Plum 34 Hempfield Area 21   (PLUM: 4-5; HA: 5-4)   LISTEN BROADCAST

Three interceptions and two turnovers on downs loomed large for Hempfield Area’s offense, as the Spartans fell on the road to Plum 34-21 in a Class 5A Big East contest. The Hempfield Area rushing attack was the bright spot, as Gino Caesar compiled 35 carries for 169 yards, while Eli Binakonsky had 11 carries for 76 yards and two touchdowns. QB Keiran Lippmann hit on 14-of-24 passes for 147 yards and a TD, but had three picks. Ian Tuffs caught four passes for 60 yards, while Daniel Katonka added five grabs for 45 yards in the setback that eliminated Hempfield Area from playoff contention. Eryck Moore-Watkins posted three rushing scores in leading the Mustangs.

North Allegheny 20 Penn-Trafford 3   (NA: 8-1; PT: 5-4)   LISTEN BROADCAST

Penn-Trafford opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal by Logan Swartz in the first quarter, but the Warriors were held scoreless for the rest of the contest, as host North Allegheny prevailed 20-3 in a nonconference matchup. Khiryn Boyd had a 99-yard kickoff return for North Allegheny, while Boyd also caught a touchdown pass from Logan Kushner.

Franklin Regional 34 North Hills 14   (FR: 6-2; NH: 3-6)   LISTEN BROADCAST

Franklin Regional QB Roman Sarnic rushed for three scores and passed for another, as the Panthers ousted homestanding North Hills 34-14 in a Class 5A nonconference tilt. Sarnic compiled 22 carries for 184 yards and three TDs, while posting 6-of-10 passing for 112 yards and another score through the air. Ayden Hudock was Sarnic’s favorite target, as he caught five passes for 107 yards and a TD, while Kyle Dupill added a rushing score.

Gateway 42 Norwin 10   (GATE: 7-2; NOR: 1-8)   LISTEN BROADCAST

Norwin could not slow down the potent Gateway offense, as Gators QB Brad Birch hit on 8-of-11 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns, leading Gateway to a 42-10 win at home in the Class 5A Big East Conference. Chris Lively was instrumental, as well, he caught four passes for 152 yards and a TD, and added a punt return score. Norwin’s touchdown came courtesy of a 23-yard pass from Nicholas Urey to Luke Denny, while Joey Castle booted a 39-yard field goal. Urey finished 8-of-21 for 127 yards, while Jackson Pons and Denny also completed passes. Denny paced the Knights with four catches for 87 yards, while Stephen Rodgers hauled in four passes for 56 yards.

McKeesport 54 Greater Latrobe 14   (McK: 9-0; GL: 5-4)

McKeesport Area jumped out to a 42-0 lead at the half, as the Tigers remained undefeated in their 54-14 victory at Greater Latrobe in a Class 4A Big Seven Conference matchup. Greater Latrobe could not slow the prolific Tigers duo of Bobbie Boyd and Jahmil Perryman, as each eclipsed 100 yards rushing and scored a pair of TDs on the ground. Greater Latrobe, which clinched a playoff spot courtesy of Connellsville Area’s loss, received TDs from Robby Fulton and Brady Prohovic.

Kiski Area 50 Fox Chapel 13   (KA: 1-8; FC: 0-9)

Kiski Area recorded its first win of the season, as the homestanding Cavaliers blasted Fox Chapel Area 50-13 in a nonconference tussle. Kiski Area quarterback Carson Heinle completed 19-of-23 passes for 219 yards and four touchdowns, while Dom DiNinno caught 12 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns, and he contributed a 65-yard interception return score, too. Connor Flemm posted a pair of rushing scores for the Cavaliers.

Elizabeth Forward 62 Greensburg Salem 13   (EF: 9-0; GS: 3-6)

Although Greensburg Salem scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, Elizabeth Forward scored the final 41 points en route to a 62-13 blowout against the host Golden Lions in Class 3A Interstate Conference action. Cody Rubrecht factored into both scores for GS, as he connected with Christian Hostetler on a 19-yard pass, and produced a 33-yard TD run. Rubrecht was 7-of-14 passing for 88 yards, while he rushed for 31 yards. Zion White was 9-of-11 passing for 255 yards for EF, while Zach Boyd caught five passes for 199 yards and scored three times.

Belle Vernon 48 Southmoreland 0   (BVA: 6-2; SOU: 4-5)

Six different players scored for the Leopards, as Belle Vernon Area blanked Southmoreland 48-0 in Class 3A Interstate Conference play. Jake Gedekoh rushed eight times for 111 yards and two touchdowns for BVA, while Quinton Martin added eight carries for 100 yards and a TD. QB Braden Laux hit on 6-of-11 passes for 124 yards and a score, and he also rushed for a TD. With losses by Greensburg Salem and South Allegheny, the Scotties secured a playoff spot.

Mount Pleasant 42 South Allegheny 0   (MP: 5-4; SA: 1-8)

Mount Pleasant Area compiled 322 yards rushing, while the Vikings defense posted a shutout in a 42-0 victory against South Allegheny in the Class 3A Interstate Conference. Robbie Labuda rushed 11 times for 73 yards and scored twice, while Jackson Hutter posted five carries for 135 yards and a score for the Vikes. QB Cole Chatfield hit on 4-of-7 passes for 82 yards and a pair of TDs, one each to Tyler Reese and Lane Golkosky. As a result of their victory, the Vikings secured their playoff bid.

Burrell 30 Derry Area 8   (BUR: 6-3; DA: 0-9)   WATCH BROADCAST

Devin Beattie posted 31 carries for 164 yards and two touchdowns, propelling Burrell to a 30-8 win at Derry Area in Class 2A Allegheny Conference play. In addition to Beattie’s scores, the Buccaneers also received rushing TDs from Chase Fenner and Mason Jones, as well as a field goal from Ryan Croushore. The Trojans points came on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Blake Revoir to Damari Robinson that spanned seven yards.

Ligonier Valley 42 Imani Christian 7   (LV: 6-3; IC: 4-5)

WPIAL playoff-bound Ligonier Valley earned a 42-7 Allegheny Conference triumph over Imani Christian at Graham Field in Wilkinsburg. Rams QB Broderick Schreyer completed 7-of-9 passes for 73 yards and a pair of scores, and he contributed another TD on the ground. Haden Sierocky posted 105 rushing yards and a touchdown, while teammate John Jablunovsky compiled 90 yards on the ground and a pair of TDs. McKinley Shearer anchored the LV defense with 14 tackles.

Steel Valley 56 Yough 7   (SV: 8-0; YOU: 2-7)

The Ironmen continued to overwhelm the competition, as Steel Valley rolled to a 56-7 win at home against Yough in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference contest. Steel Valley QB Cruce Brookins rushed for two scores and passed for two more, as the Ironmen led 42-0 at the half. Gavin Roebuck notched the lone Cougars TD on a fumble recovery score.

Freeport 62 Valley 19   (FREE: 8-1; VALL: 1-8)

Valley could not contain Ben Lane, who rushed for three TDs and threw for another in leading Freeport Area to a 62-19 win in the Class 3A Allegheny Six Conference. Dallas Price posted a 56-yard TD run for the Vikings, while Xavier Wilson and Zayaan Ferron also scored for Valley.

Jeannette 35 Springdale 7   (JEA: 3-6; SPRING: 0-9)   WATCH BROADCAST

Jeannette quarterback Payton Molter rushed for a pair of touchdowns and threw another in Jeannette’s 35-7 home triumph against Springdale. Molter posted a dozen carries for 74 yards, including a pair of 12-yard TD runs, and he hooked up with Andrew Ross on a 31-yard score, as the signalcaller completed 5-of-8 passes for 94 yards. Noah Sanders also rushed 13 times for 86 yards and scored twice on the ground for the Jayhawks, who clinched a playoff berth in Class 1A.

Week 8 Westmoreland County Stars

Jake Gedekoh (Belle Vernon) - 111 yds. rushing, 2 TD's

Payton Molter (Jeannette) - 5-8 for 94 yds. passing, 1 TD; 74 yds. rushing, 2 TD's

Carson Heinle (Kiski Area) - 19-23 for 219 yds. passing, 4 TD's

Dom DiNinno (Kiski Area) - 12 rec. for 176 yds. receiving, 4 TD's; INT return for TD

Haden Sierocky (Ligonier Valley) - 17 att. for 105 yds. rushing, 1 TD; 4 rec. for 42 yds. receiving, 1 TD; 10 tackles

Samir Crosby (Greensburg CC) - 3 TD receptions; 1 rushing TD; 1 INT return TD

Roman Sarnic (Franklin Regional) - 6-10 for 112 yds. passing, 1 TD; 22 att. for 184 yds. rushing, 3 TD's

Ayden Hudock (Franklin Regional) - 5 rec. for 107 yds. receiving, 1 TD

Devin Beattie (Burrell) - 31 att. for 164 yds. rushing, 2 TD's

Gino Caesar (Hempfield Area) - 35 att. for 169 yds. rushing

Jackson Hutter (Mt. Pleasant) - 5 att. for 136 yds. rushing, 1 TD