WPIAL first round and quarterfinal results from Friday, November 1st 2024:

Penn-Trafford 49 South Fayette 28 (5A First Round) - LISTEN BROADCAST

Derek Carr scored three rushing touchdowns, while Tasso Whipple had a monster performance on both sides of the ball in leading host Penn-Trafford to a 49-28 victory against No. 11 South Fayette in the Class 5A first round. Carr notched 60 yards on the ground, and Whipple rushed 22 times for 158 yards and a score, and he notched a 45-yard interception return score during a 21-0 run by PT in the fourth quarter. Ben Grabowski added 89 yards rushing for the No. 6 Warriors. Quarterback Jonny Lovre and lineman David Dziedzic also found paydirt for PT. In the defeat, Lions QB Drew Welhorsky passed for 226 yards and two scores, and he rushed for 94 yards and a pair of TDs. As a result, PT ascends to 9-2 and will square off against third seed Peters Township in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

Franklin Regional 17 North Hills 16 (5A First Round)

A fourth-quarter connection from Chase Lemke to Cole Devola accounted for the winning score, as Franklin Regional edged North Hills 17-16 in the Class 5A first round at Martorelli Stadium. Lemke’s winning TD pass came via a 12-yard connection on fourth down. Lemke went 8-of-12 for 68 yards passing and a touchdown run for the No. 9 Panthers, while Jude Gentile contributed 15 carries for 72 yards. Moreover, Jaymier Austin recovered a fumble to set up the winning score. Kelly McCarthy compiled 236 yards and two touchdowns for the No. 8 Indians, while Stephen Murphy caught four passes for 137 yards and two TDs. Courtesy of the triumph, FR moves to 8-3 and will face No. 1 seed Pine-Richland in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

Bethel Park 42 Greater Latrobe 7 (5A First Round)

Greater Latrobe had no answer for Bethel Park’s Ja’Vaughn Moore, who rushed for 142 yards and four scores in leading the No. 5 Black Hawks to a 42-7 victory in the Class 5A opening round. John Wetzel accounted for the lone score for the No. 12 Wildcats, as he notched a 39-yard punt return touchdown. Thus, Greater Latrobe concludes the campaign at 5-6. Ryan Petras added 101 yards receiving and two rushing scores for host Bethel Park, which moves on to play No. 4 Woodland Hills in the Class 5A quarterfinals next Friday.

McKeesport Area 34 Belle Vernon Area 11 (4A Quarterfinal) - LISTEN BROADCAST

Belle Vernon Area failed to contain Kemon Spell, who amassed 28 carries for 277 rushing yards and two touchdowns in leading McKeesport Area to a 34-11 victory in the Class 4A quarterfinals. As a result, the No. 6 Leopards conclude the season with a record of 4-5. While Spell propelled the offense for the third-seeded and host Tigers, the McKeesport defense limited BVA to just 47 yards of offense. Leopards QB Curtis Wade went 8-of-13 passing for 77 yards, while Kole Doppelheuer notched a 2-yard TD run and Preston Rathway booted a 41-yard field goal for Belle Vernon Area. With the triumph, McKeesport advances to the Class 4A semifinals to face No. 7 Mars Area next week.

Highlands 56 Southmoreland 20 (3A First Round)

Plagued by numerous injuries, Southmoreland fell at home to Highlands 56-20 in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs. As a result, the Scotties were denied the first postseason win in program history, ending the campaign with a mark of 7-4. The ninth-seeded Golden Rams jumped out to a 21-0 advantage, as Manage Lucas tossed a pair of touchdowns and added a TD run. The No. 8 Scotties got on the board on a 28-yard scamper by Cam Phillips, and QB Anthony Smith later added a 1-yard touchdown run, but the Golden Rams had responses both times on a Lucas TD run and a kickoff return score. Smith threw another touchdown, a 45-yard connection with Stanley Betters, but Highlands scored 21 unanswered points to set the final margin. As a result, Highlands advances to the Class 3A quarterfinals to face top-seeded Imani Christian Academy.

Freeport Area 44 Mount Pleasant Area 20 (3A First Round) - LISTEN BROADCAST

Freeport Area signalcaller Drew Ross factored into five touchdowns, leading the host Yellowjackets to a 44-20 triumph against Mount Pleasant Area in the Class 3A first round. Consequently, the Vikings wrap up 2024 with a record of 5-6. Jarett Garn was a bright spot for Mount Pleasant, as he rushed 11 times for 39 yards and two scores, and caught four passes for 75 yards. Vikings QB Cole Chatfield, in his return from injury, went 9-of-17 for 160 yards. Ross rushed for three touchdowns, added another through the air, and snagged an interception return score for No. 7 Freeport. He compiled 83 yards passing and 65 rushing, while Amos Glenn contributed 21 carries for 190 yards. Freeport advances to the Class 3A quarterfinals, where No. 2 Central Valley awaits.

Avonworth 43 Greensburg Salem 27 (3A First Round)

Greensburg Salem fell into an early 19-0 deficit, and despite a pair of rallies, the Golden Lions came up short in a 43-27 loss at No. 5 Avonworth in the Class 3A first round. Brody Chismar went 14-of-20 through the air for 259 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception for the No. 13 Golden Lions. His TD passes to Max Topper and Kai Brunot pulled GS within 19-14 at the half, and he hooked up with Dom Rosensteel and Topper again to get the Golden Lions twice within two points at 22-20 and 29-27. The Antelopes were prolific on the ground, though, as Dimitri Valsaris compiled 23 carries for 202 yards and three scores, while Nico Neal registered 113 yards and a pair of scores. Greensburg Salem finishes the year at 7-4, while the Antelopes move on to the Class 3A quarterfinals against fourth seeded Beaver Area.

Greensburg Central Catholic 54 Monessen 38 (1A First Round)

Samir Crosby had a Herculean effort in guiding homestanding Greensburg Central Catholic to a 54-38 victory against Monessen in the Class 1A first round. Crosby factored into six TDs for the No. 5 Centurions, as he threw for four, rushed for another, and added a 70-yard kickoff return score. Landon Honick accumulated five catches for 126 yards and three TDs for GCC. Bobby Smithnosky added a return TD on a blocked punt, while Luke Semelka capped the scoring for the Centurions on a 2-yard run. Tyvaughn Kershaw registered 206 rushing yards and two scores, and switched to QB due to injury and completed 8-of-12 passes for 173 yards and two scores for the No. 12 Greyhounds. Kershaw’s touchdown throws both went to Tavian Taylor, who had six receptions for 144 yards. While Monessen’s season ends with a record of 7-4, GCC improved to 8-2 and will face No. 13 Jeannette next week in a Westmoreland County quarterfinals clash.

Jeannette 23 Neshannock 7 (1A First Round)

Kymon’e Brown propelled Jeannette to a stunning upset of Neshannock 23-7 in the Class 1A first round. Brown rushed for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the No. 13 Jayhawks, while he added 101 yards through the air. The fourth seed Lancers struck first on a 15-yard run by QB Jino Mozzocio, but Brown responded with an 18-yard score. Jayce Powell staked Jeannette to a lead on an 87-yard kickoff return TD to commence the second half. Brown later added a 60-yard TD scamper, and the Jayhawks defense recorded a safety. As a result, Jeannette ascended to 8-3 and will face rival Greensburg Central Catholic, the No. 5 seed, next week in the Class 1A quarterfinals.