Hounds stay perfect by beating Serra Catholic

TyVaughn Kershaw racked up 191 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns.

Monessen improved to 4-0 Friday by rallying for a 20-14 win over Serra Catholic.

The Greyhounds leaned on the powerful running of their captain, running back TyVaughn Kershaw, who racked up 191 rushing yards on 22 carries while finding the end zone twice.

Kershaw came into the night as one of the leading rushers in the WPIAL with 16 rushing touchdowns in just three games.

“He’s one of our hardest workers for sure,” Brown said. “He’s worked his way into the captain position, and he’s a very talented kid. We tend to lean on him sometimes, but he always finds a way to deliver.”

Monessen had to overcome a late push by the Eagles, who looked like they had this matchup circled on their calendars.

“Don’t let their record fool you, this is a good team we’re talking about,” Brown said. “They’re a team that’s just looking to put it all together, and we don’t want to be the ones they figure it out on. Our guys just have to show up ready to play, and do what we do. I have a lot of respect for Coach (Jose) Regus and those guys.”

The Greyhounds struck first, securing an early 6-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Dennis Hawkins to Rodney Johnson.

Serra responded with a passing touchdown of its own just under three minutes before halftime.

Kershaw’s first touchdown came shortly after, as he broke free for a 37-yard run that set up a first-andgoal opportunity. He capped off the drive with a short touchdown run, giving Monessen a 12-7 lead with just over a minute remaining in the first half.

After falling behind early, Serra’s offense found a spark in De’reon Washington, who quickly answered Kershaw’s touchdown with a 62yard scoring reception two plays later, giving them a 14-12 lead.

Washington was a dynamic playmaker throughout the night, accounting for both of Serra Catholic’s touchdowns in spectacular fashion. He made his presence felt both on the ground and through the air, racking up 44 rushing yards and 82 receiving yards. His versatility extended to the defensive side as well, where he secured a crucial interception that kept Serra Catholic within striking distance.

The Eagles’ Brady Vrcic also had a strong game, tallying 84 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Monessen was able to score the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter after recovering a fumble on the Eagles’ side of the field, setting them up perfectly for the touchdown and two-point conversion to make the score 20-14.

“It’s still early in the season, but this is the time of year when every game matters a little more,” Brown said. “It’s a long season, but we want to make sure we’re playing our best football as we move into section play and continue to improve every week.”

Regus remained optimistic despite the loss, praising his team’s resilience and effort. The Eagles, now 0-4, showed they could compete, and the game was much closer than their earlier defeats.

“This group is working hard, and I believe we’re getting better each week,” he said. “We just need to put it all together.”