MEYERSDALE, Pa. – Twelve Meyersdale Area senior football players huddled around coach Ryan Donaldson moments after the Red Raiders’ season ended Friday night in the PIAA Class 1A playoffs.
The lights unexpectedly had gone out moments after District 8 powerhouse Westinghouse closed a 44-0 victory over host Meyersdale, but the darkness didn’t diminish the impact of a memorable season by the District 5-1A champions.
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WTAJ | Westinghouse at Meyersdale
“That’s one of the hardest things as a coach, as a player, that last game that you lose, it gets tough from there,” Donaldson said of his 11-2 team. “That doesn’t define who they are.
“This group of seniors – the development, the work they put in, the days they didn’t want to show up and still did it – they left their mark here in 2025 as champions,” Donaldson said.
“They displayed exactly what has to happen for the underclassmen (to emulate) moving forward.”
PHOTO GALLERY | Westinghouse vs. Meyersdale | Football
On this night, Westinghouse (7-4) simply had too much.
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As Donaldson put it, “Speed. Physicality. They played mistake-free football, like we knew we had to.”
Playing for the first time since a 26-0 loss to University Prep in the Oct. 25 Pittsburgh City League title game, the Bulldogs will now face District 6-1A champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy.
The Marauders were a 62-6 winner over Juniata Valley Friday at Mansion Park.
That PIAA quarterfinal will be played either Nov. 21 or 22.
Westinghouse intercepted four Meyersdale passes – three by senior DeJheerit Mellix, who returned one of those 80 yards for a touchdown.
Bulldogs junior Jordan Reid returned two punts to the end zone – one from 57 yards and another from 61.
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Junior playmaker K’Shawn Hawkins had a 53-yard TD jaunt, as big plays sparked the Bulldogs, who built a 22-0 first-quarter advantage and led 28-0 at the half.
Westinghouse vs. Meyersdale | Football
Meyersdale kick-returner Caden Snyder looks for room to run as Westinghouse defenders move in for the tackle during the third quarter at Meyersdale Stadium on Friday, November 14, 2025.
“That was our focus all week, really all year, to take advantage of opportunities and I think our guys did a really good job, especially early on,” Bulldogs coach Donta Green said.
Meyersdale struggled to get its offense going against the physical and quick pressure Westinghouse’s line delivered.
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The defensive backfield made its share of stops or breakups, too.
The Red Raiders netted minus-2 rushing yards on 28 carries. Senior quarterback Lance Jones completed 8 of 19 passes for 80 yards.
“The defense played big,” Green said. “We stressed points off of turnovers and making people pay when they turn the ball over. Our guys and our coaches did a really good job of preparing for today, and our guys did a good job executing.”
Reid returned a Meyersdale punt 57 yards to the end zone before the Bulldogs offense even had a chance to take the field.
On the ensuing Meyersdale drive, Mellix intercepted a pass, and Westinghouse needed only three plays to cash in, as Hawkins ran 53 yards for a touchdown. He added the conversion run to set a 14-0 score with 5:21 left in the first quarter.
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Westinghouse vs. Meyersdale | Football
Westinghouse quarterback Zahir Ishmail (left) tries to avoid a tackle by Meyersdale linebacker Caleb Sines during the third quarter at Meyersdale Stadium on Friday, November 14, 2025.
The Red Raiders drove 48 yards to the Bulldogs 25-yard line, but Mellix made an acrobatic play, intercepting a deflected pass that initially bounced off his hands and in front of him. Melix ran 80 yards for a pick-six.
Dameon Hill caught the conversion pass to make it 22-0 with 1:41 remaining in the opening quarter.
Hill ran 34 yards to set up quarterback Omar Pack’s 15-yard scoring run 5:47 before halftime.
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“You’re up against speed and physicality when you play Westinghouse,” Donaldson said. “We knew that going into it. As far as what was displayed here on this field for 48 minutes, you got exactly that.”
The Bulldogs quickly put a running clock into motion in the third quarter.
Hill ran 5 yards for a TD after Reid’s 54-yard run and a 20-yard dash by Hawkins. Pack ran in the conversion to make it 36-0 1:30 into the third quarter.
After a Meyersdale possession stalled, Reid returned the ball 61 yards for his second punt-return touchdown. Zahir Ishmail’s conversion run made it 44-0.
“The last three weeks, we spent a lot of time on special teams because I felt that was an area we could have the most improvement,” Green said. “We stressed everyone doing their own job, and big plays will come out of that.”
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The starting quarterback this season, Ishmail didn’t take a snap in the first half, but in the second half, the sophomore completed 6 of 8 passes for 101 yards and an interception by Meyersdale’s Caleb Sines.
Green didn’t detail why his quarterback didn’t play until the second half.
“He’s developing,” Green said.
“We’ve got to work through some things. I’ll say that, but he’s our guy.”
The Bulldogs unofficially had 14 penalties for 140 yards, including six 15-yard infractions.
“Honestly, I don’t know at this point,” Green said. “Usually, I say we’ll go back to the drawing board and figure it out. I don’t know. We’ll figure it out.”
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Meyersdale took the first steps to prepare for 2026 in the seniors huddle, which was observed by the underclassemen.
“I could not be any more prouder of my guys to battle to the very end,” Donaldson said.
“They could have gave up.
“That’s just who they are. That’s the football players in them. That’s the kids that they are. Super-proud about them.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
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