A-K Valley football players to watch in 2023 Week 1

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 | 7:10 PM

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Player of the week

Luke Bombalski

Highlands, Sr., RB/LB

After missing the final four games last season, Bombalski wanted to make a statement at Ambridge last Friday that he was back and healthy. He got Highlands’ scoring started with a 2-yard run in the first quarter and added a pair of TD runs — 38 and 5 yards — in a 26-point third quarter of their 45-8 victory. Bombalski finished with 10 carries for 86 yards as part of Highlands’ 281 total yards of rushing offense. On defense, he finished with a team-high 16 tackles, including four sacks.

Players to watch

Codi Mullen

Knoch, Jr., QB/DB

Hampton had shut out the Knights in each of the past three seasons, but Knoch tallied 45 points in Week Zero, and Mullen directed a high-powered offense with 370 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Knights to the win. Now, Mullen hopes to follow it up against Indiana on Friday and return the favor from last year’s 32-31, three-overtime loss to the Indians.

Nick Odom

Plum, Jr., RB/DE

Odom got his 2023 season off to a rolling start Friday at Kiski Area. The featured back tallied 16 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown in the 28-18 victory. In two games against Kiski Area, Odom has rushed for a combined 354 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. Odom hopes to keep up his early season success Friday against Fox Chapel.

Brady Sullivan

Freeport, Sr., WR/DB

Sullivan contributed to both Yellowjackets touchdowns in last week’s 28-14 loss. He picked off a pass and returned it for six and also caught a touchdown pass. The two-way standout added to the three receiving touchdowns he tallied last year. Sullivan hopes for another strong performance at home Friday as Freeport hopes to bounce back against South Allegheny.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Freeport, Highlands, Knoch, Plum