Westmoreland high school football notes: Norwin QB Tavares sets records

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 5:20 PM

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Norwin finished in a flourish. A record-setting, big-play flourish for its third win of the season.

Sophomore quarterback Tristyn Tavares and senior Luke Denny formed one of the area’s top pass-and-catch combinations, and the pair saved their best for last in a 47-21 win over Hempfield on Friday.

Tavares threw for a career-high 318 yards and six touchdowns (19 of 30), and Denny had nine catches for 211 yards and two TDs.

Denny had scoring grabs of 68 and 71 yards for the Knights (3-7).

Senior Jackson Pons also was a key target for Tavares, catching seven for 101 yards and four TDs.

Here’s where the record book comes in: Tavares broke standout Jack Salopek’s single-season mark for passing yards, finishing with 2,441.

His 25 passing touchdowns also are a team record, breaking the mark of 18 that was shared by Waylon Davis (1996) and Brock Dieter (2016).

Denny, meanwhile, set the program record for receiving yards in a season with 1,060. He had 45 receptions and 11 TDs.

The previous mark was set by Jason Denale in 1996.

Denny also has the single-game mark for receiving yards (238) set against North Allegheny.

Tavares led Westmoreland County and finished second in the WPIAL in passing yards.

He had 146 completions in 297 attempts.

Craggette runs wild

Southmoreland also had a record-breaker in its regular-season finale, a surprising 40-3 romp over Mt. Pleasant.

Senior tailback Da’sjon Craggette rushed for a school-record 335 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns.

The previous record was 305 yards set by Jake Pisula in 2014.

Craggette is a transfer from Greensburg Central Catholic who attends Geibel, which does not have a football program but is part of a co-operative with Southmoreland.

Monessen turnaround

Monessen was reeling when it was 1-5 and sinking fast in Week 5, but the Greyhounds have done an about-face.

They have won three of four and are headed back to the WPIAL Class A playoffs for the third straight year and 35th time overall.

The Greyhounds had a pair of 100-yard rushers in a 36-16 win over Beth-Center on Friday. Tavian Taylor gained 120 yards, and Tyvaughn Kershaw added 107.

Franklin stops by

Penn State coach James Franklin has made a few stops to Belle Vernon over the last couple of years as he sees through his recruitment of five-star prospect Quinton Martin.

Franklin was in town again Friday, and he again arrived by helicopter, only he didn’t stay for the football game. He was at the school Friday morning but wasn’t there just to talk football. He also helped to judge a pumpkin-decorating contest.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Monessen, Norwin, Southmoreland