Five things we learned in the 1st round
Each Monday we’ll look back at the highlights of the week that was in local high school football.
This week saw a first for Trinity, Monessen end its drought, two wins for the Tri-County South and some rematches are on the horizon.
1. Trinity’s triumph
It was the second year in a row that Trinity hosted a playoff game after going nearly four decades without one and this time there was a celebration at Hiller Field after the first home postseason win in school history.
A year ago, Trinity suffered heartbreak in a loss in the final minute to Aliquippa, but on Friday it was all Hillers against Latrobe in a 21-0 win.
There was some talk during the week about how the Wildcats should’ve been the one hosting the playoff game, because they had a better record and Trinity was a wild card.
Trinity shut that down with its play on the field.
The Hillers forced two turnovers and converted them into touchdowns, including a 70-yard fumble return by Teagen Barr.
Now the Hillers will look to shock the WPIAL when they travel to play No. 1 Pine-Richland in the quarterfinals.
2. Monessen ends drought
In a season where it picked up its 700th win, Monessen added another milestone by winning its first postseason game in 13 years.
The Greyhounds took down Jeannette, 6-0, with the only touchdown coming on a long 45-yard pass from Kaier Payne to Kevin Kolbeck.
It had been so long since the Greyhounds had won a playoff game the last win came against a team that’s no longer in the WPIAL. They beat West Shamokin, which is now in District 6, in 2013.
It was also the first playoff win for Wade Brown as Monessen’s coach and they got it done with defense by blanking Jeannette.
The Greyhounds play Shenango at Ambridge in the quarterfinals.
3. Two for the TCS
With California and Beth-Center winning on Friday it was the first time since 2017 that two teams from the Tri-County South secured a playoff victory in the same season.
The last time it happened Carmichaels beat Western Beaver and California took down Bishop Canevin.
Beth-Center was dominant against Burgettstown on Friday racking up over 300 yards rushing in a 34-8 victory, its first in the playoffs since 1990. The Bulldogs had a bunch of different players find the end zone. Cyler Myers, DeSean Whipkey, Enzo Brown and Homer Headlee had one rushing touchdown apiece and Chase Bebout threw a TD pass to Daniel Duncan.
It was a nice return to the playoffs for a Beth-Center team that hadn’t been there since 2016.
California had to rally from a 7-0 halftime deficit against Northgate to win 16-7.
Alan Dennis had a touchdown run and Brandon Meier threw one to Chase Shemansky.
The last time a Tri-County South team made the semifinals was West Greene in 2019, but that was an 8-team bracket. The last time it happened in a 16-team bracket was in 2017 when California made it.
The Trojans play No. 3 Clairton at Southmoreland in the quarterfinals.
4. Wash High vs. Beth-Center
Beth-Center will meet Wash High in an All-Washington County Class A quarterfinal, which will be played at Charleroi.
The Prexies took care of another Tri-County South team, Frazier, with a 58-8 trouncing in the first round. Washington scored on the first play from scrimmage on a pass from Travon Moye to Ameer Nelson and didn’t look back.
There was a time when Beth-Center and Wash High were conference rivals. Washington beat the Bulldogs 56-14 in 2019 and Beth-Center won 20-0 in 2017.
The two teams will add another chapter to their history on Friday.
5. Rematches and sites
No. 4 Fort Cherry cruised to a 50-6 win over No. 13 Avella in Class A, and No. 4 Belle Vernon routed No 13. Shady Side Academy 35-8 in Class 3A, which set up rematches for both teams.
The Leopards’ play Elizabeth Forward in the quarterfinals after an entertaining Interstate Conference title game in Week 10. Belle Vernon won 29-28 after trailing by two touchdowns with two minutes remaining. The rematch will be at West Mifflin.
Fort Cherry plays Laurel for the third time in the last two years. The Rangers beat the Spartans in the regular season, but Laurel won last year’s WPIAL semifinal. This year’s quarterfinal is at Beaver.
The sites are set for all matchups.
South Fayette meets New Castle in a Class 4A semifinal at Central Valley and Canon-McMillan hosts North Allegheny in a Class 6A semifinal.
Staff writer Jerin Steele can be reached at jsteele@observer-reporter.com