MONESSEN -- Derrick Dixon didn't waste any time making his presence felt for Monessen High's football team.
Playing his first game for the Greyhounds Saturday at Connellsville, Dixon ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns in leading Monessen to a 33-15 victory over Geibel.
With the showing against the Gators, Dixon is The Valley Independent's Player of the Week.
Dixon's 30-yard scoring run put Monessen ahead to stay, 13-7, in the second quarter, and he iced the win with an 89-yard run in the fourth quarter to up the lead to 25-7.
"It was a fun game for me," said Dixon, who had to carry the rushing load with the team's top two runners -- Chris Askey and Dan Towler -- sitting out the contest for disciplinary reasons.
Dixon's 2005 debut didn't surprise Monessen coach Andy Pacak.
"He's an impact player," Pacak said. "He did a nice job on offense ,but made quite a few tackles on defense. I think he's a Division I defender.
A 6-0, 200-pound junior, Dixon is playing linebacker after being at end last season.
Honorable mention:
- Monessen's Joe Heath, who threw for 123 yards against the Gators.
- The Greyhounds' Jared Lawson, who caught touchdown passes of 54 and 38 yards.
- Charleroi's Alex Luckasevic, who gained 103 yards on five carries including a 74-yard touchdown in the Cougars' 32-13 win over Fort Cherry.
- The Cougars' Jermaine Thurston, who ran for 93 yards and a touchdown and returned a pass 69 yards for another score.
n Yough's Justin Shaffer, who completed 10 of 19 passes for 167 yards in the 31-0 romp over Mt. Pleasant.
- The Cougars' Tom Burkett, who scored touchdowns on a 65-yard punt return and 10 -yard pass and intercepted three passes.
- Bentworth's Joe Mucho, who ran for 121 yards in a 41-14 win over Burgettstown and scored three TDs including a 95-yarder with the opening kickoff.
n The Bearcats' Travis Harff, who completed eight of 13 passes for 171 yards and ran for two scores including a 52-yarder.
- Elizabeth Forward's Randy Santina, who completed 13 of 26 passes for 241 yards in the Warriors' 14-6 loss to Peters Town-ship.
- California's J.D. Hawk, who caught a touchdown pass and threw one in the Trojans' 41-7 victory over Frazier.
