Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Jeannette understands assignment vs. powerful Clairton

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 7:01 AM

Jeannette wants nothing more than to shake off a 36-27 loss to Leechburg, but the schedule doesn’t get any easier this week with vaunted Clairton invading McKee Stadium.

In fact, it gets much harder.

The second-ranked Bears (3-1, 2-0) are averaging 51.5 points. They beat Serra Catholic, 79-0, Greensburg Central Catholic, 43-0, and Frazier, 72-0.

“They are a well coached and a hard-nosed football team,” Jeannette coach Tommy Paulone said. “They play 11-man football and play together.”

Jeannette (3-2, 1-1), which already has a small roster of 23 players, had a few out last week, including Hunter Schaeffer (WR/DB), a two-way starter who will miss this week’s game.

Defensive end Wykil Fortune and backup lineman Ted Kilkore also did not play last week.

Even with a lineup at full strength — and an offense averaging 34.5 points — Jeannette will face a tall order.

Limiting the Bears’ pinpoint passing attack, which is led by quarterback Jeff Thompson and a bevy of receiving targets, is the top priority for the Jayhawks, who haven’t beaten Clairton since the 2020 WPIAL Class A championship game.

Since then, Clairton has beaten the Jayhawks five straight times by an average score of 45-8. That includes three 43-0 results.

Paulone acknowledged his team will need to approach perfection to stay with the Bears, who are ranked No. 5 in the state.

“It will take a great effort in all three phases,” he said. “We think our guys are capable, but it’s what they are willing to do this week. It’s going to take great commitment to each other.”

Scotties ranked

From the depths of the unranked to holding company with the unbeaten, Southmoreland (5-0) is a top-five team this week.

The Scotties, following an impressive 28-7 victory over Ringgold, slid into the No. 5 spot in the Trib HSSN Class 3A rankings.

The rating comes on the eve of their Interstate Conference opener Friday at Derry.

The other ranked teams in 3A are: 1. Avonworth (5-0), 2. Imani Christian (5-0), 3. North Catholic (5-0) and Elizabeth Forward (5-0).

Two other local teams are also ranked. Both are in 6A: No. 3 Norwin (3-2) and No. 5 Hempfield (3-2-).

Tatsch still out

Latrobe senior receiver and defensive back Andy Tatsch still has not played a down this season after suffering a hip injury in a scrimmage against Penn Hills.

Tatsch, a Lehigh commit, could be back in the lineup soon, but it won’t be this week.

“He’s ramping it up a bit in his rehab but still not able to practice,” Latrobe coach Tom McIntyre said. “Hopefully, (his return) isn’t too far down the road.”

Ponko emerging

Penn-Trafford junior wide receiver and free safety Nick Ponko seems to be evolving as a key contributor each week.

In last week’s 42-0 win over Kiski Area, he had five receptions for 135 yards and threw a 75-yard touchdown pass on a trick play.

Ponko leads the Warriors with 24 receptions for 418 yards and two TDs.

He is second in the county in catches to Jeannette’s Jayce Powell (22).

On defense, Ponko has 18 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception.

“Nick is really smooth,” Warriors coach John Ruane said. “He has excellent ball skills. Everything is caught away from his body. He’s a great hooper who used a lot of the same movements and quickness on the field.”

Hempfield seeks bounce back

With top-ranked Central Catholic out of the way, Hempfield is focused this week on a rebound game against Canon-McMillan.

The game could go a long way in terms of playoff implications. The top four out of seven teams in 6A qualify for the WPIAL postseason.

Hempfield (3-2, 0-2), which fell to Central Catholic, 59-7, is in fifth place in the conference.

Canon-McMillan (3-2, 1-0) is alone in third.

“We know how crucial these conference games are coming up, and we got the two toughest teams behind us,” Hempfield running back Aidan Stinebiser said. “That’s going to bring us together to get us back on track to do something that hasn’t been done in years.”

Glance at the leaders

Through five weeks – half of the season for many teams – Max Doherty of Derry leads Westmoreland County in rushing yards. He has 666 yards and nine touchdowns on 99 carries.

The top passer in the county is Jeannette’s Kymon’e Brown, who has completed 46 of 94 passes for 901 yards and eight touchdowns.

The leading receiver is Powell, who has 22 receptions for 461 yards and six TDs.

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

Tags: Derry Area, Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland