Penn-Trafford rides Whipple’s record-setting night to win over Hempfield
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Friday, September 22, 2023 | 11:07 PM
Penn-Trafford’s Tasso Whipple (34) runs the ball against Hempfield on Friday.
Hempfield’s Terrance Vaughns looks for running room against Penn-Trafford on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Penn-Trafford High School.
Hempfield’s Keiran Lippmann looks for running room against Penn-Trafford defenders Friday.
Penn-Trafford’s Tasso Whipple (34) runs the ball against Hempfield on Friday.
Penn-Trafford’s Tasso Whipple (34) scores a touchdown against Hempfield on Friday.
Penn-Trafford’s Tasso Whipple (34) dodges Hempfield’s Mitchell Bitar (1) while carrying the ball downfield Friday.
Hempfield’s Keiran Lippmann looks to pass against Penn-Trafford on Friday.
Hempfield’s Lucas Moore is tackled by Penn-Trafford’s Tyler Boss (1) and Dom Smith (23) on Friday.
Hempfield’s Keiran Lippmann is hit by the Penn-Trafford defense Friday.
Penn-Trafford running back Ben Grabowski attempts to escape a tackle from Hempfield’s Reddik Katchur (24) on Friday.
Penn-Trafford’s Carmen Metcalfe (2) runs the ball against Hempfield on Friday.
Penn-Trafford’s Carmen Metcalfe (2) runs the ball against Hempfield on Friday.
Junior tailback Tasso Whipple averaged more than 13 yards per carry on the way to a single-game school rushing record of 300 yards and scored four touchdowns as he and Penn-Trafford remembered what it felt like to win at home.
Shut out in back-to-back home games, the Warriors followed Whipple to a 41-18 victory Friday night against Hempfield, using trickery to finally get into the end zone at Warrior Stadium before fighting off a slew of penalties and pulling away from the Spartans in the Class 5A Big East opener.
A punishing rushing attack — a staple of the best Penn-Trafford teams — was on full display.
“It wasn’t all me. It was what the line was doing,” said Whipple, who had three rushing TDs and one receiving and finished with 23 carries. “It feels good to win here at home. We needed it.”
Whipple broke the old mark of 292 yards set by Manny Simpson in 2011.
Freshman Ben Grabowski, the team’s wildcat quarterback, added 89 yards rushing and a touchdown as the Warriors (2-3, 1-0)) piled up 20 fourth-quarter points after Hempfield (1-4, 0-1) cut their lead to 21-18 early in the final quarter.
“We shot ourselves in the foot all night, and you can’t be behind the sticks like that,” Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane said. “But I thought our offensive line was awesome, and Tasso had a great night running for us.
“We needed to play better here. The community’s expectations are high, and they expect better from us.”
Penn-Trafford let out a collective sigh of relief when it finally scored after eight-plus empty quarters in Harrison City.
After a holding penalty stumped a drive near midfield, junior Jonny Lovre pitched back to junior Jack Weishaar, who launched a 44-yard strike to Whipple for a 7-0 lead.
Hempfield had some success moving the ball on the ground but had to settle for a 20-yard field goal from senior Josh Reilly to cut it to 7-3.
The Warriors scored on the first play of the second quarter as Whipple ran in from the 6 for a 14-3 advantage.
The Warriors had nine penalties, including five for holding.
After forcing a punt at midfield, the Warriors gave the Spartans a gift. Lovre’s pass to the right side was intercepted by sophomore Mitch Bitar, who took it back 39 yards for a touchdown.
Senior Brady Ewing pulled in the 2-point pass from senior Kieran Lippman to make it 14-11, which was the halftime score.
“We needed another score there before the half,” Hempfield coach Nick Keefer said. “We talk about taking the next step and guys stepping up. That is a really good team we played. They played a really tough schedule. They are big and physical.”
Penn-Trafford used up most of the third quarter to add to its lead. Lovre scored on a 1-yard run, and the Warriors led 21-11.
Hempfield returned the favor with a 65-yard drive, though, trimming the lead to three on sophomore Nick Marquis’ 33-yard touchdown grab from Lippman.
But the Spartans could not stop Whipple, who gained 26 and 34 yards before a 13-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 28-18 with just more than 10 minutes remaining.
Hempfield stunned then-No. 1 Penn-Trafford last year, 28-17, before 5,000-plus at Hempfield.
A new cast of characters made an impact, and Penn-Trafford made sure the result was different.
After Whipple had a 70-yard score called back by a hold, the Warriors went to Grabowski, and he muscled his way in for a 20-yard score and a 35-18 lead with just over 8 minutes to play.
Whipple’s 35-yard burst, which saw him shed defenders and sprint away, put the game out of reach for the Spartans.
“We had a lot of kids playing both ways, and it takes its toll,” Keefer said. “Whipple is a tough kid. He’s a great wrestler, too. He is what you want from a Western Pennsylvania football player.”
Senior Lucas Moore rushed for 64 yards to lead Hempfield, which has lost four straight.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Hempfield, Penn-Trafford
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