News, notes, scores, photos and videos from Week 8 of the high school football season.
John DeMarco and Tim Bukowski each played roles in creating historic success when standing on the same sideline.
The pair served as assistants under former Clairton coach Tom Nola when the Bears won six WPIAL championships, four PIAA titles and set a state-record 66-game winning streak from 2006-12.
“We won a lot of really good games, tough games, together,” DeMarco said.
For DeMarco, though, the contests have seemed even tougher when standing across the field from his old friend.
DeMarco, now in his second season as head coach at Elizabeth Forward, guided the Warriors to a dominant 31-3 victory against Bukowski’s Southmoreland team Friday night in a critical Class 3A Interstate Conference game at Warrior Stadium.
With the win, Elizabeth Forward (6-3, 4-0) kept its hopes alive for a conference championship. The Scotties (7-2, 3-1), meanwhile, saw a chance for their first conference crown since 1979 slip through their fingers.
“It’s bittersweet,” said DeMarco, who was also an assistant at Southmoreland before taking his current position. “I had two good years over there coaching those guys. Somebody had to win or lose. Tim and I both hate this game every year. It stinks that we have to play them because it’s good that someone is going to win, but we are always thinking, ‘Who the heck is going to lose?’
“We were just fortunate that it came out the way that it did tonight.”
The Warriors will face Mount Pleasant (5-4, 3-1) next Friday with a chance to win an outright Interstate Conference championship on the line.
“We are definitely not overlooking them,” DeMarco said. “Our motto from last year until now, and it will never change, is ‘We don’t fear anybody, but we respect everybody.’ We’re going in, it’s another game. We’re going to be ready to play football.”
EF standout running back Charlie Nigut was certainly ready to play for the second straight season against Southmoreland.
Nigut carried the football 29 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Warriors’ offensive attack. He scored four touchdowns a season ago when EF came back to defeat the Scotties, 31-24.
“Nothing really surprises me about Charlie,” DeMarco said. “The way that the kid works throughout the week, he’s ready to play on Friday night. There’s no doubt about it, the kid’s a Warrior. We’ve got to get him into school somewhere. He’s going to be a good football player at the next level.”
Quarterback Ryan Messina completed 12-of-16 passes for 185 yards for the Warriors, while also rushing for 46 yards on 11 carries.
As special as the offense was, though, EF’s defense was equal to the task.
The Warriors conceded just 195 yards of total offense and held sensational Southmoreland freshman quarterback Antony Smith to just 67 yards and an interception through the air.
EF has conceded opponents just 8.2 points per game during its current five-game winning streak. The Warriors will look to continue to lean on their defense if they are to win their first WPIAL title in school history and appear in the district title game for the first time since 2020.
“We did some things in our secondary to try to confuse them a little bit and not give them an open target from the get go,” DeMarco said. “It worked.”
WOODLAND HILLS TOPS FRANKLIN REGIONAL, CLAIMS CONFERENCE TITLE
Standout wide receiver Scoop Smith rushed for a 3-yard and 82-yard touchdown, while also catching a 19-yard scoring strike from Prince Tarrant, as Woodland Hills defeated Franklin Regional, 27-17, to lock up a Class 5A Big East Conference title. The Wolverines’ (7-2, 5-0) victory against the Panthers (6-3, 3-2) was their sixth straight after opening the season with two losses over the first three weeks. Woodland Hills won its first conference title since 2015. Franklin Regional running back Kyle Dupill carried the ball 30 times for 208 yards and one touchdown.
UPPER ST. CLAIR SURGES PAST MOON
Undefeated Upper St Clair outscored Moon by 21 points in the second half, while also adding 21 points over the game’s final two quarters to emerge with a comfortable 35-7 victory in a Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference contest. John Banbury rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns and Ethan Hellman threw for 109 yards and two scores to lead the Panthers (9-0, 4-0) offense. Andrew Cross connected with Nick Clemens for an 8-yard scoring strike to account for the Tigers’ (4-4, 1-3) lone touchdown.
LATROBE COMES BACK TO DEFEAT GATEWAY
John Wetzel threw four touchdown passes to lead Latrobe to a 28-27 comeback victory against Gateway in a Class 5A Big East Conference contest. Wetzel connected for a 38-yard touchdown pass to Andy Tatsch in the first half for the Wildcats (5-4, 2-3). He then found Eli Meeder for an 8-yard scoring strike, Tatsch for a 13-yard touchdown and Aaron Gaskey for a 33-yard touchdown pass against the Gators (3-6, 2-4) over the game’s final two quarters. Gateway quarterback Elvis Koutsakis threw for two touchdown passes, while Amari Gans rushed for a pair of scores.
SHORTHANDED WESTINGHOUSE WINS CITY LEAGUE PLAYOFF GAME
Westinghouse played with just 11 players, 10 on defense for most of the night, and still managed to advance past Perry Traditional Academy with a 68-0 victory in a City League semifinal contest at Cupples Stadium in the South Side. Westinghouse (7-1, 4-0) had to face Perry (1-6, 1-3) without a majority of its players who were suspended in the wake of a brawl with University Prep a week earlier. The Bulldogs will face Allderdice (5-4, 2-2) in the City League championship.
MONTOUR OUTLASTS ALIQUIPPA
Caden Halajcio rushed for a 2-yard touchdown and quarterback Trey Hopper followed with a 2-point conversion pass to Andrew Alston as Montour remained undefeated and handed Aliquippa its second loss of the season, 36-35, in a Class 4A Parkway Conference contest. Hopper threw for 203 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Spartans (8-0, 4-0), while the Quips (5-2, 3-1) offense was paced by 220 yards and a touchdown from Penn State recruit Tiqwai Hayes and 198 yards, two scores and two interceptions through the air from quarterback Marques Council Jr.
PENN HILLS CLIMBS PAST NORTH HILLS IN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
After dropping its first three games to open the season, Penn Hills has now won five of its past six with a 27-10 win against North Hills in a Class 5A Northeast Conference clash. Quarterback Jay’mere Ellis threw for 108 yards three touchdowns and an interception, while running back Naytel Mitchell added 101 yards and a score for the Penn Hills (5-4, 3-1), which outscored North Hills (7-2, 3-2) in the second half, 14-7.
SETON LASALLE DOMINATES NEIGHBORING RIVAL KEYSTONE OAKS
In what has been dubbed “The Battle of McNeilly Road,” Seton LaSalle scored 49 unanswered points to throttle its neighboring rival Keystone Oaks, 49-6, in a Class 2A Century Conference game. Rebels (8-0, 5-0) quarterback Michael Pastirik threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns and completed four passes for 116 yards and two scores to standout Khalil Taylor against the Eagles (4-4, 4-2). Logan King also rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries to help Seton LaSalle lock up its conference championship.
SOUTH PARK LOCKS UP CONFERENCE TITLE
Running back Eric Doerue carried the ball 17 times for 172 yards and three touchdowns as South Park used 13 fourth-quarter points to overwhelm Apollo-Ridge to the tune of a 34-10 victory. The Eagles (8-1, 5-0) knocked off Apollo-Ridge (0-8, 0-5) for its seventh straight victory. With the win, South Park stayed ahead of South Allegheny (8-1, 4-1) and Steel Valley (6-3, 4-1) in the conference standings.
AVONWORTH GROUNDS OUT VICTORY OVER NORTH CATHOLIC
Dimitri Velisaris rushed for two first-quarter touchdowns, as Avonworth surged to a 35-point halftime lead before emerging with a 48-28 victory against North Catholic. The Antelopes (7-2, 5-0) locked up the Class 3A Western Hills Conference title with the victory over the Trojans (3-6, 2-3), who got 261 yards and three scores through the air from Joey Felitsky.
CALIFORNIA RUSHES PAST BETH-CENTER
Lee Qualk carried the football 21 times for 257 yards and five touchdowns and Adin Keyes added four carries for 101 yards and two scores to lead California to a critical 56-14 victory against Beth-Center. With the win over Beth-Center (1-7, 1-5), California (7-2, 6-0) set up a showdown with Jefferson-Morgan next Friday with the Class 1A Tri-County South Conference championship up for grabs.
JEFFERSON-MORGAN ROUTS AVELLA
Jefferson-Morgan kept its undefeated record intact with a 54-20 rout of Tri-County South Conference foe Avella. Rockets (9-0, 6-0) quarterback Houston Guseman threw for 104 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles (3-6, 2-4).
PUP BITES
- Imani Christian remained undefeated with a 60-6 Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference victory against Burrell. Saints (9-0, 5-0) running back Gabe Jenkins had nine carries for 189 yards and three touchdowns against Burrell (2-7, 2-3), while quarterback Steve Vandiver threw for 212 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Wide receiver Dayshawn Burnett caught four passes for 96 yards and a score for Imani Christian.
- Thomas Jefferson running back Tyler Eber carried the ball 13 times for 152 yards and five touchdowns, while quarterback Luke Kosko added 192 yards and a score through the air, as the Jaguars overwhelmed Chartiers Valley, 49-7, in a Class 4A Big Six Conference contest. TJ improved to (9-0, 4-0) and the Colts fell to (3-4, 1-2).
- Penn State recruit Kemon Spell rushed for a pair of touchdowns, as Anthony Cromerdie and Javien Robinson scored two times apiece as well to lead McKeesport to a 54-0 win against Indiana. Tigers (5-4, 4-0) quarterback Brady Eastman threw for 113 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another score, to get the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference win against Indiana (1-8, 0-4).
- Peters Township quarterback Nolan DiLucia completed 8-of-11 passes for 192 yards and four touchdowns and wide receiver Nick McCullough made five catches for 109 yards and two scores to lead the Indians to a 49-8 Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference win against Baldwin. With the victory over the Highlanders (0-9, 0-4), the Indians (8-1, 3-0) have now won three straight with a showdown against Bethel Park looming next Friday.
- North Allegheny handed Pine-Richland its first loss of the season Friday night, as the Tigers scored 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points to knock off the rival Rams, 28-21, in a non-conference contest. NA (8-1, 4-1) got 200 yards and three touchdowns through the air from quarterback Brady Brinkley, who also rushed for 93 yards and a score, while James Donaldson caught six passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Maclane Miller rushed for 138 yards and two scores for Pine-Richland (7-1, 4-0). Quarterback Aaron “Oobi” Strader rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown for the Rams.
THREE STARS
*** — Evan Morris, Canon-McMillan. The running back carried the football 18 times for 213 yards and four touchdowns, as Canon-McMillan held on to defeat Norwin, 27-26. Morris scored on runs of 2 and 27 yards in a critical third-quarter surge as the Big Macs (3-6, 2-3) knocked off the Knights (2-7, 0-5).
** — Tanner Pfeuffer, Bethel Park. The Black Hawks quarterback rallied from a tough loss to rival Upper St. Clair a week earlier by completing 16-of-28 passes for 261 yards, four touchdowns and an interception to lead Bethel Park to a 35-14 Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference victory against South Fayette Friday night. The Black Hawks (8-1, 3-1) handed the Lions (6-3, 1-3) their third consecutive loss.
* — Armand Hill, West Mifflin. The Titans workhorse running back carried the football 30 times for 334 yards and four touchdowns to lead West Mifflin to a 48-21 Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference victory against Knoch. The Titans (4-5, 2-2) are now in third place in the conference with the victory over the Knights (3-5, 2-2).
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
SCOREBOARD
CLASS 6A
Quad-County Conference
Mt. Lebanon 42, Hempfield 20
Canon-McMillan 27, Norwin 26
Central Catholic 61, Seneca Valley 7
CLASS 5A
Allegheny Six Conference
Peters Township 49, Baldwin 8
Upper St. Clair 35, Moon 7
Bethel Park 35, South Fayette 14
Big East Conference
Latrobe 28, Gateway 27
Penn-Trafford 35, Armstrong 14
Woodland Hills 27, Franklin Regional 17
Northeast Conference
Shaler 35, Fox Chapel 19
Penn Hills 27, North Hills 10
CLASS 4A
Big Six Conference
Belle Vernon 49, Ringgold 7
Thomas Jefferson 49, Chartiers Valley 7
Trinity 38, Laurel Highlands 3
Greater Allegheny Conference
McKeesport 54, Indiana 0
West Mifflin 48, Knoch 21
Mars 35, Hampton 0
Parkway Conference
Montour 36, Aliquippa 35
Ambridge 22, New Castle 13
West Allegheny 55, Blackhawk 7
CLASS 3A
Allegheny 7 Conference
Freeport 42, East Allegheny 15
Imani Christian 60, Burrell 6
Deer Lakes 44, Valley 13
Interstate Conference
Mount Pleasant 31, Derry Area 14
Greensburg Salem 37, Yough 8
Elizabeth Forward 31, Southmoreland 3
Western Hills Conference
Central Valley 44, Hopewell 20
Avonworth 48, North Carolic 28
Beaver Area 51, Quaker Valley 19
CLASS 2A
Allegheny Conference
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 28, Shady Side Academy 8
South Park 34, Apollo-Ridge 10
Steel Valley 53, Ligonier Valley 7
Century Conference
Seton LaSalle 42, Keystone Oaks 6
Carlynton 28, Washington 27
Waynesburg Central 49, Charleroi 23
Midwestern Conference
Mohawk 48, Freedom 27
Riverside 31, Beaver Falls 0
Ellwood City 33, Union 6
Western Beaver 53, New Brighton 13
CLASS 1A
Big 7 Conference
Laurel 27, South Side Beaver 13
Rochester 38, Northgate 21
Neshannock 47, Summit Academy 6
Black Hills Conference
Cornell 46, Chartiers-Houston 14
Serra Catholic 33, Burgettstown 25
Eastern Conference
Leechburg 57, Brentwood 34
Jeannette 42, Springdale 0
Tri-County South Conference
California 56, Beth-Center 14
Jefferson-Morgan 54, Avella 20
Bentworth 54, Mapletown 12
Carmichaels 19, West Greene 6
Non-Conference
Albert Gallatin 48, Brownsville 6
Connellsville 27, Uniontown 6
Fort Cherry 42, Shenango 0
Highlands 47, McGuffey 23
North Allegheny 28, Pine-Richland 21
Plum at Kiski Area 15, Plum 14
South Allegheny 48, Sto-Rox 0
Wheeling C.C., W.Va. 49, Carrick 12
Wheeling Park, W.Va. 47, Butler 20
PLAYOFFS
City League semifinals
Westinghouse 68, Perry Traditional Academy 0
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.