Penn-Trafford runs over South Fayette in football playoffs

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, November 1, 2024 | 11:14 PM

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Back-to-back losses to open the WPIAL football playoffs the last two seasons did not sit well with Tasso Whipple and his Penn-Trafford teammates.

“We really wanted to end that streak,” Whipple said. “It’s something we wanted to forget about.”

Whipple won’t soon forget the win that turned it around.

The senior running back ran for 158 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, continued to move up in the record book and returned an interception for a score as No. 6 Penn-Trafford downed No. 11 South Fayette, 49-28, in a WPIAL Class 5A first-round game Friday night in Harrison City.

The Warriors (9-2) advance to play at No. 3 Peters Township (9-1) next week.

“This was a team effort, and everyone did their job,” Whipple said. “It’s fantastic to be able to be No. 3 now.”

Whipple moved into the No. 3 spot in the program’s career rushing list, surpassing Devin Austin, who had 3,318 yards. He needed 48 yards to pass Austin.

Sophomore Ben Grabowski, back in the lineup after an injury, ran for 89 yards and completed a pass on a trick play. Senior Derek Carr ran for 60 yards and three touchdowns, and senior Jonny Lovre also rushed for a TD.

The one-two QB punch of Lovre and Carr continued to be effective.

The Warriors ran for 312 yards.

“First and foremost, we had a lot of guys run the ball well, and that is a credit our offensive line and tight ends,” Warriors coach John Ruane said. “They were fantastic picking up the blitz and setting the edge.”

Only Matt Gavrish (6,534) and Chris Schneider (3,963) have more yards than Whipple (3,420).

“He runs hard and has that size, speed and patience you see in a Wisconsin running back,” South Fayette coach Marty Spieler said, alluding to former Warriors star Cade Yacamelli. “Penn-Trafford was physical and wore us down. Their game plan kept us off balance.”

South Fayette was led by dual-threat quarterback Drew Welhorsky, who passed for 226 yards and a touchdown and ran for 94 and two scores. The junior made play after play, even with pressure.

“He’s a fantastic athlete,” Ruane said. “It’s a tough task to cover him.”

Penn-Trafford took a 21-14 lead into halftime.

Moving the ball swiftly, the Warriors opened the scoring with a 1-yard run by Lovre to cap a 73-yard drive.

Grabowski threw a halfback pass to senior Jack Weishaar for a 30-yard gain to help set up the score.

South Fayette tied it when Welhorsky scored on a 26-yard burst.

Carr put the Warriors back in front with a 6-yard run, running wide to his left.

Carr broke several tackles on the way to a 14-yard score soon after to put the Warriors up 21-14 with 2 minutes and 4 seconds left in the first half.

South Fayette, back in the playoffs after three years away, took advantage of a squib kick by the Warriors after the touchdown, taking possession at their 33.

Welhorsky led another scoring drive, completing 5 of 6 passes, including a 13-yard strike to Ben Cavenaugh to get the Lions within 21-14 with 20 seconds left in the half.

Whipple, running with momentum on a third-quarter drive, dove over the goal line for a 1-yard score to extend the lead to 28-14 with about five minutes left in the third.

Ruane said a key play in the game was a 34-yard completion from Lovre to junior Colton Tyburski on second-and-17 that set up Whipple’s score.

“Really big play there on the out-and-up,” he said. “We made plays when we had to.”

Welhorsky kept coming at the Warriors, using his legs and arm to produce another score. After converting a fourth-and-10 by escaping pressure and finding senior Sylas Aitken along the far sideline, the quarterback finished the drive with a 10-yard run to trim the margin to 28-21 with 2:32 to go in the third.

“Drew has to be in consideration for the best quarterback in all of 5A,” Spieler said.

Aitken had four catches for 67 yards. Welhorsky completed 16 of 25 attempts.

Carr’s third rushing score of the night extended the advantage to 35-21.

Whipple’s pick-6 with 7:32 remaining doubled up the Lions, before a lineman made a memory with a playoff touchdown for the Warriors.

“The pick-6 was the cherry on top,” Whipple said.

Junior 6-foot-3, 265-pounder David Dziedzic recovered a fumble in the end zone late in the fourth for a 49-21 lead.

“That was awesome to see,” Ruane said.

Welhorsky and Aiken hooked up again one more time, for a 39-yard touchdown, in the final minutes.

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

Tags: Penn-Trafford, South Fayette