Excitement grows as Westinghouse Academy heads to state championship

For the first time in over two decades, a City League football team is heading to the state finals.Westinghouse Academy (14-0) is going to Mechanicsburg for the PIAA championship game against Southern Columbia (12-3). Kickoff at the Cumberland Valley High School stadium is set for 1 p.m. Friday.The Bulldogs opened lots of eyes with a convincing 26-7 victory over WPIAL Class 2A champion Steel Valley in the semifinals.But some of their star players tell us they credit the leadership of head coach Donta Green for his year-round commitment to the players and their families that's making a difference in many ways."He teaches us about life on and off the football field," said running back and safety Khalil Taylor. "He cares about us, more than just the football field, like us as players. He cares about our life outside of football, after football. He helps us prepare for the real world."They say Green has changed the culture of the Westinghouse football program by holding all players accountable, not only for their assignments on the gridiron, but more importantly, their assignments in the classroom."If they cuss, it's 25 pushups. If they use hood slang or terminology, it's 25 pushups," Green said. "They can't 'yeah, nah' me. It's just a 'no.' When they text me or call me, it's 'good afternoon,' 'good evening,' 'good morning, coach.'"Green's Bulldogs have had three straight unbeaten regular seasons, but they have never traveled this far in the playoffs."This group really bought into it, and this is the only style of high school football these kids know," the coach said.These young men also know they represent more than their school. Green says their success uplifts Pittsburgh's Homewood community."We are touching the deepest, darkest corners of our communities, and we're giving people who haven't had a reason to smile for a long time to be prideful and proud of what we are doing for our community," he said."People talk about community restoration. This is such a special moment and special time for our community right now that I think some of the work we are doing is community restoration."A Westinghouse alum, Green empowers the unemployable to become employed as executive director of the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh.Does he see any parallels between that job and coaching football?"Absolutely," Green said. "I tell people all the time, even with coaching, we are social workers first. We just know a little bit about football."

PITTSBURGH —

For the first time in over two decades, a City League football team is heading to the state finals.

Westinghouse Academy (14-0) is going to Mechanicsburg for the PIAA championship game against Southern Columbia (12-3). Kickoff at the Cumberland Valley High School stadium is set for 1 p.m. Friday.

The Bulldogs opened lots of eyes with a convincing 26-7 victory over WPIAL Class 2A champion Steel Valley in the semifinals.

But some of their star players tell us they credit the leadership of head coach Donta Green for his year-round commitment to the players and their families that's making a difference in many ways.

"He teaches us about life on and off the football field," said running back and safety Khalil Taylor. "He cares about us, more than just the football field, like us as players. He cares about our life outside of football, after football. He helps us prepare for the real world."

They say Green has changed the culture of the Westinghouse football program by holding all players accountable, not only for their assignments on the gridiron, but more importantly, their assignments in the classroom.

"If they cuss, it's 25 pushups. If they use hood slang or terminology, it's 25 pushups," Green said. "They can't 'yeah, nah' me. It's just a 'no.' When they text me or call me, it's 'good afternoon,' 'good evening,' 'good morning, coach.'"

Green's Bulldogs have had three straight unbeaten regular seasons, but they have never traveled this far in the playoffs.

"This group really bought into it, and this is the only style of high school football these kids know," the coach said.

These young men also know they represent more than their school. Green says their success uplifts Pittsburgh's Homewood community.

"We are touching the deepest, darkest corners of our communities, and we're giving people who haven't had a reason to smile for a long time to be prideful and proud of what we are doing for our community," he said.

"People talk about community restoration. This is such a special moment and special time for our community right now that I think some of the work we are doing is community restoration."

A Westinghouse alum, Green empowers the unemployable to become employed as executive director of the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh.

Does he see any parallels between that job and coaching football?

"Absolutely," Green said. "I tell people all the time, even with coaching, we are social workers first. We just know a little bit about football."

Excitement grows as Westinghouse Academy heads to state championship

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