Greensburg Salem has 1,001 reasons to be proud of its football program.

A week ago, Greensburg Salem became only the second existing school in the WPIAL to play 1,000 games. The Golden Lions lost that one at Hempfield.

No. 1,001 last night went better. The Lions surged to a 19-0 lead through three quarters, then held on for a 19-14 victory at Mount Pleasant in a non-conference matchup.

Steven Fagert threw for two touchdowns and intercepted two Mount Pleasant passes to lead the Golden Lions (1-1).

This was a bounce-back triumph for a team that has one of the more distinguished football pedigrees in the region.

Of longtime WPIAL schools that remain open, only New Castle (1,089) and Greensburg Salem have reached the 1,000 mark in games played. Those two also are 1-2 in victories in the WPIAL, New Castle's 668 ahead of Greensburg Salem's 644.

Both certainly are venerable programs. New Castle started playing in 1892, the Lions in 1894 -- at Offutt Field in downtown Greensburg, still their home field.

Greensburg was Underwood High School then, and did not become Greensburg Salem until a merger in the early 1960s.

Whatever the name, the Lions have won just one WPIAL championship, in 1927. But they have the second- and third-longest unbeaten streaks in WPIAL history, 44 and 38 games, in the first half of the 20th century. Braddock had a record 56-game run in the 1950s.

Greensburg Salem started fast last night, opening a 12-0 advantage in the first quarter. Fagert threw 17 yards to Adam Short, then 4 yards to Ryan Wolfe for touchdowns.

That score held up until the third quarter, when Matt Adams' 13-yard run made it 19-0.

Mount Pleasant (1-1) rallied in the fourth quarter with Mike Sawlsville scoring on runs of 18 and 2 yards. He completed 10 of 20 passes for 130 yards and gained 125 on 12 carries.

The Lions will celebrate their longevity milestone Friday when they open their home schedule, and Class AAA Keystone Conference schedule. Ceremonies are planned at Offutt Field, and living former Greensburg Salem coaches are expected to attend.