WPIAL Friday Night HighLights for Week Two

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, September 7, 2013 | 9:55 AM

Football is a copycat sport. If somebody has success at any level, it seems to filter up and done as fads and tendencies come and go. For years many teams have wanted to emulate the Baltimore Ravens defense. After the Ravens D’s performance in the NFL season opener on Sunday, it seems many WPIAL football teams can now say mission accomplished after a night of high scoring with points a plenty. Hard to settle in on just ten…but we accept that challenge by cheating with plenty of duo kudos as we look back at a wild Friday night of football around the WPIAL.

Billy Kisner and Isaiah Jones – Penn Hills

Penn Hills quarterback Billy Kisner was 0 for 7 passing Friday night, but while the air attack left a lot to be desired, he and running back Isaiah Jones were running wild as the standouts in this Class AAAA Southeastern Conference contest. The two teams up for nearly 450 yards on the ground at Peters Township with Kisner gaining 216 yards and a touchdown while Jones added 213 yards and two scores as Penn Hills improved to 2-0 with an impressive 33-15 victory in a Battle of the Indians.

Nick Altavilla – Baldwin

After putting up big numbers in an opening game loss last week, Nick Altavilla enjoyed another huge game through the air and on the ground, this time in a Baldwin victory. Altavilla hit on 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards and three touchdown tosses, plus he rushed for 226 yards and scored in the third quarter on a 12-yard run as the Highlanders evened their record with a 38-6 drubbing of the host Plum Mustangs in a Class AAAA Southeastern Conference contest.

Jimmy Moore – Gateway

His teammates call Gateway senior quarterback Jimmy Moore ‘Sunshine’ because of his similar physical appearance to the laid back, flowing blonde hair quarterback from the Remember the Titans movie. Or perhaps they knew he would have nights like Friday where he was shining bright. Moore hit on 18 of 31 passes for 228 yards and four touchdown passes as the Gators remained unblemished with a 41-22 conquest of the visiting Connellsville Falcons, setting up a key Class AAAA Foothills Conference battle in Week 3 with unbeaten Kiski Area.

Josh Lapiana and Dom Castello  – Chartiers Valley

Life in Class AAA’s Parkway Conference has been tough for Chartiers Valley. Last year, their first since coming over from the Big Nine Conference, CV finished 1-7 in the conference and started this season with a loss last week to Moon. But thanks to quarterback Josh Lapiana, who finished 11 of 20 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns, and receiver Dom Castello, who had six receptions for 169 yards and three touchdowns including a 65-yard interception return, the Colts have mastered beating Hopewell as they knocked off the Vikings for a second straight year, this time by a 34-14 final score.

Tyler Perone – Seton-LaSalle

Last week in his first varsity start, junior quarterback Tyler Perone was very good. On Friday in start number two, he was almost perfect. Perone completed all 22 of his passes, 21 of them to his Seton-LaSalle teammates and one of them to a McGuffey defender. Perone ended up passing for 354 yards and SIX touchdown passes of 11, 21, 17, 65, 68 and 13 yards as the Rebels improved to 2-0 in the Class AA Century Conference with a convincing 41-16 triumph over the visiting Highlanders.

Gabe Greco – New Brighton

Friday night’s historic Class AA Midwestern Conference game between Beaver and New Brighton turned into a football video game with big plays on both sides of the ball throughout the contest in what turned out to be the second highest scoring game in WPIAL history and the highest scoring REGULAR season game ever in District 7. With so many big performances, we tip our cap to NB signal caller Gabe Greco, who was 15 of 18 passing for 371 yards and four touchdowns, plus he ran for three more scores as the Lions outslugged the Bobcats 64-49.

D’Andre Pickens and Duane Murray – Steel Valley

Some boxers have a one-two punch that will soften up their opponent until he wears out and accepts defeat. Steel Valley has a one-two punch on the ground that can just plain knock you out. D’Andre Pickens was Mr. Early as he topped the 300-yard rushing mark with 303 yards and four touchdowns, including a 63-yard reception for Connor Stevens while Mr. Late was Duane Murray, who ran for 258 yards and two scores as the Ironmen pounded the visiting Burgettstown Blue Devils 55-5 in a Class AA Century Conference contest.

Dane Jackson – Quaker Valley

With the big three of South Fayette, Seton-LaSalle and Steel Valley threatening to run away and hide form the rest of the Class AA Century Conference, the Quaker Valley-South Allegheny matchup look to be an early season key contest. QV quarterback Dan Jackson didn’t need a key as he picked apart the SA defense with 5 of 6 passing for 111 yards and three touchdown tosses, plus he rushed for 110 yards on the ground with another score as the Quakers improved to 2-0 with a 41-20 win over the Gladiators.

Eli Owens and Ernie Burkes – Neshannock

A trap game in football is when a team looks past their current opponent because they are focused on a big upcoming showdown the following week. Neshannock’s duo offensive threats made sure they would not be caught looking ahead to Sto-Rox in Week 3. Eli Owens rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Ernie Burkes ran for 156 yards with two scoring runs and a touchdown pass as the Lancers cruised past a good Laurel Spartans team 34-12 setting up Thursday’s showdown with the S-R Vikings in the Class A Big 7 Conference.

Matt Heslin and Koltan Kobrys – Fort Cherry

In the Class A Black Hills Conference over the last half-decade, it has been the Clairton Bears and everybody else. With a lot of Week 2 eyes on the Brentwood at Monessen game, Fort Cherry is saying ‘HEY, what about us?’ Quarterback Matt Heslin was 8 of 11 passing for 165 yards and four touchdown tosses while running back Koltan Kobrys for over 200 yards for the second straight week with 218 yards on the ground, including a 97-yard sprint to pay dirt as the Rangers remained unbeaten with a 50-14 pasting of the visiting California Trojans.   

BONUS:  Ronald Brown – University Prep

Yes University Prep is in the Pittsburgh City League, but hard to ignore the record breaking game he had on Friday. He completed 9 passes for a district record 468 yards passing and six touchdowns for an astounding  average of 52 yards per completion in the Panthers 42-24 win at Shenandoah Valley.

Tags: Baldwin, Chartiers Valley, Fort Cherry, Gateway, University Prep