Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Hempfield’s Dom Detruf shines in return

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, August 31, 2024 | 2:57 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Hempfield took the field Friday night in its home opener with a surprise starter at quarterback.

Junior Dom Detruf, who tried to keep his medical clearance Wednesday under wraps, returned after limited practice time this summer because of myocarditis — an inflamed heart.

“We tried to keep it quiet,” Detruf said Friday night after a career game.

He completed 18 of 38 passes for 302 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in a 49-26 loss to visiting Franklin Regional.

“He was a game-time decision,” Hempfield coach Nick Keefer said with a grin. “He did everything the doctors asked of him. Someone of lesser character may not have come back so easily. I can’t say enough about that man.”

Detruf was not allowed to run or absorb any contact since his diagnosis in July. He underwent numerous tests, including an MRI and stress test last week, which he passed with no issues.

He does not have to take any medication and won’t have to see a doctor again for a couple of months.

“The tests were perfectly fine, I’m good to go,” Detruf said. “Everyone said, ‘You must be nervous.’ But the thing is, I don’t really get nervous. I get super-­excited. In warmups, I was sweating and got chills because I knew I was playing again. I was ready to go.”

Detruf completed his first pass for an 8-yard gain to senior Owen Buchholz, then threw an incompletion and the Spartans (0-2) punted.

But on the next drive, he delivered a 65-yard touchdown strike to junior Nick Marquis to get the Spartans within 7-6.

He also threw two scoring passes to junior Aidan Stinebiser, including a 42-yarder in the third quarter.

Detruf spread the wealth, completing passes to eight receivers. In all, 10 players caught at least one pass. Backup Carden Lippman was 4 of 6 for 52 yards and one score.

Hempfield outgained Franklin Regional (2-0), 371-296.

Junior Jack Kopus had four catches for 60 yards, and Buchholz led with five receptions.

“It’s awesome, it’s great for the kid,” Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy said of Detruf. “It’s great to see him back out there. You only get so many opportunities to play high school football.”

Franklin Regional senior quarterback Chase Lemke was impressed with Detruf’s play.

“He looked really good all around,” Lemke said.

How happy was Keefer for Detruf? The coach pulled his hamstring celebrating a touchdown.

“What he went through this entire summer, not playing in 7-on-7s; he coached up our guys,” Keefer said. “To still be on the same page with our receivers says a lot about the kid he is. My heart aches that we couldn’t get him a win.”

Detruf’s return charged up the Spartans, but they still have things to improve heading into the third week.

“We battled, but there were minor things,” Detruf said. “Those minor things can turn into big things. They can be momentum killers.”

2-0 starts

Two weeks into the season, eight teams from Westmoreland County are 2-0.

They are: Norwin, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Greensburg Salem, Southmoreland, Yough, Monessen and Jeannette.

Latrobe plays at Norwin this week.

Though Latrobe and Southmoreland have had similar starts in recent seasons, it has been awhile for some other teams.

The last time Greensburg Salem opened with two straight wins was 2011 when the Golden Lions started 3-0 and went 7-1 before a Week 8 loss.

It was 2013 when Yough won in the first two weeks. The Cougars haven’t started 3-0 since 2006 when they won their first four games before losing.

Norwin’s last 2-0 start was in 2014 when the Knights started 3-0.

Monessen won its first three games without a loss in 2018.

Jeannette’s last 2-0 start was in 2019. The Jayhawks won their first nine games that season. Franklin Regional also was 2-0 to open the ’19 season.

Though both were nearing retirement from coaching, Roy Hall was still in charge at Jeannette, and Greg Botta was leading Franklin Regional.

BVA stalled

The season is two weeks old, and Belle Vernon has an 0-0 record.

The Leopards played a second scrimmage last week instead of a Week Zero game, then had their game at Aliquippa get called late in the first quarter after multiple weather stoppages.

The teams will not make up the contest. Aliquippa was leading 12-0.

More Crosby

Greensburg Central Catholic junior Samir Crosby had another big night as the Centurions fell in double overtime to Mt. Pleasant, 36-35.

Crosby threw for 218 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 124 yards and two scores. He also had a one-handed catch on an interception.

Oh my goodness‼️???? clip from tonight’s game!! @CoachDuzzPittFB @coachjfranklin @EdOBrienCFB @210ths @wpialsportsnews @PA_TodaySports @BillBeckner @T_Cortazzo @Coach_Roc3 pic.twitter.com/Fgq3LrI7tM

— samir crosby (@samir_crosby) August 31, 2024

Crosby scored on a short run in overtime, and Jerry Davis’ kick made it 35-28. But Steven Predajna caught a 16-yard TD from Cole Chatfield and ran in the 2-point conversion for the win.

Dynamic duo

Jeannette has itself a pair of playmakers in junior Kymon’e Brown and sophomore Jayce Powell.

Both have been nearly unstoppable through two games.

In Friday’s 42-28 win over Apollo-Ridge, Brown ran five times for 162 yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yard score, and was 4 of 7 passing for 100 yards and three TDs.

He also forced a fumble and returned it 50 yards.

Powell had two touchdown grabs for 82 yards and a 60-yard punt return score.

For kicks

Franklin Regional kicker Joey Bayne has yet to give an opponent a chance to return a kickoff. The strong-legged senior turned eight kickoffs into touchbacks Friday at Hempfield.

Opposing teams are getting used to starting first-and-10 from their own 20.

For the season, Bayne is 15 for 15 on touchbacks.

Extra points

Monessen is the highest-scoring team in the WPIAL through two weeks. The Greyhounds are averaging 60.5 points. Running back TyVaughn Kershaw has scored five TDs in consecutive games. … Greensburg Salem intercepted Ligonier Valley four times in a 43-14 win. Max Topper had a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown. … Senior Elliot Premus made his presence known for Southmoreland as the 6-foot-4 receiver pulled in six catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns from budding freshman Anthony Smith and also ran for a 53-yard touchdown in a 49-14 win over East Allegheny.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Monessen, Norwin, Southmoreland