Five Things we learned in Week 4
Each Monday we’ll look back at the highlights of the week that was in local high school football.
This week there was an upset in Monessen, an otherwise clean night for the unbeatens, a breakout night for Canon-Macs Bryce Collins and some other excellent nights for local running backs, and a close call for Waynesburg.
1. Monessen’s stunner
A couple of weeks ago Monessen got its 700th win, but No. 702 is probably the most significant one the Greyhounds have had in a long time.
Monessen defeated Fort Cherry, 14-12, in the Class A Black Hills Conference opener, sending shockwaves across the WPIAL.
Fort Cherry had won 37 consecutive regular season games prior to its trip to Monessen Friday night. The Rangers’ last loss in the regular season was a 60-7 defeat to Bishop Canevin on Sept. 30, 2022.
The Greyhounds’ defense shined all night and had one last stand late. Fort Cherry drove into Monessen territory, but the Greyhounds stopped the Rangers on a fourth-down play with less than 40 seconds remaining.
Monessen got both of its touchdowns in the first half and led 14-6 at the break.
Jay’Veon Jeffries figured in on both scores. He caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kaier Payne and returned a kickoff 73 yards for another score.
The Greyhounds (1-0, 4-0) have proven they belong and they’ll have another test against another undefeated team when they host Burgettstown Friday.
2. Unbeatens roll
Along with Monessen, four other unbeatens, Burgettstown, Washington, Beth-Center and South Fayette all rolled to wins.
• Burgettstown posted its third shutout in a row by defeating Sto-Rox, 28-0, to open Black Hills Conference play. The Blue Devils are unbeaten after winning only one game each of the last two years, and are a convincing 4-0.
They’ve outscored their opponents 139-7 and have forced plenty of turnovers, including four against Sto-Rox.
Next week’s Burgettstown/Monessen clash should be a fun one.
• Washington put up six straight touchdowns en route to a 42-14 triumph over Brentwood. Jamarie Walker and Ameer Nelson scored three touchdowns each for the Prexies, who continue to put up big numbers on offense.
Next week they’ll host Clairton in a nonconference clash of Class A elites.
• Beth-Center rolled to a 61-14 win at Avella. Defensive lineman Brody Bebout provided one of the highlights of the year at the end of the first half by doing his best TJ Watt impersonation. Bebout tipped a ball at the line of scrimmage and snatched it out of the air before running to the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown. If you haven’t seen it, I suggest finding the video.
• South Fayette blanked a wounded Trinity team, 21-0, to continue an impressive start. It looks like the Lions, behind standout running back Aayden Wright and quarterback Braedon Plasko, are a favorite to win Class 4A.
3. Collins sparks C-M
Coming off two straight losses, Canon-McMillan needed a spark and Bryce Collins provided it.
Collins scored rushed for 141 yards and four touchdowns as the featured running back in the Big Macs’ 38-8 drubbing of Seneca Valley.
It was a performance that helped the Big Macs start off 1-0 in Class 6A play.
Collins won a national junior wrestling title in Fargo, N.D. over the summer and is showing that he has the strength to tote the rock as well.
4. A good night for RBs
Carson Vanata did everything he could for Mapletown in a loss to West Greene. He returned two kicks for touchdowns and had 226 yards rushing, which led all local players.
Vanata was one of many to eclipse 100 yards.
Three teams, Washington West Green and McGuffey, had a pair go past the century mark. Walker had 168 yards and Nelson finished with 148 for the Prexies. Caleb Simons had 152 yards and Dennis Furmanek had 101 for the Highlanders. Bret Scott (153) finished one yard ahead of his quarterback Joel Rizor, who had 152.
Other 100-yard rushers in Week 4 were: Beth-Center’s Enzo Brown (159), Collins (145), Wright (137), Chartiers-Houston’s Cameron Shaw (105), Peters Township’s Jaden Blair (100) and California’s Alan Dennis (100).
5. Waynesburg proves itself
In the end, Waynesburg left Elizabeth Forward with a 38-33 loss Friday, but it gained a lot of respect.
The game was a measuring stick for the Raiders, who entered Friday 3-0. They showed they can compete with one of the better teams in Class 3A after making the jump from Class 2A. Now they’ll look to rebound when they host Mount Pleasant on Friday.
Staff writer Jerin Steele can be reached at jsteele@observer-reporter.com