Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Elizabeth Forward coach set to face old pals at Southmoreland

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, September 28, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Peering across the field and trying to get a win against his buddies will be an interesting proposition for John DeMarco.

There was a time when Southmoreland losing was the last thing he wanted to see.

DeMarco, the first-year football coach at Elizabeth Forward, will lead his No. 2 Warriors (5-0) against visiting Southmoreland (3-2) in the Class 3A Interstate Conference opener Friday night.

DeMarco spent three seasons as an assistant at Southmoreland, including last year under Scotties top man Tim Bukowski.

“It will be a little strange coaching against those guys, especially Tim and the rest of the staff,” DeMarco said. “I’ve known Tim for a long time, but I also formed a really good friendship with the rest of the staff. I’m sure his kids will play hard ‘cause I will be coaching against them. I hope they do great every game except Friday. They have some really good players, and I know they will come out to play.”

DeMarco and Bukowski were assistants together at Clairton when the Bears won six WPIAL championships and four PIAA titles from 2006-12.

Clairton won 66 straight games to set a state record. Bukowski was the offensive coordinator.

“It’s going to seem a little weird because we were always on the same sideline,” Bukowski said. “I’m happy that he got this opportunity out at his alma mater because he’s a great football coach. He is a no-nonsense type of coach, and he has them playing tough, physical football just the way he likes it.

“We still talk weekly, and he’s a true friend, one that you can always count on.”

Passing judgment

Area teams are beginning to see a rhythm between quarterbacks and receivers.

Top targets are becoming more prominent as offenses develop.

At Norwin, Tristyn Tavares has spread the wealth. He has completed 62 passes, with 18 going to Jake Knight, 16 to Jackson Pons and 13 to Luke Denny.

Denny had five catches for 192 yards and two TDs last week against Woodland Hills.

“We have been connecting well in practice, and I feel that he is starting to trust me more that I can make plays,” Denny said of his sophomore quarterback, who leads Westmoreland County in passing with 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Jeannette has found a connection between quarterback Payton Molter and wideout Kymone Brown.

“It’s about trust and timing,” said Jeannette coach Tommy Paulone, a former Jayhawks quarterback who used to throw passes to one of his assistant coaches, Darius Brown.

Molter and Brown had three TD hookups last week in a win over Charleroi.

“We work on it in practice all the time,” Brown said. “Our offensive coordinator (Kaliq Coleman) makes us work on jet sweeps, out routes, curls, whatever routes we’re going to run in games. We’re making progress off the practices.”

Brown has a team-high 11 receptions. Four of Molter’s seven scores have gone to him. Noah Sanders is another key target for the Jayhawks but has been slowed some in the passing game because he has a cast on his right hand.

Other county passing combos include Kadin Keefer to Ty Keffer at Southmoreland, Tyree Turner to Samir Crosby at Greensburg Central Catholic, John Wetzel to JaTawn Williams at Latrobe and Chase Lemke to Ayden Hudock at Franklin Regional.

Keffer has 28 of Keefer’s 48 completions. Three of Turner’s six TD passes have gone to Crosby.

Landon Honick also has found a role in the GCC passing attack.

On the run

Yough (1-4) has scored only 80 points, but the Cougars are moving the football.

The proof is in the rushing statistics.

The team has more than 1,000 yards rushing after barely reaching that total last year.

The Cougars have 1,010 yards with six ball carriers. Last season, they didn’t get to 1,000 (1,130 for the year) until Week 9.

“It surprised me, actually,” coach Ben Hoffer said. “We’re moving the ball more, and our line is better.”

Quarterback Raidon Kuroda leads the attack with 364 yards and five touchdowns. Running back/receiver Shane Swope has 240 yards and a score.

Keeping a close eye

High school football coaching staffs are obsessed with game film and watching highlights from every angle to gain an advantage, no matter how small.

Greensburg Central Catholic has taken it up a notch.

First-year coach JT Thompson makes sure each practice — from heat to camp to regular season — is captured on video.

“It gives us a look at how we’re progressing,” Thompson said. “And I want everyone in the program to be involved, in some way, in what we do. There is a role for every kid.”

His camera guys include Ryan Thompson, his 10-year-old son, and seventh grader Tony Dlugos.

“Our junior high kids help out a lot,” coach Thompson said. “It’s good for them to be around the program.”

Vikings ranked

Mt. Pleasant found its way into the Tribune-Review rankings this week.

The Vikings, who powered past Freeport last Friday, 45-23, to move to 4-1, are No. 4 in Class 3A.

They have won four straight after a 37-24 loss to Class A Greensburg Central Catholic.

The other top-five teams in the classification are Belle Vernon (1), Elizabeth Forward (2), Avonworth (3) and Seton LaSalle (5).

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

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, Jeannette, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Southmoreland, Yough