Westmoreland high school football notebook: Southmoreland’s postseason berth tempered by rash of injuries, illness

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 26, 2024 | 4:34 PM

Southmoreland football coach Tim Bukowski was glad to hear his team had clinched a WPIAL playoff spot, but discouragement already had set in.

His sigh said it all.

“We’re in trouble,” Bukowski said Friday night after his team lost at Greensburg Salem, 28-21. “I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

A horde of injuries and illness have overtaken the Scotties (7-3), who could be down more than a half dozen starters for their playoff opener.

Even if they play at home, how much will they have left?

Senior running back/linebacker Ethan Shawley and sophomore tight end/linebacker Dawson Wolfe are out with mononucleosis. They did not play Friday.

Senior receiver/defensive end Elliot Premus injured his shoulder in the loss, and Bukowski said it does not look good for the go-to receiver.

Freshman quarterback Anthony Smith, who is on the doorstep of 2,000 passing yards, went to the hospital Friday night with a potential concussion.

Senior lineman Jarrell Braxton also has an injury. Take all of that into consideration, then throw in the fact junior Makel Darnell (WR/DB) and senior Roman Riccelli (WR/DB) can’t play in the playoffs because of the timing of their transfers to Geibel — there is a co-op with Southmoreland — and, yes, the Scotties are in quite a bind.

“I don’t have a quarterback right now,” Bukowski said. “We don’t have a third quarterback on the roster.”

Wolfe is Smith’s back-up. The Scotties tried some wildcat against Greensburg Salem, but Premus was their main guy for direct snaps.

Southmoreland has made the playoffs four years in a row and five times in the past seven years. That after no playoff trips from 1980-2018.

“We’ll see what we can do, but it’s going to be tough,” Bukowski said. “It all just snowballed. I don’t know what else to say.”

…

1,000/1,000

Yough senior quarterback Raidon Kuroda had a season and career finale to remember.

Kuroda became the first player from Yough to rush for 1,000 yards and throw for 1,000 in the same season as the Cougars ripped Derry, 55-14.

Kuroda accounted for 306 yards and six touchdowns, rushing for 134 and three scores and throwing for 172 and three TDs.

…

41 unanswered

Hempfield ended its season with an exclamation point, rallying for 41 straight points to topple Gateway, 41-21.

Just like the Spartans drew it up, right?

“I told our kids to keep believing like they have all year,” Spartans coach Nick Keefer said after his team fell behind 21-0. “They weren’t down. They just kept playing like they always do. I am so proud of them because they work so hard, and they deserved to end the season on a high note. And they did.”

Twins Reddik and Rogan Katchur helped lead the comeback. Reddick Katchur ran for 49 yards and a touchdown, operating at times from the wildcat.

Rogan Katchur ran for 52 yards and two TDs.

“It was awesome to see the twins in the same backfield making plays,” Keefer said. “It was a special night for them.”

Dom Detruf was 22 of 33 for 250 yards and two scores and ran for 71 yards.

Aidan Allison scored twice, and Owen Bucholz caught a TD pass for the Spartans (4-6).

“It’s just a testament to the leaders of the team,” Keefer said. “They didn’t let anyone put their head down. They just kept playing and believing in each other.”

…

In sync

Greensburg Salem won its regular-season finale, with a senior night tradition setting the tone.

The senior players gathered around a microphone to sing the national anthem.

“We practiced it once,” said senior receiver Dom Rosensteel said. “I guess it wasn’t too bad.”

Rosensteel caught two touchdown passes and had an interception in 28-21 win over Southmoreland.

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

Tags: Hempfield, Southmoreland, Yough