Westmoreland high school football notes: Showdown between Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford looms

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 14, 2023 | 4:52 PM

Second place and a playoff spot will be on the line in the Class 5A Big East Conference, and one game will settle it all.

But fans will have to wait a week for Penn-Trafford (4-4, 3-1) to play at Franklin Regional (6-2, 3-1) in the key conference finale.

The game will be played Oct. 27 in Murrysville.

Both teams won Friday night, and both will play nonconference games next week, with Penn-Trafford hosting 6A No. 2 North Allegheny (7-1) and Franklin Regional hosting North Hills (3-5).

If Gateway gets upset by Norwin in Week 9, the Penn-Trafford-Franklin Regional winner could share the conference title with the first-place Gators.

“Who knows how it’s all going to play out?” Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy said. “But we talk about what we can do as a team. The best thing we can do is take care of our business.”

The loser of Penn-Trafford-Franklin Regional still would be eligible for one of two wild cards in 5A.

Conference champions and the top second-place team get home games in the first round.

Playoff bound

Three county teams secured WPIAL playoff spots Friday.

Latrobe clinched a 4A berth with a 50-28 win over Connellsville.

Belle Vernon handled Mt. Pleasant, 55-7, to lock down a spot in 3A.

And Southmoreland clinched a 3A berth with a 46-12 win over Greensburg Salem.

The Wildcats (6-2, 4-1), who posted their first playoff win last year since 1968, pulled away in the second half Friday for their second 50-point output of the season.

Quarterback John Wetzel rushed for four touchdowns and threw for another, and Ja’Tawn Williams had a TD catch and run and took a kickoff back 78 yards for a score.

Belle Vernon (6-1, 3-0) has scored 57, 53 and 55 points in successive weeks. It piled up 627 yards of total offense against Mt. Pleasant, including 461 rushing.

It trailed 7-6 before rolling to a 55-7 win. Quinton Martin ran for three TDs.

Southmoreland (5-3, 2-1) missed the playoffs from 1980-2018 but has qualified in four of the last six years.

Passing fancy

Franklin Regional quarterback Chase Lemke and receiver Ayden Hudock are in a rhythm at just the right time as the Panthers pursue a playoff spot.

The pair hooked up for two more touchdowns Friday in a 38-15 win at Hempfield.

Lemke, a first-year starter, was 10 of 14 for 208 yards, and Hudock caught six for 110 yards in the Panthers’ fourth straight win.

Last week, Lemke threw for 247 yards and tossed four TDs, three to Hudock, who had five catches for 168 yards.

“The thing is, we have a connection off the field,” Lemke said. “We talk about plays and routes all the time. That carries over into games.”

1,000 for Whipple

Penn-Trafford junior running back Tasso Whipple became the first rusher from Westmoreland to reach 1,000 yards this season.

Whipple ran for 154 against Plum, giving him 1,143 for the season. Of that total, 834 came in the last four games.

Freshman running back Ben Grabowski continues to impress for the Warriors. He ran for 126 yards and three TDs against Plum.

Laux rests

Belle Vernon senior quarterback Braden Laux injured the pinky finger on his throwing hand early in Friday’s 55-7 win over Mt. Pleasant. While coach Matt Humbert left him in to test the finger, he eventually pulled Laux because the Leopards had a comfortable lead.

Tests Saturday showed no fracture, and Laux will be fine.

Backup Curtis Wade filled in nicely Friday as he finished 8 of 10 for 130 yards and three touchdowns.

Spartans seek answers

Hempfield (1-7) is trying to play more consistently under first-year coach Nick Keefer.

The Spartans have had big moments in big games, but those have been few and far between.

On Friday, the Spartans were within 17-7 of Franklin Regional before the Panthers pulled away.

“So many times, we have been close in games,” Keefer said. “We were right there with Gateway and Penn-Trafford but let it get away from us. We do something good, but then we can’t get that big stop. It takes time and experience (to improve). I know it’s (Week 7). But we’re still playing young kids.”

Keefer said sophomore Dom Detruf is developing into a good quarterback.

He took over for Keiran Lippman after the Penn-Trafford game, with Lippman becoming his top receiver.

Detruf threw for 220 yards and two TDs Friday.

“I have been impressed with Dom’s leadership,” Keefer said. “He has stepped into that role and has gotten better every week. And I can’t say enough about Keiran Lippman and what he means to this team.”

Extra points

Aliquippa has taken the lead — albeit a slim one — over Jeannette for the most wins in WPIAL history. The Quips have 777, and Jeannette stands at 776. … Southmoreland tailback Da’sjon Craggette needs 5 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. He ran for 1,033 last year at Greensburg Central Catholic. … Joey Bayne (Franklin Regional), Ben Bigi (Latrobe), Jake Kaylor (Southmoreland) made field goals Friday. … Four teams are tied for fifth place in the Tri-County South, including Monessen. The top four qualify for the playoffs. … Top local games next week include Latrobe at McKeesport and Belle Vernon at Southmoreland.

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland