Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Kickers giving teams a leg up

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, September 7, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Kickers often are undervalued, at least by spectators who would rather see big plays and touchdowns. But those special teams leaders could play a key role for Westmoreland County teams as the season moves ahead.

Senior Jake Kaylor is another key weapon at Southmoreland, which is expected to keep its scoring up. He had a setback last season when he broke his leg on a 33-yard field goal try early in the season. But he is back and was booming punts at camp.

Coach Tim Bukowski said he trusts Kaylor from as far out as 45 yards.

Senior Willie Schwerha is working his way back from a knee injury he sustained in last year’s state championship for Class 3A No. 1 Belle Vernon. He was cleared to play this week.

While the Leopards might not have many close games until the playoffs, Schwerha is battle-tested.

He kicked a 24-yard field goal in the Leopards’ 9-8 win over Neumann-Goretti in the PIAA championship last year.

He also accounted for six points in the WPIAL championship, including a 31-yard field goal.

Preston Rathway has been kicking for the Leopards.

Another top kicker in the area is Joey Bayne at Franklin Regional, and first-year kicker Austin Emery at Jeannette booted the winning 21-yard field goal against Burrell.

Ben Bigi of Latrobe is another leg to watch. He helped Latrobe execute and recover an onside kick last week.

New guys

Of the five new football coaches in Westmoreland County, three have one win so far.

Nick Keefer (Hempfield), JT Thompson (Greensburg Central Catholic) and Mark Adams (Valley) are 1-1.

Mike Brown (Norwin) and Ty George (Greensburg Salem) are still looking for their first victory.

Ups and downs

County teams are having a tough time getting into the end zone after two weeks.

Greensburg Salem (27), Yough (27), Monessen (26), Norwin (21), Kiski Area (18), Burrell (13) and Penn-Trafford (7) have put up fewer than 30 points.

Teams are also giving up a lot of points. Derry is yielding 38.5, and Kiski Area (38.0), Greensburg Salem (35.5), Monessen (34.5), Franklin Regional (31.5), and Ligonier Valley (31.0) also are allowing over 30-plus a game.

Keefer at Seton Hill

Dave Keefer has not been out of coaching long.

Keefer, who left Greensburg Salem after 10 years as head coach, has joined Dan Day’s staff at Seton Hill. Keefer is listed as an offensive assistant and will focus on running backs. A Mt. Pleasant grad, Keefer also coached at Central Catholic and Hempfield.

Tackle football

Franklin Regional has a top tackling quartet in WPIAL Class 5A, a formidable foursome in linebackers Austin Kerns and Owen Sinclair, free safety Heath Sliva, and defensive tackle Andrew Devola.

The group has accounted for 62 of the team’s 103 tackles in two games. Kerns has 19 tackles, Sinclair 18, Sliva 14 and Devola 11. Sinclair has 12 solo stops.

771 yards?

A District 10 (Erie area) score from last week brought back memories for Jeannette fans.

Sharpsville defeated Titusville, 71-48, a score that instantly should have recalled a 2007 playoff game when Jeannette outshined Aliquippa, 70-48, in a 2A semifinal at Highlands.

In that game, former Jayhawks star Terrelle Pryor accounted for 421 yards. He rushed for 331 yards and five touchdowns.

Jeannette rolled up 771 total yards.

Recruiting

Greensburg Central Catholic senior Nick Dlugos could end up playing college football with his older brother, Nate.

The younger Dlugos has an opportunity to play at Williams College, a Division III program in Williamstown, Mass.

He plays running back and linebacker for GCC. He and Ty Rozier are tied for the team lead in tackles with 14.

Nate Dlugos is a freshman wide receiver at Williams.

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, Jeannette, Norwin