Westmoreland high school football notes: 3 more teams clinch playoff berths

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 21, 2023 | 3:39 PM

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Three more Westmoreland County teams clinched spots in the WPIAL football playoffs with wins Friday night.

One is another resurgent program that has taken its lumps in recent years.

With a 29-22 victory over Burrell — and Ligonier Valley’s 31-0 loss to Imani Christian — Derry secured its first postseason berth since 2019.

The Trojans (4-5), who join the Class 2A field, qualified from 2016-19 but had three down years before finally resurfacing.

They were winless the last two seasons. Earlier this year, they broke a 20-game losing streak.

“Feels great to be in this spot,” senior running back Ahmad Ward said. “I knew we could make it since August.

“I feel the same kind of energy I felt when I was watching the 2016 Derry team when I was in middle school.”

Ward ran for 250 yards four touchdowns on 22 carries Friday.

“I love our team right now,” Trojans coach Mike Arone said.

The other local qualifiers who won in Week 8 are Mt. Pleasant (3A) and Greensburg Central Catholic (A).

Mt. Pleasant (6-3) defeated South Allegheny, 42-7, to earn its fifth straight postseason berth. The Vikings like to string together playoff seasons.

They qualified seven straight years, from 1981-87, then five in a row from 2003-07 and again from 2009-15 for an eight-year streak.

GCC (6-3), which had to hold on in the second half to get past Riverview, 21-14, is in the playoffs for a third straight season.

“We wanted to (clinch) this week,” sophomore running back Landon Honick said. “I wanted to make the playoffs for our seniors.”

Those teams join Latrobe (6-3) in 4A, Belle Vernon (7-1) and Southmoreland (5-4) in 3A, and Jeannette (7-2) in single-A as other area playoff teams.

The big game next week will decide at least one more spot. Penn-Trafford (5-4, 3-1) visits Franklin Regional (6-3, 3-1) in the Class 5A Big East finale with the winner clinching a playoff spot.

The loser still could be eligible for a wild-card berth.

The WPIAL will announce playoff pairings Oct. 28.

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Dlugos out

Greensburg Central Catholic had to finally rest running back/linebacker Nick Dlugos.

The senior did not play Friday, his foot in a boot for an ankle injury he sustained Sept. 22 against Springdale.

GCC managed a win without one of its best players.

“We need him back,” GCC coach JT Thompson said. “It’s a deep bone bruise, but he kept playing on it. He’s such a tough kid.”

Dlugos was the team’s third-leading rusher (142 yards) and fourth-leading tackler (47) heading into Friday’s game.

Honick stepped in at tailback and shined, rushing for 167 yards and two touchdowns — 56 and 78 yards — in his first start in the backfield.

The Centurions had to shuffle their defensive front, though, to combat Riverview’s rushing attack. Dlugos’ absence was felt as the Raiders racked up more than 200 yards on the ground.

“Right now, (Dlugos) is week-to-week, day-to-day,” Thompson said. “Aren’t we all?”

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Looking ahead

Week 9 has a shine to it, and that isn’t just because Penn-Trafford at Franklin Regional is a win-and-in game.

Two local games will decide conference championships.

No. 2 Elizabeth Forward (9-0, 4-0) will visit No. 1 Belle Vernon (7-1, 4-0) for the Class 3A Interstate Conference championship. Belle Vernon is averaging 53.5 points in conference games.

Meanwhile, upstart Jeannette (7-2, 4-1) will host No. 4 Clairton (7-2, 5-0) to decide the top spot in the Class A Eastern Conference.

Clairton already owns a share of the title but can win it outright. Jeannette can be co-champions with a win and get the No. 1 seed out of the conference for the playoffs.

GCC (6-3, 4-1) also can claim a share with a win over Leechburg and a Clairton loss.

Other intriguing all-county matchups in the final week of the regular season are Southmoreland (5-4, 2-2) at Mt. Pleasant (6-3, 2-2), Ligonier Valley (2-7, 1-5) at Derry (4-5, 3-3) and Hempfield (1-8, 0-4) at Norwin (2-7, 1-3). Southmoreland-Mt. Pleasant is for third place in the 3A Interstate Conference.

Ligonier Valley is playing for pride: The Rams have missed the postseason two times since 2020. They came to the WPIAL from District 6 in 2020. They have not had a losing season in a decade.

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Friday night stars

Here are some of the top performances from Week 8:

• Monessen quarterback Dennis Hawkins went 17 of 27 for 361 yards and five touchdowns. Hawkins (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) is a freshman.

• Jeannette quarterback Payton Molter completed 11 of 18 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned a fumble 50 yards for a score.

• Kymone Brown of Jeannette had four receptions for 135 yards and two TDs.

• Latrobe’s Ja’Tawn Williams returned a kick 95 yards for a score against McKeesport, his third kickoff return TD of the season.

• Luke Denny (Norwin) had a 98-yard kick return and caught a TD pass in a loss to Gateway.

• Kyle Dupill (Franklin Regional) rushed for 213 yards and two TDs against North Hills.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Jeannette, Ligonier Valley, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford