Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Offers coming in for Hempfield lineman

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, October 3, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Connections can mean a lot in college football recruiting.

The guy who knows a guy could be a recruit’s way in the door.

Case in point: Hempfield, where junior lineman Brock Heisler is an NCAA Division I-FBS prospect after he received an offer to play at Arkansas State.

First-year Hempfield assistant Al “Poodie” Carson knows Vinson Reynolds, the defensive line coach at Arkansas State, and put in a word for Heisler, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive tackle and offensive tackle, who also long snaps.

“It means a lot to me and definitely motivates me to keep working,” Heisler said of the offer. “They’re recruiting me for DL in general, but I’ll probably end up at defensive tackle (in college).”

Two days after he announced the offer, Heisler pulled in a second one, from Princeton. The Ivy League does not offer athletic scholarships.

Heisler now has a trio of Division I offers. He received an FCS offer from Penn over the summer.

In six games this season, he has 26 tackles, three for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery.

He also has one reception on offense.

“I am so excited for Brock,” Hempfield coach Nick Keefer said. “He’s a kid that has worked so hard this offseason and has done all the right things. He is a leader on and off the field. I couldn’t be happier for him and his family.”

Garn ‘Mosses’ Yough

Mt. Pleasant’s Jarett Garn not only made ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays last Friday for his highlight touchdown catch against Yough, grabbing the No. 2 best play, but former NFL star Randy Moss also talked about his grab on NFL Countdown.

Moss has a segment called “You Got Mossed” where he highlights impressive catches such as those he used to make over what seems like impossible coverage.

Garn caught a 56-yard score from Cole Chatfield, making the catch over three defenders and sprinting 24 yards to the end zone in Mt. Pleasant’s 22-19 win.

Mt. Pleasant RB Jarett Garn's TD catch Friday was so good, Randy Moss was talking about it.

Garn made SportsCenter's Top Plays, and "You Got Mossed" on NFL Countdown.@westmorelandsn on the call.@JarettGarn @VikingNation_MP @MPVikingFB @TribLiveHSSN @RandyMoss @espn #WPIAL https://t.co/4rzCCJGJMN

— Bill Beckner (@BillBeckner) September 30, 2024

Stat check

Workhorse running back Kyle Dupill of Franklin Regional is the first Westmoreland County rusher to reach 1,000 yards this season.

Dupill, a senior, has 1,001 yards on 152 carries and eight touchdowns. His yardage total ranks third in the WPIAL. He ran for 1,175 yards last season.

Freshman Anthony Smith of Southmoreland is the county’s top passer with 1,276 yards and 15 TDs. He is 67 of 121. He also has a pair of rushing TDs.

Southmoreland’s Elliot Premus has 30 receptions to lead all Westmoreland pass catchers. With 655 yards, he is averaging 21.8 yards per catch. He has been on the end of six of Smith’s eight scoring throws.

Sinclair leads Kiski

Post-grad linebacker Owen Sinclair, who played at Franklin Regional and was an all-conference linebacker in the WPIAL, is leading the defense at The Kiski School in Saltsburg.

Sinclair has 41 tackles, 14 for loss, and five sacks in five games.

He had nine stops, two sacks and four TFLs in the Cougars’ most recent game.

All-Peer selection

Greensburg Salem senior Cooper Dann was named to the Steelers Youth Football All-Peer Team.

Dann was nominated by his school and teammates for his dedication on and off the field.

He is active on the leadership council and with the school’s mini-thon for pediatric cancer research. He also officiates local flag football games.

BV getting healthy

Belle Vernon will get two key players back this week against Chartiers Valley.

Senior Alonzo Wade and junior Deaubre Lightfoot, both receivers, are expected back from injuries.

Wade likely will play in a limited role.

The Leopards still are missing injured players Brady Gabrovsek (RB) and junior Caleb Horner (WR).

Tatsch questionable

Latrobe running back and linebacker Alex Tatsch has not played in six consecutive quarters, and it is unclear if he will play Friday against Kiski Area.

Coach Ron Prady said the Penn State commit will be game-time decision.

Tatsch is fourth in Westmoreland County in rushing with 724 yards and eight touchdowns on 59 carries.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.