With Jayhawks back on track, Jeannette-GCC rivalry gets reheated

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 | 8:13 PM

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How big is Friday’s WPIAL Class A Eastern Conference matchup between Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic?

In Westmoreland County, it might be the biggest rivalry going.

At Jeannette, it’s Central week. At Greensburg Central Catholic, it’s Jeannette week.

This is the 32nd meeting between the schools, and during many of those games, something was on the line: a conference title, a playoff berth. Nothing has changed this season.

The teams have met annually since 2002, and the first game was in 1965 was a scoreless tie. Jeannette leads the series, 20-10-1.

“This game meant a lot to me growing up Catholic in Jeannette,” Jayhawks coach Tommy Paulone Jr. said. “When you’re a resident of Jeannette, you have a choice before your ninth grade year of schools: either Jeannette or Greensburg Central.

“I have two aunts — Virginia Donina and Mary Carns-Paulone — who attended Central. My aunt Mary was a valedictorian in 1969.”

As a player and now a coach, Paulone has been involved in six games. He was 3-2 as a player (2006-09) and is 0-1 as a coach. Greensburg Central Catholic won last season 44-0.

Jeannette defeated Greensburg Central Catholic twice in 2006. The Jayhawks prevailed 7-2 during the regular season and 24-14 in the WPIAL Class 2A final.

“I always remember the 7-2 win,” Paulone said. “They were ranked No. 1 in the state.”

While Paulone has been part of the rivalry, Greensburg Central Catholic first-year coach John Thompson has not.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not familiar with the history. His wife, Sarah Kovach, is a GCC grad and so are his in-laws.

“They’ve told me how big the game is,” Thompson said. “I saw that at Monday’s practice. The players are excited for the game and are focused. We had a great practice.”

Jeannette has won five consecutive games since dropping a 33-30 nonconference matchup in overtime to East Allegheny in Week 1. The Jayhawks are coming off an exciting 37-31 victory at Leechburg when senior quarter Payton Molter directed a last-minute drive.

Molter and Noah Sanders hooked up on a 25-yard pass on third-and-23 to keep the drive alive, then Molter ran 28 yards for the winning score.

“Jeannette is a talented team,” Thompson said. “The quarterback is a good leader, and they are well coached.”

Thompson coached Jeannette assistant Darius Brown when they were at Saint Vincent, and Paulone played against Thompson when he was at Waynesburg.

There is only one Jeannette resident on the Greensburg Central Catholic team. That is sophomore Samir Crosby, who will line up at running back, slot back, wide receiver and quarterback.

Crosby has completed 7 of 12 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. He has rushed for 270 yards and three scores and caught 22 passes for 421 yards and three TDs.

The player who makes the Centurions go is senior quarterback Tyree Turner, who has completed 60 of 103 passes for 1,065 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has rushed for 361 yards and eight touchdowns.

Other targets in the Centurions’ attack include senior running back Nick Dlugos (142 yards rushing and six catches for 169 yards), senior wide receiver Peter Mazowiecki (13 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns) and sophomore wide receiver Landon Honick (15 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns).

“Tyree and Samir are special players,” Thompson said. “Both are great leaders. We need their leadership because we’re so young.”

While some fans are eager to see how Crosby fares against the Jayhawks, both coaches said this game is more about Jeannette versus Greensburg Central Catholic.

“Our focus has to be on winning the battles in all three phases of the game,” Paulone said. “We’ve done that all season.

“We have a lot of unsung heroes, which starts with the offensive line: Gavin Holemeyer (center), Jesse McCurdy (right guard), Carmine DeAnnuntis (right tackle), Wyatt Schaeffer (left guard) and Noah Stuchell (left tackle).”

Molter spearheads the offense. He has completed 62 of 107 passes for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 367 yards and seven scores.

Sanders has rushed for 783 yards and nine touchdowns and has caught 13 passes for 166 yards. Jayce Powell, who has 11 catches for 146 yards, and Sanders caught touchdown passes at Leechburg.

Kymon’e Brown is another target for Molter. He has 18 catches for 275 yards and seven touchdowns.

Paulone said he isn’t surprised with how the season has gone.

“I know how hard these kids have worked,” he said. “Those 7 a.m. workouts are paying off. I’m not sure I expected us to be 6-1, but I knew we were capable of having a good season because of the character of the players. We’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way.”

The series

Jeannette leads 20-10-1

2022: Greensburg CC, 44-0

2021: Greensburg CC, 49-3

2020: Jeannette, 55-0

2019: Jeannette, 48-14

2018: Jeannette, 40-14

2017: Jeannette, 55-7

2016: Jeannette, 56-0

2015: Jeannette, 49-35

2014: Jeannette, 36-0

2013: Greensburg CC, 41-14

2012: Jeannette, 7-6

2011: Jeannette, 13-10

2010: Greensburg CC, 21-9

2009: Greensburg CC, 49-18

2008: Greensburg CC, 28-14

2007: Jeannette, 42-6

2006: Jeannette, 24-14 (WPIAL playoffs)

2006: Jeannette, 7-2

2005: Greensburg CC, 32-0

2004: Greensburg CC, 47-0

2003: Jeannette, 25-17

2002: Jeannette, 35-7

1995: Jeannette 42-6

1994: Jeannette, 35-0

1993: Jeannette, 14-0

1992: Jeannette, 14-7

1991: Jeannette, 14-8

1990: Greensburg CC, 14-0

1989: Jeannette, 28-7

1988: Jeannette, 42-0

1966: Greensburg CC, 41-13

1965: Tied, 0-0

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Jeannette