Marston, Sloan Humphries and Semaj Robinson caught scoring passes, and Elijah Jackson ran for a touchdown in Plum’s first win over the Panthers since 2017.

Monessen (1-0) at West Greene (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Kennedy Field, Rogersville

Last week: Monessen 44, Charleroi 0; Waynesburg 50, West Greene 6

Last year’s meeting: Monessen 62, West Greene 6

Monessen looks to stay perfect on the road in Greene County against a West Greene squad looking to bounce back after a loss to Class 3A Waynesburg. The Greyhounds got three touchdowns from Tavian Taylor and two from Kayden Kolbeck. The Greyhounds look to replace Ty’Vaughn Kershaw, who scored 22 touchdowns as a junior but did not return to the team. … West Greene’s offense will have a different look this season, switching from the pro-style to flexbone. The Pioneers will lean on all-conference tackle Collin Whyte to lead the way. West Greene will be green in the skill positions as coach Beau Jackson is counting on underclassmen to fill key spots.

Penn-Trafford (1-0) at Class 6A No. 5 Mt. Lebanon (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Mt. Lebanon Stadium, Mt. Lebanon

Last week: Penn-Trafford 34, Norwin 31; Upper St. Clair 35, Mt. Lebanon 14

Last year’s meeting: Penn-Trafford 28, Mt. Lebanon 7

Penn-Trafford escaped with a Week Zero victory against rival Norwin as Ben Grabowski returned to the backfield and rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns, including a key, 62-yard burst to put the Warriors up by 10 late. Nate Desmond threw for 94 yards in his debut at quarterback, and Reese Radocay had a touchdown catch and a fumble recovery while filling in admirably for injured linebacker Jamison Yurt. … Mt. Lebanon was mercy-ruled in its first game by Upper St. Clair, falling behind 35-0 by halftime. Quarterback Pat Smith, a presence at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, threw a 96-yard touchdown pass to Max Siegel, and Kris Kambitsis scored on a short rush.

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

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

Last week: Southmoreland 40, Valley 0; South Park 33, East Allegheny 26

Last year’s meeting: Southmoreland 49, East Allegheny 14

The Scotties look to improve to 2-0 but figure to face a tougher test from the Wildcats, who dropped their opener to returning WPIAL Class 2A champion South Park. Quarterback Dawson Wolfe had a solid game against Valley but will face a tougher opponent. Gabe Kubasky caught two touchdown passes. … East Allegheny quarterback Cedric Mack rushed for two touchdowns and completed 16 of 29 passes for 198 yards and three scores. D.J. Warren rushed for 52 yards.

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

Tags: Aliquippa, Apollo-Ridge, Belle Vernon, Charleroi, Derry Area, East Allegheny, Franklin Regional, Freeport, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. lebanon, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Plum, Southmoreland, West Greene, Yough