Westmoreland high school football notebook: Greensburg Salem honors Rich Bowen

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 12, 2024 | 4:51 PM

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Greensburg Salem wore special helmet decals Friday night to honor late assistant coach Rich Bowen, who died Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

It wasn’t the standard initials on the crowns, either. No, the Golden Lions made sure the name was loud and proud.

The decals stretched down the back center of the helmets, with large, can’t-miss letters spelling out “Bowen.”

The team also had a banner that said, “Rest In Peace, Coach Bowen.”

The Golden Lions (5-3, 1-2) defeated Derry, 28-0, dedicating the win to Bowen, who joined the staff last season after many coaching stops, including Hempfield, where he was head coach for nine years.

There was a moment of silence before kickoff.

Win No. 716 was indeed special for Greensburg Salem.

“It means the world to us,” coach Ty George said. “To get a win for a great coach, father, husband and just person who positively impacted so many people, was very meaningful. It was just a truly special night.”

The team also plans to honor the coach at its next home game.

Bowen’s visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at Snyder Funeral Home in Irwin.

The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Church of the Immaculate Conception in Irwin.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bowen’s name to a football team booster organization.

Coach reunion

Southmoreland (7-1, 3-0) will go against a former coach next week when the Scotties pay a visit to Elizabeth Forward (5-3, 3-0) and coach John DeMarco in a first-place clash in the 3A Interstate Conference.

DeMarco, a former Scotties assistant who was on staff with current head coach Tim Bukowski, took over in 2023. He lives in the Elizabeth area and also was an assistant at EF, Clairton, South Allegheny, Serra Catholic and Gateway.

“I think Southmoreland has a really good thing going over there,” DeMarco told the Herald-Standard. “They are going to be a tough team. I expect them to be a tough game for us.

“We will respect everyone but fear none.”

DeMarco and Bukowski also coached together at Clairton.

“It’s a little tough the week of the game because we talk every week,” Bukowski said. “Johnny is a great coach, and we are close friends. We both will compete hard during the game, but once it’s over things go back to normal. The one thing we kept telling each other is, let’s both be undefeated in the conference when we play so we can play for the title.”

Jayhawks for the win

Jeannette trailed Brentwood, 34-27, heading to the fourth quarter Friday night but, like it did earlier in the season against Mt. Pleasant, rallied to pull off a one-point win.

Kymone Brown scored two touchdowns in the final quarter, the last with 7 seconds remaining, and then ran in the 2-point conversion as the Jayhawks (5-3, 2-3) escaped with a 42-41 victory in the Class A Eastern Conference.

Brown completed 21 of 32 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 99 yards on 22 carries and two scores.

The passing yardage was the most in the WPIAL on Friday night.

Jayce Powell had 10 receptions for 128 yards, and Noah Sunder added four for 120 and three TDs.

Jeannette coach Tommy Paulone credited one of his college coaches at Waynesburg, the late Rich Bowen, for the go-ahead 2-point conversion.

“Going for two when down on the road, for the win, is a ‘Bowenism,’ ” Paulone said. “Credit Kymone for executing.”

Brown ran a sprint-out pass to thr right and had the option to run, which he did.

Whipple tops 3,000

Penn-Trafford running back Tasso Whipple became the fifth Warriors running back to top 3,000 career yards. He has 3,031, which ranks fifth in the program rushing list.

Manny Simpson is fourth with 3,152.

Tavares injured

Norwin quarterback Tristyn Tavares is dealing with a sprained knee, and coach Mike Brown said the junior is week-to-week.

Tavares, who did not play Friday, said he has sprained ligaments.

“Thankfully, they didn’t require surgery,” he said. “I am going through rehab and trying to get back this season. I tried to give it a go during the Hempfield game, but it wouldn’t let me play anywhere even close to the way I play the game.”

Oh, baby

Norwin coach Mike Brown has Oct. 18 circled on his calendar. It’s next Friday and the Knights are scheduled to play at Canon-McMillan, but that’s not why the day is significant.

That is the due date for when Brown and his wife, Kaylee, are expecting their first child. The baby girl is set to arrive Week 8.

“We’re excited,” Mike Brown said. “It’s going to be all hands on deck. My family, her family. The pink paint is all ready to go.”

Saturday game

Another area team will play on a Saturday. Monessen will visit Dormont Stadium in Dormont next weekend to play Bishop Canevin in a Class A Black Hills Conference game.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

It will be the second Saturday night game for Monessen this season.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Jeannette, Monessen, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland