Hempfield’s strong second half lifts them over Trinity
Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn
Nathan Jones | September 12, 2026
The Hempfield Area Spartans hosted the Trinity Hillers for a non-conference matchup. Throughout the first half of the game, it looked like it would be a tight one. After thirty minutes of play, the Spartans were leading 14-7, but a strong second half found Hempfield take a commanding win by the score of 44-20. Trinity who was riddled with injuries, was unable to fight through the troubles and they took their first loss of the season. After two tough losses the Spartans grab their first win of the season.
Hempfield received the kickoff from the Hillers and returned it to their own thirty-two. The first drive found the Spartans run the ball many times and with 7:41 on the clock, quarterback Carden Lippman took the ball into the endzone for a nine-yard touchdown run. The following drive by the Hillers was a short one. Two runs by the running back and quarterback got them a first down, but the next three plays failed to gain ten yards. The Spartans then began their next drive. The nine-play drive ended on a turnover on downs. On fourth down, the Hillers’ Teagan Barr tackled Lippman one yard shy of the first down. This set up Trinity at their own twenty.
The Hillers next drive wound down the rest of the first quarter with three rushes and an unnecessary roughness penalty by the Spartans. The Hillers then continued on their first scoring drive of the game. From twenty-six yards out, Hillers QB Owen Samogala found wide receiver Braden Berdar, who fought his way into the endzone. After a successful extra point, the game was once again in a tie. The next three plays by Hempfield found them in another fourth down situation. This time the Spartans settled for a punt. Trinity started on the twenty-two yard line and gained ten yards before a sack, and then an interception caught by Jake Kosinski. This pick was crucial for Hempfield as it spurred them on to a quick fifteen-yard scoring drive that found Andrew Bentz receiving a Lippman pass. On the Hillers next drive, a key piece was missing. Samogala was out of the game with a concussion. This injury forced Trinity to use their backup quarterbacks. Freshman Brady Layhue and Junior Jake Schreyer both threw incomplete passes on the next drive and the Hillers were once again forced to punt. The Spartans then attempted to score before half but a pass ruled incomplete in the endzone took the game to half.
Trinity came out in the second half with the freshman leading the way. A twelve yard pass and a run by Owen Gardner found the Hillers at the 50. Layhue found Chase Kostelnik in the middle of the field and the receiver took off down the field before getting tackled just in front of the goal line. Gardner then took it in on the next play and the game was once again knotted up. A back and forth drive by the Spartans filled with penalties, chunk yardage, and a sack by the Hillers defense found Hempfield at the Trinity twelve-yard line. Eian Yancec then came up big for the Hillers with a huge interception near the goal line. His short return began THS at the twenty once again. The ensuing drive by the Hillers was another unsuccessful one and a run for no gain on fourth down gave possession back to Hempfield. On the very next play, Lippman found the speedy Deron Hunter for a touchdown.
Trinity once again was unable to sustain any significant offense and after a three and out, a high snap went over the punters head for a Hempfield safety. The Spartans started their next drive in Hiller territory after a long return by Bentz. One play was all Lippman and Hunter needed to connect on another long touchdown. After yet another Trinity three and out, the third quarter was over. The score with fifteen minutes left was 30-14 in favor of the home team. A wobbly punt found the Spartans at the Hiller twenty-five yard line. Hempfield then started on their fifth touchdown drive of the game.
Trinity continued on a rotation of quarterbacks for the next drive and after a six-yard run by Gardner, both backups threw an incompletion. Layhue was sacked on the fourth down play and Hempfield took over at the twenty-five. Once again, a singular play was all Hempfield needed. This time Lippman used his legs to power into the endzone with 8:16 showing on the clock. On the first play of the Trinity’s next drive, Tyler Welsh had a thirty-one yard rush to put the Hillers in Spartan territory. That was all of the first downs the Hillers would get on that drive, and they once again turned the ball over on downs. Hempfield put their backups into the game and the Trinity defense forced a three and out.
A combination of Layhue and Schreyer passes put the Hillers into a good position, and with twenty-six seconds left, Layhue threw a touchdown pass to receiver Chase Rizor. A failed two point conversion by the Hillers made the score 44-20. A quick kneel by the Spartans meant that the game was over. The home team took the win by a final of 44-20.
Hempfield (1-2) will face North Allegheny in a road contest next Friday, and Trinity (2-1) will host the South Fayette Lions.
