After University Prep’s narrow victory against the mighty Westinghouse Bulldogs two weeks earlier, the Wildcats heard all the noise Saturday going into the highly anticipated rematch between the teams for the 2025 City League title.
It was just a tuneup game. It wasn’t the one that really mattered. It’ll be a different story the second time around.
Indeed, it did turn out to be a much different story Saturday at Cupples Stadium on the South Side — a much more one-sided beatdown in University Prep’s favor.
By the time the final horn sounded, it was the Wildcats (7-2) celebrating a 26-0 victory over Westinghouse (6-4), snapping the Bulldogs’ streak of three consecutive City League titles while capturing their first championship since 2016. Players dumped Gatorade on longtime coach Lou Berry after the game’s final play, with Berry now owning four City League titles in his 15-year tenure.
“I didn’t think it would take nine years, but I never take anything for granted,” Berry said. “I just love working with youth. I love working with our coaching staff. So it’s at least fun to go to work. As a result of what we preach, with hard work, it pays off if you truly respect the process.”
Sophomore quarterback Dai’Mere Adair played a stellar first half to help put the game out of reach, tossing two touchdowns to electric senior wideout Zion Hauser. Adair finished with 10 completions in 21 attempts for 209 yards, while Hauser hauled in five receptions for 104 yards.
“We try to spread the ball around, because we know if we just target one person, they’re going to double them or triple-team them,” Hauser said. “So my goal was to get my scores out of the way and provide ways for my other teammates to get the ball.”
Not to be outdone, fellow senior wide receiver Micah Saunders came out of the locker room like a man on a mission, hauling in a highlight-reel 60-yard reception to provide a big spark on offense for the Wildcats in the third quarter. Saunders would finish with three catches for a team-high 109 yards.
“I needed my guys to step up today,” Berry said. “They complement each other.”
All afternoon, University Prep’s defense had the game in complete control, with Westinghouse quarterback Zahir Ismaeli desperately trying to make plays happen with his arm and legs, but to no avail. Junior running back Me’Jaun Stampber then helped put the game away with two fourth-quarter touchdown runs for the Wildcats.
“That’s what this program was built on,” Berry said. “Defense.”
A dynasty the likes of which the City League hadn’t seen since Perry’s “Blue Steel” days, the Bulldogs were seeking their fourth consecutive championship and seventh in the past eight seasons. After the game, Westinghouse coach Donta Green credited his longtime adversary for outwitting him and his staff for the second time in the past three weeks, along with Berry’s players for doing the same on the field.
“I think their coach did a better job preparing their guys,” Green said. “They had an answer for everything that we had. We’ve got to coach better, we’ve got to play better, and it starts with me.”
Now, University Prep will move on to a PIAA Class 4A sub-regional, while the Bulldogs still will get a chance to keep their season alive by advancing through the PIAA Class 1A sub-regional tournament.
And remember, it was only two years ago that Westinghouse made it to the state final in back-to-back seasons. Who’s to say University Prep can’t make some noise in the PIAA Class 4A bracket after a performance like this?
“We had some trials and tribulations this year, but we were able to overcome them,” Berry said. “We’ve been in battles and wars for the past three or four years. … We work hard every year.”
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
