Farrell and Seton LaSalle Set For Battle In AA Semfinal
Tagged under: District 10, District 7, Game Photos-Videos, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs
Shane Lux | November 28, 2025
Where: Helling Stadium (Ellwood City)
When: November 29th, 1 pm
About the Seton LaSalle Rebels
Head Coach: Tim Storino
Record: 12-1
PIAA Record: 2-3
Summary
Seton LaSalle has been through some turmoil in 2025, much of it before the season. Anthony Smith, a Division 1 prospect, had transferred from Southmoreland High School. But the WPIAL and PIAA ruled him ineligible, so he transferred to Fairmont Senior in West Virginia, where he threw for over 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. The Rebels also lost key players, including Khalil Taylor and Tre Littlejohn, to transfers. Despite this, Tim Storino has kept Seton LaSalle together and continued to build the program after his initial season saw them go 0-10 in 2022. After dropping their opening game of the season at the hands of North Catholic (AAA school), the Rebels have rattled off 12 consecutive victories. Despite their successes, it was a hard-fought road through the postseason, following a 42-7 rout of Mohawk to begin the WPIAL playoffs, the Rebels then had a pair of one-score wins over Washington and Steel Valley, where they had to rally from a 14-0 second-half deficit to win their first WPIAL title since 2004. They had a pair of rushers, Kymarr Freeman (129) and quarterback Kia Miller (100), each rushing for at least 100 yards in their WPIAL final victory over the Ironman. Miller has rushed for 1.736 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Rebels. Seton LaSalle has advanced to the state final twice before. The first came in 1990, when they dropped a 43-7 contest to Bethlehem Catholic in the AAA final. Their most recent trip came in 2002, when they were topped by Mount Carmel 18-13. The Rebels won their two semifinal games over Perry, 10-6 in 1990, and 42-18 over Forest Hills in 2002.
About the Farrell Steelers
Head Coach: Anthony Pegues
Record: 12-2
PIAA Record: 26-11
Summary
Unlike Seton LaSalle, Farrell has had little trouble in the postseason as the Steelers breezed through the District 10 playoffs before easily dispatching District 9 champion Karns City by the mercy rule and cruising to an 18-point win over District 6 champion Richland. The Steelers have averaged over 47 points per game in the playoffs while surrendering only 41 points (six touchdowns), two of which came in garbage time against their junior varsity. Nebraska commit Juelz Johnson continues to terrorize opposing defenses as he ripped off 194 yards and Richland, scoring five touchdowns and becoming the school’s all-time touchdown scoring leader. Johnson scored four rushing touchdowns and caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Pegues. He will almost certainly go over 2,000 yards on the season, needing 27 to get there. Aaron Pegues continues his strong season, as the junior quarterback has completed 70% of his passes for 1,776 yards and a 19-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Johnson has 32 rushing touchdowns. Like the Rebels, the Steelers were uncertain about their transfer, as District 10 initially ruled Jadon King-Vincent ineligible for the postseason but changed their ruling before the playoffs began. King-Vincent has 265 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while returning three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns this season, including one in the playoffs thus far. Farrell has advanced to six state finals, where they sport a 4-2 record—winning consecutive titles in ’95, ’96, and ’18, ’19. The Steelers lost in the final in 1990 and 2015. It’s their first semifinal appearance since 2021, when they were defeated by Serra Catholic 27-18.
Notes
Courtesy of Ryan Briggs
Farrell owns an 11-7 record at Ellwood City. The Steelers first played at Ellwood City 104 years ago, dropping a 37-0 decision on October 8, 1921. Farrell left District 10 for District 7 in 1944, and the Steelers’ first District 7 game took place at Ellwood City. Ellwood City defeated Farrell, 39-7, September 15, 1944.
Seton La Salle is 3-1-1 all-time against Mercer County teams. Seton La Salle first faced a Mercer County team on September 28, 1968, when the team earned a 40-31 win at Kennedy Christian. Kennedy’s head coach that year? Anthony Paulekas – the same man for whom Farrell’s home field is named.
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