Westmoreland County Friday Night Lights - Week Nine

Norwin, Kiski Area, Derry Area clinch playoffs; PT states case for bye; GCC upsets Leechburg to stay alive

Sat Oct 25, 2025 - 1:26AM

Sean Meyers Sean Meyers

Last Updated: Sat Oct 25, 2025 - 2:46AM

Norwin 14 Mount Lebanon 7 - WATCH BROADCAST

Giovanni Rothrauff enjoyed a record-setting performance, leading host Norwin to a 14-7 win against Mount Lebanon to clinch a playoff spot in Class 6A. Rothrauff compiled a school-record 260 yards rushing, while QB Tristyn Tavares hit on 13-of-23 passes for 152 yards and a TD, and also scored on a 1-yard run. Zack Pawling was on the receiving end of the 4-yard touchdown pass for the Knights (8-3, 4-2), who garnered the third seed in the WPIAL postseason. In the loss for the Blue Devils (2-8, 2-4), signalcaller Patrick Smith passed for 137 yards and added 38 yards on the ground.

Penn-Trafford 42 Greater Latrobe 14 - WATCH BROADCAST

With Cody Yacamelli leading the way, host Penn-Trafford rolled to a 42-14 win against Greater Latrobe in a Class 5A Big East Conference tilt. The playoff-bound Warriors (9-1, 5-1) received 122 yards rushing and two scores on the ground, as well as a passing TD, from Yacamelli. Ben Grabowski contributed a dozen carries for 112 yards for PT, which was already locked into a second-place finish in the conference. Freshman Dante Durigon was a bright spot for the Wildcats (2-8, 1-5), as he rushed 18 times for 130 yards, notching a touchdown.

Trinity 34 Belle Vernon Area 21 - WATCH BROADCAST

Belle Vernon Area fell into an early deficit, and the Leopards’ rally came up short in a 34-21 home loss against Trinity in the Class 4A Big Six Conference. The Leopards (3-6, 2-3), who faced a 20-0 deficit in the opening quarter, failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time in 17 years. Curty Wade went 10-of-20 passing for 116 yards and two interceptions for BVA, while Chace Petrosky notched a pair of rushing TDs. Quarterback Jonah Williamson led the Hillers (6-4, 5-0), rushing 14 times for 148 yards and two scores, while he also threw for 120 yards and a touchdown. Owen Gardner added 113 yards rushing for Trinity, which had already claimed the conference championship.

Derry Area 47 Yough 20 - WATCH BROADCAST

Derry Area snagged three interceptions en route to a 47-20 home win against Yough in the Class 3A Interstate Conference, clinching a playoff berth. The Trojans were led offensively by Max Doherty, who rushed six times for 142 yards and a score, and Anthony Sacco, who completed 6-of-9 throws for 58 yards and two TDs. Justin Papuga, Ricky Daniels, Max Doperak, Kaden Weiers, Parker Petrosky, and lineman Dylan Pitzer all found the end zone for Derry Area (6-4, 3-2), which claimed the third spot from the Interstate. John Gergely had 15 carries for 58 yards and a TD for the Cougars (2-8, 0-5), while Joey Bibby and Ryan Sarver also scored.

Jeannette 36 Riverview 0 - LISTEN BROADCAST

Jeannette’s defense pitched a shutout, while Kymon’e Brown provided the big plays on offense in leading the Jayhawks to a 36-0 win against Riverview in the Class 1A Eastern Conference. Brown notched a 46-yard interception score and a 50-yard TD run for the homestanding Jayhawks (7-3, 5-3), who had already clinched a playoff spot as the third-place finisher from the conference. McAllister Steele added three field goals for Jeannette.

Armstrong 41 Franklin Regional 14

Franklin Regional ended its season with a 41-14 setback at Armstrong in the Class 5A Big East Conference. Brock Bowser threw for 104 yards and a score for the Panthers (1-9, 0-6). Kayden Lewis and Max Zablocki each scored twice for the River Hawks (4-6, 3-3), who are vying for a Class 5A wild card berth.

Woodland Hills 28 Kiski Area 0

Kiski Area’s offense was silenced, while the defense could not corral Scoop Smith, as the Cavaliers fell 28-0 to Woodland Hills in a Class 5A Big East Conference game. Smith tallied three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving, while Ziggy Moore added a TD reception for the Wolverines (8-2, 6-0), who had already clinched the conference title. Despite the loss, the Cavaliers (4-6, 3-3) secured a playoff berth as the third-place team from the conference.

Southmoreland 38 Greensburg Salem 0

Stanley Chapman was a force on special teams, and the Southmoreland defense was suffocating in a 38-0 triumph against Greensburg Salem in a Class 3A Interstate Conference clash. Chapman blocked three punts for the Scotties (9-1, 4-1), while Averyon Darnell scored two rushing TDs. Cam Lee added an 81-yard kickoff return score for the Scotties. The Golden Lions (3-7, 1-4) were limited to 84 yards of offense.

Elizabeth Forward 41 Mount Pleasant Area 7

Mount Pleasant Area could not slow down Ryan Messina, who guided Elizabeth Forward to a 41-7 win in a Class 3A Interstate Conference matchup. Messina passed for 236 yards and four TDs for the Warriors (9-1, 5-0), who had already clinched the conference crown. Aiden Roadman provided the lone TD for the Vikings (5-5, 2-3), who cling to hopes of a wild card selection.

Burrell 48 Deer Lakes 41

Burrell QB Antonio Perkins had a night for the ages, as he propelled the Buccaneers to a 48-41 win against Deer Lakes in the Class 3A Allegheny Seven Conference. Perkins rushed for a school-record 360 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, returned both a punt and a kickoff for a TD, and intercepted a pass on defense for the Buccaneers (4-6, 3-3). Thus, Burrell remains in contention for a wild card berth in Class 3A. Roman Smith paced the Lancers (2-8, 1-5) with 16 carries for 177 yards, scoring twice.

Highlands 45 Valley 0

Valley was blanked once again, as the Vikings suffered a 45-0 loss against Highlands in the Class 3A Allegheny Seven Conference contest. Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg posted 130 yards rushing and three TDs for the Golden Rams (7-3, 5-1). Valley (0-10, 0-6) finished the season winless for the second year in a row.

Apollo-Ridge 28 Ligonier Valley 14

Ligonier Valley wrapped up its 2025 campaign with a 28-14 defeat at the hands of Apollo-Ridge in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference. The Vikings (7-3, 5-1) were steered by QB Alexander Clawson, who threw for three TDs. In the loss, Levi Foust and Gregory Sleasman reached the end zone for the Rams (1-9, 0-6).

Greensburg Central Catholic 36 Leechburg 7

Samir Crosby factored into every touchdown, as Greensburg Central Catholic upset Leechburg 36-7 in a Class 1A Eastern Conference tilt. Playing QB, Crosby went 7-of-12 passing for 176 yards and three touchdowns, while he rushed for 150 yards and two more scores on the ground. Colin Snively was on the receiving end of all three TD passes, catching five balls spanning 117 yards for GCC (5-5, 3-4), which remained in the discussion for a Class 1A wild card spot. The postseason-bound Blue Devils (7-3, 5-2) were paced by Tim Andrasy, who posted 38 carries for 131 yards and the lone TD.

Monessen 30 Cornell 28

Tavian Taylor scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, leading Monessen to a 30-28 win against Cornell in the Class 1A Black Hills Conference. The Greyhounds (6-4, 3-3) are in the hunt for a wild card berth.

Hempfield Area 42 Gateway 38

In an offensively-charged clash, host Hempfield Area edged Gateway 42-38 in a nonconference game. The Spartans (5-5) were led by QB Dom Detruf, who completed 20-of-33 throws for 281 yards and three touchdowns. Moreover, Jack Kopas snagged nine receptions for 139 yards and two scores, setting the single-season and career receptions marks, while Aidan Stinebiser rushed 17 times for 125 yards and a TD. In the loss for the Gators (3-7), QB Mayson Mitchell threw for 381 yards and three scores.