Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Top runners clash when Ligonier Valley, Southmoreland meet

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, August 31, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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John Jablunovsky and Da’sjon Craggette ran wild in their season openers, each rushing for more than 200 yards as their teams won.

The speedsters will square off this week as Ligonier Valley (1-0) hosts Southmoreland (1-0) in nonconference action.

You want track speed? You’ll get it with these two. This will be the fastest heat.

Both have been clocked running a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash.

“If he turns the corner, he’s gone,” Southmoreland coach Tim Bukowski said of Jablunovsky. “We have to play disciplined and tackle well.

“Craggette is even better than I thought he would be.”

Jablunovsky, who has been referred to as the best athlete to play at Ligonier Valley by Rams coach Roger Beitel, ran for 208 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries and scored three touchdowns in a 28-14 win over Springdale.

Southmoreland overcame a slow-starting first half to beat McGuffey, 34-6, as Craggette ran for 217 yards and two long touchdowns in his Scotties debut.

“I haven’t thought much about the matchup (itself),” Beitel said. “I have been thinking more about how are we going to tackle Craggette.”

Craggette is a transfer from Greensburg Central Catholic who attends Geibel. There is a football co-op between Southmoreland and Geibel.

A canceled bus route from Connellsville to Greensburg led to Craggette, and two of his GCC teammates, transferring closer to home.

It’s been awhile

Penn-Trafford dropped its opener 14-0 to Canon-McMillan. That was not exactly a surprise. The surprising part was the Warriors did not score a point.

The team had not been shut out since Oct. 10, 2012. That also was the last time the Warriors were blanked at home.

Penn-Trafford had 20 first downs in the loss last week but could not finish in the red zone.

Call to the hall

Belle Vernon will induct its latest football Hall of Fame class next Friday when the Leopards host McKeesport.

Members include lineman Brad Yates, coach Brett Berish, quarterback Jeremy Dongilli, linebacker Dennis Neupaver and contributor Jack Sayak (Sr.).

Dongilli will join his father, former BVA coach Gary Dongilli, in the hall. The coach and son were with the Leopards in the mid 1990s.

The elder Dongilli is second in the program in wins behind current coach Matt Humbert.

Saturdays not for the boys

A glance of the local schedule revealed something unique: There are no Saturday games this season for Westmoreland County teams.

Only three WPIAL teams still play home games Saturday afternoons: Western Beaver, Summit Academy and Riverview.

Riverview plays at Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic, and the other two schools do not play a county team.

Summit Academy does, however, host Riverview on Oct. 7.

Chismar still out

Greensburg Salem will be without starting quarterback Peyton Chismar for another game Friday at Derry as he continues to serve a PIAA-mandated two-game suspension after he was ejected in the final game last season at South Allegheny. Chismar also missed last Friday’s season opener at Hempfield.

Senior Adam Dipasquale took the majority of snaps against Hempfield, completing 8 of 18 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown to Julian Stevens. He also threw three interceptions. Chismar’s brother, Brody, saw action at quarterback late in the game. Chismar is expected to return next week against Ligonier Valley, at which time Dipasquale will move back to wide receiver.

Extra points

Beitel is the longest-tenured head football coach in Westmoreland County. This is his 20th season. … Hempfield two-way lineman Joe Dolinski (6-foot-4, 288 pounds) picked up an offer to play at Seton Hill. … The last two Franklin Regional-Latrobe games have been decided by a total of four points. Last year, Latrobe won 36-33 in two overtimes. In 2021, Franklin Regional rallied for a 41-40 win after trailing 40-14. … There were nine shutouts in the WPIAL and City League in Week Zero. … Latrobe has scored on its first offensive snap two seasons in a row.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Ligonier Valley, Southmoreland