While the vast majority of teams opened their season in Week Zero, this week marks the official start of WPIAL play. Although nearly every game is a nonconference tilt, results this week could impact playoff seedings. The ledger includes four Westmoreland County showdowns, while several other area teams will face legitimate title contenders. Here’s a comprehensive look at the Westmoreland County slate in Week One.

Greensburg Salem (0-1, 0-0) at Derry Area (0-1, 0-0) - 7 p.m.

Pregame at 6:30 on WSN VIDEO - WATCH LIVE

WSN Broadcasters: John Flickinger and Bob Lasinski

About the Golden Lions: Greensburg Salem suffered a 45-6 setback at Hempfield Area last week. The lone points came courtesy of a 51-yard touchdown pass from Adam DiPasquale to Julian Stevens in the second quarter. The passing attack otherwise struggled, though, as DiPasquale and Brody Chismar combined to go 8-of-19 for 101 yards and three interceptions. Brady Smith led the ground attack with 63 yards, while Kai Brunot was limited to just 24 yards on 10 carries. Head coach Ty George is in pursuit of his first career win.

About the Trojans: Derry Area fell 56-14 on the road against Greater Latrobe last week, and trailed 49-0 in the third quarter. The Trojans got on the board on a 72-yard connection from Mason Beeman to Demauri Robinson, and Anthony Frank scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter. Beeman went 4-of-10 passing for 118 yards, but tossed a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six. Robinson compiled three catches for 114 yards, while Ahmad Ward rushed for a team-high 39 yards. The Trojans’ losing streak is the longest in the WPIAL since Brownsville Area has left the district to play an independent schedule.

About the Matchup: While the Golden Lions play in the Class 3A Interstate Conference, the Trojans reside in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference. Last year, GS notched a 26-17 victory.

Penn Hills (1-0, 0-0) at Norwin (0-1, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

Pregame at 6:30 on WSN VIDEO - WATCH LIVE

WSN Broadcasters: Dave Franczak and Brian Brozeski

About the Indians: Penn Hills scored an impressive win at home last week, ousting Class 6A opponent Seneca Valley 33-20. Quarterback Julian Dugger, a Pitt commit, hit on 9-of-20 passes for 140 yards and two scores, hooking up with Cameron Thomas and Martel Palmer, who also had a punt return score. Amir Key bolstered the rushing attack, as he rushed 16 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. Charles Morris, a Penn Hills alum, is in his second season on the sidelines.

About the Knights: Norwin nearly scored an upset road win against Upper St. Clair last week, but a fourth-quarter touchdown gave USC the 24-21 victory. Sophomore QB Tristyn Tavares hit on 12-of-26 attempts for 238 yards and three touchdowns, while Jackson Pons caught four of those passes for 75 yards and two scores. Jake Knight and Cristian Shogan added three receptions apiece, while Jake Sincak led the team in rushing and hauled in a TD pass.

About the Matchup: While both teams compete in Class 5A, it’s a nonconference affair, as the Indians are in the Northeast Conference, while Norwin resides in the Big East Conference. A year ago, Penn Hills claimed a 26-7 victory.

Mount Pleasant Area (0-1, 0-0) at Yough (0-1, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

Pregame at 6:30 on WSN VIDEO - WATCH LIVE

WSN Broadcasters: Sean Meyers and John Bainbridge

About the Vikings: Mount Pleasant Area held a halftime lead, but came up short on the road against Greensburg Central Catholic 37-24. The Vikings were outscored 20-0 in the decisive third quarter. Garrett Eicher had a strong showing for Mount Pleasant, as he rushed 15 times for 83 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jackson Hutter, meanwhile, totaled 47 yards rushing on nine carries. Signalcaller Cole Chatfield was 9-of-19 passing for 172 yards with a touchdown and two picks. Dante Giallonardo had a pair of catches for 65 yards, including a 52-yard score.

About the Cougars: Yough was ousted at home by South Allegheny 28-14 to commence the season. QB Raidon Kuroda completed 12-of-24 passes for 132 yards, but he threw a pair of interceptions. Additionally, he notched a team-best 58 rushing yards, and he and Julian Varrenti each found paydirt on the ground for the Cougars. Ryan Sarver had six receptions for 60 yards, while Antonio Marra hauled in five passes for 53 yards.

About the Matchup: Mount Pleasant Area resides in the Class 3A Interstate Conference, while Yough is in the 2A Allegheny Conference. A year ago, the Vikings notched a 35-7 victory.

Franklin Regional (0-1, 0-0) at Greater Latrobe (1-0, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

Pregame at 6:30 on WSN AUDIO - LISTEN LIVE

WSN Broadcasters: Jonathan Whaley

About the Panthers: Franklin Regional was walloped at home 42-7 by Thomas Jefferson last Friday. The Panthers scored their only TD on a 32-yard pass from Chase Lemke to Ayden Hudock in the opening quarter, but the Jaguars subsequently scored 28 unanswered points to seal the outcome. While Hudock had two grabs for 56 yards, Lemke was just 3-of-14 passing for 53 yards, and he was intercepted three times. Kyle Dupill had 22 yards on the ground to lead the rushing attack.

About the Wildcats: Greater Latrobe jumped out to a 42-0 lead at the half and cruised to a 56-14 win at home against rival Derry Area. Wildcats quarterback John Wetzel went 6-of-9 passing for 124 yards, tossed four touchdowns, rushed for a team-leading 53 yards, and plucked an interception on defense. Meanwhile, Jack Drnjevich and JaTawn Williams each notched a pair of touchdowns for GL, while Williams compiled a team-high 73 yards receiving. Alex Tatsch, Brady Prohovic, Ty Wisniewski, and Izzy McMahon also found the end zone for the Wildcats.

About the Matchup: While the Panthers play in the Class 5A Big East Conference, Greater Latrobe competes in the Class 4A Big Seven Conference. Last year, the Wildcats claimed a 36-33 overtime victory.

Jeannette (1-0, 0-0) at East Allegheny (0-1, 0-0) - 7 p.m.

Pregame at 6:30 on WSN AUDIO - LISTEN LIVE

WSN Broadcasters: Brent Whigham and Anthony DeNunzio

About the Jayhawks: A pair of fourth-quarter scores, including a 21-yard field goal by Austin Emery in the final minute, allowed Jeannette to edge host Burrell 16-13 last week. Emery’s kick broke a tie after Payton Molter’s 1-yard run pulled the Jayhawks even earlier in the frame. Molter also registered a 22-yard TD run to put Jeannette on the board, and he led the team with 94 yards on the ground, while also hitting on 6-of-12 passes for 60 yards. Noah Sanders recovered a fumble and Jayce Powell snagged an interception for Jeannette defensively.

About the Wildcats: East Allegheny suffered a 22-16 loss against South Park. The contest was originally scheduled to be played at South Park, but was moved to East Allegheny. Michael Cahill, the quarterback for EA, was 10-of-28 passing for 203 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, while he added a rushing score. The Wildcats are under the guidance of head coach Dom Pecora.

About the Matchup: Jeannette plays in the Class 1A Eastern Conference, while East Allegheny competes in the Class 3A Allegheny Six Conference. A year ago, the Wildcats prevailed 31-12.

Penn-Trafford (0-1, 0-0) at McKeesport Area (1-0, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

About the Warriors: Penn-Trafford suffered a rare shutout loss at home, as the Warriors were blanked 14-0 by Canon-McMillan. PT quarterback Jonny Lovre was 17-of-31 passing for 214 yards and an interception, while Carmen Metcalfe led the Warriors with seven grabs for 93 yards. Tasso Whipple added four catches for 54 yards. Freshman Ben Grabowski had eight carries for 34 yards to lead the way in the rushing attack, while Derek Carr registered six carries for 31 yards.

About the Tigers: McKeesport Area claimed a 35-7 home win against West Mifflin last week. Anthony Boyd and Kemon Spell each produced two rushing touchdowns for the Tigers, while Spell amassed 108 yards on just four carries. Quarterback Garrett Tarker also added a rushing score for McKeesport Area, which scored in every quarter in the victory. The Tigers are under the guidance of Matt Miller.

About the Matchup: Penn-Trafford plays in the Class 5A Big East Conference, while McKeesport Area is in the 4A Big Seven Conference. A year ago, the Tigers ousted the Warriors 19-7.

Hempfield Area (1-0, 0-0) at Connellsville Area (1-0, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

About the Spartans: Hempfield Area claimed a 45-6 victory at home against Greensburg Salem a week ago. Spartans running back Rogan Katchur rushed just five times for 48 yards, but registered three TDs. A short run by Katchur opened the scoring, and Hempfield Area extended to a 14-0 edge on a pass from Keiran Lippmann to Nicholas Marquis. Lippmann finished 8-of-15 for 94 yards, while Lucas Moore accumulated 13 carries for 85 yards. Defensively, the Spartans snagged three interceptions, including a pick-six by Anthony Puskar. Nick Keefer earned his first win as head coach.

About the Falcons: Connellsville Area cruised to a 48-13 win at home against Albert Gallatin last week. Anthony Piasecki turned in a special performance, as he was 5-of-8 passing for 175 yards and four touchdowns, and he added a rushing score. Jayden McBride delivered a pair of big plays, as he had an 85-yard kickoff return score and added a 66-yard touchdown reception. Capone Mickens also posted a pair of receiving scores for the Falcons. For the second straight year, the Falcons are employing three head coaches – Chad Lembo, Jace McClean, and Mick Lilley.

About the Matchup: Hempfield Area plays in the Class 5A Big East Conference, while Connellsville Area is in the 4A Big Seven Conference. In 2022, the Spartans notched a dominant 49-0 triumph.

Kiski Area (0-1, 0-0) at Pine-Richland (0-1, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

About the Cavaliers: Despite a three-touchdown effort from quarterback Carson Heinle, Kiski Area suffered a 28-18 home loss against Plum last week. Heinle rushed for a pair of scores, compiling 26 attempts for 119 yards, while he also threw for 109 yards and a TD on 13-of-21 attempts. Isaiah Gonzales led the Cavs with four grabs for 66 yards, while Andrew Finney also had four catches, including a touchdown reception. Landon Kucic had 16 carries for 75 yards for Kiski Area.

About the Rams: Pine-Richland sustained a 35-14 loss at Pickerington North, a powerhouse program in Ohio. Kanan Huffman hooked up with Vasilios Balouris on a 10-yard touchdown pass, while Aaron Strader had a rushing touchdown for the Rams. Ryan Cory, a Wisconsin commit, anchors the offensive line for Pine-Richland. Jon LeDonne is in his second season at the helm of PR, winning WPIAL and state titles with both the Rams and Penn Hills.

About the Matchup: While the Cavaliers play in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference, the Rams compete in the 5A Northeast Conference. In 2022, the Rams blanked the Cavs 33-0.

Southmoreland (1-0, 0-0) at Ligonier Valley (1-0, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

About the Scotties: Despite a slow start, Southmoreland recorded a 34-7 home victory against McGuffey in Week Zero. Da’sjon Craggette exploded for 217 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Scotties. Craggette, who transferred in from Greensburg Central Catholic, helped Southmoreland score all of its points in the second half. Additionally, quarterback Kadin Keefer was 7-of-12 passing for 72 yards, and hooked up with Wyatt Richter for a score. Keefer also found paydirt on an 8-yard run, and Gabe Kubasky added an interception return score. Ty Keffer was limited to three receptions for 32 yards.

About the Rams: John Jablunovsky was stellar for Ligonier Valley, as he propelled his squad to a 28-14 home victory against Springdale. Jablunovsky rushed 21 times for 208 yards, scoring three touchdowns for the Rams, and he had the lone reception, a 10-yard grab, as well as an interception defensively. Cole Henry added 45 yards rushing and a team-high seven tackles for LV.

About the Matchup: Southmoreland competes in the Class 3A Interstate Conference, while Ligonier Valley resides in the 2A Allegheny Conference. In the all-Westmoreland clash in 2022, the Rams prevailed 27-18.

Belle Vernon Area (0-0, 0-0) at Laurel Highlands (1-0, 0-0) - 7 p.m.

About the Leopards: Belle Vernon Area was the lone Westmoreland County team that did not play a game last week, as the Leopards opted for a second scrimmage. A year ago, BVA reached the pinnacle, winning the WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A titles. Although the Leps graduated receivers Chase Ruokonen, Colton Lee, and Evan Pohlot, the vast majority of the skill position players return, headlined by Penn State commit Quinton Martin, the top senior recruit in Pennsylvania. Martin rushed 149 times for 1,274 yards, caught 29 passes for 415 yards, and registered 30 total touchdowns in 2022. Fellow running back Jake Gedekoh also returns after rushing for more than 750 yards and scoring 16 times. Braden Laux, a DI commit as a tight end, is back at QB, where he threw for more than 1,000 yards and a dozen touchdowns, while he added 500 yards rushing last campaign. Matt Humbert remains at the helm of Belle Vernon Area.

About the Mustangs: Laurel Highlands smashed homestanding Uniontown Area 50-13 last week. Antawn Black, who has garnered major Division I attention, caught three passes for 26 yards and scored three touchdowns. QB Noah Lion hit on 5-of-15 passes for 59 yards and three TDs, while also rushing for 96 yards and a score on the ground. Rich Kolesar continues to patrol the sidelines for LH.

About the Matchup: While the Leopards play in the Class 3A Interstate Conference, the Mustangs reside in the 4A Big Seven Conference. Last year, BVA claimed a 41-20 victory, the most points the Leopards allowed the entire season. Belle Vernon Area coach Matt Humbert is a Laurel Highlands grad.

Apollo-Ridge (1-0, 0-0) at Valley (0-1, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

About the Apollo-Ridge Vikings: Apollo-Ridge edged Leechburg 18-16 a week ago. Quarterback Karter Schrock completed just one pass for four yards, but he rushed 34 times for 153 yards and two scores. Alex Wurmb added the other score on an 80-yard return following a blocked field goal. Veteran coach John Skiba oversees Apollo-Ridge.

About the Valley Vikings: Valley was overmatched in a 49-16 defeat at Armstrong last Friday. Quarterback Mason Simmons went 17-for-33 passing for 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Derek Hassim led the Vikes in both rushing and receiving yards, as he had a pair of carries for 50 yards and caught two passes for 39 yards and a score. Tristin Goodwin added the other touchdown reception.

Burrell (0-1, 0-0) at Deer Lakes (0-1, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

About the Buccaneers: Burrell lost a heartbreaker at home, falling to Jeannette 16-13. Devin Beattie paced the offense, as he rushed 16 times for 121 yards and accounted for both touchdowns. QB Stephen Hasson was intercepted in the final minute to seal the outcome.

About the Lancers: Deer Lakes narrowly fell to Keystone Oaks, 7-6, last week. The Lancers’ score came on a 30-yard pass from Derek Burk to Wayne Love. Burk was 10-of-17 for 121 yards, while Love paced Deer Lakes with 58 yards receiving. Ryan Cochran added three receptions. Tim Burk guides the Lancers.

About the Matchup: While Burrell competes in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference, Deer Lakes plays in the 3A Allegheny Six. In 2022, the Buccaneers scored a 27-21 triumph.

Bishop Canevin at Greensburg Central Catholic (1-0, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

About the Crusaders: Bishop Canevin opted for a second scrimmage last week. A year ago, the Crusaders went 12-2 overall, including a surprising 26-0 loss to Union in the WPIAL Class 1A Championship at Acrisure Stadium. A slew of key players return, including West Virginia commit Jason Cross, a standout safety who also saw time at QB and receiver. Kole Olszewski will see the majority of snaps at quarterback this season after passing for more than 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2022. Marquis Carter also returns after he compiled more than 1,500 yards rushing and scored 11 times. Rich Johnson guides Bishop Canevin.

About the Centurions: Samir Crosby impacted the game in a multitude of ways, leading Greensburg Central Catholic to a 37-24 home victory against Mount Pleasant Area a week ago. Crosby caught seven passes for 153 yards, threw a touchdown, and snagged two interceptions. Quarterback Tyree Turner hit on 14-of-16 passes for 243 yards and a pair of scores, while Evan Stasko caught a touchdown pass and Landon Honick also scored. First-year head coach John “JT” Thompson earned his initial victory on the sidelines.

About the Matchup: It’s a marque nonconference matchup in Class 1A, as the Crusaders play in the Black Hills Conference, while the Centurions are in the Eastern Conference. Last season, BC claimed a 30-14 win on a Saturday night at Dormont Stadium.

Monessen (0-1, 0-0) at Cornell (1-0, 0-0) – 7 p.m.

About the Greyhounds: Monessen fell at home against Washington 49-20 last week. Tyvaughn Kershaw scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 66-yard scamper, while Daniel Dozier added a TD run. The Greyhounds had no answer for Washington’s Ruben Gordon, who scored three times.

About the Raiders: Cornell edged Seton-LaSalle 20-19 last week. Quarterback CJ Jackson was 9-for-15 for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Drevon Newton caught four passes for 56 yards and a score and he also registered an interception return touchdown, while Mikey Keyes added three receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.