MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights – Week Six

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, October 9, 2010 | 12:00 AM

On a glorious evening for high school football, we began the process of separating the contenders from the pretenders on what our pal Mark Schaas deemed as Separation Weekend in the WPIAL. Here are ten players who definitely separated themselves from the rest of the pack with great performances on Friday night.

Philip Morford – Penn Hills

There is no truth to the rumor that while Penn Hills took a bus to their game in Blair County Friday night for a Class AAAA Big East Conference matchup at Altoona, the team may have flown home on the arm of quarterback Philip Morford. For run happy Penn Hills, Morford was 18 of 22 passing for 263 yards and two long touchdowns passes as the Indians beat the Mountain Lions 17-9.

Luigi Lista-Brinza – Pittsburgh Central Catholic

The name may be a long one and it might conjure up thoughts of the video game Mario Brothers, but don't tell the Plum defense that this tough little Pittsburgh Central Catholic back is only a freshman. With star back Damion Jones-Moore out of the lineup, Luigi Lista-Brinza rushed for 177 yards and scored three touchdowns as the top-ranked Vikings clinched an early playoff spot with a 33-6 rout of the Mustangs.

Rushel Shell – Hopewell

While Hopewell is fighting for their postseason lives in the tough Class AAA Parkway Conference, junior running back Rushel Shell continues to shred defenses and the WPIAL record book. Shell blasted through and around the New Castle defense to the tune of 392 yards on 32 carries with three touchdown runs to keep the playoff flame flickering for the Vikings in a 28-26 victory over the Red Hurricane.

Matt Naylor – Belle Vernon

Nothing has changed on top of the Class AAA Big Eight Conference standings where Thomas Jefferson enjoys its typical view from the top. But there is a major log jam after the Jaguars, including Belle Vernon. BVA quarterback Matt Naylor was 9 of 15 passing Friday night for 227 yards and four touchdown strikes as the Leopards cruised past the South Park Eagles 45-14 to force a tie with Trinity and West Mifflin for second place.

Christian Brumbaugh – South Fayette

It was the Game of the Century…at least for this week as a share of first place in the Class AA Century Conference was at stake in a battle of unbeatens. Senior quarterback Christian Brumbaugh was 13 of 24 passing for 276 yards and a scoring strike as the Lions remained perfect with a 28-19 win over the Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles to force a tie for first with the still unbeaten Seton-LaSalle Rebels.

Delrece Williams – Steel Valley

Sometimes in football, you can carry the load down the field, and then watch somebody else get the glory of scoring six points. Friday night, Steel Valley tailback Delrece Williams not only received a large slice of cake, but he was able to eat it as well. Williams rushed for 267 yards and scoring SIX touchdowns as the Ironmen put themselves in good position for a postseason berth with a 48-33 triumph over the Washington Little Prexies.

Dylan Jones – Laurel

The team might not being enjoying the success they had last season before moving up from Class A to the Class AA Midwestern Conference, but Dylan Jones is still shining bright. Jones ran for 276 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 35, 62 and 22 yards to lead the Spartans to a 19-7 victory over the New Brighton Lions to keep their faint playoff hopes alive in the MAC.

Trey Hall – Beaver Falls

Speaking of the Class AA Midwestern Conference, after losing in Week Two at Aliquippa, Beaver Falls has fallen out of the spotlight while winning four consecutive games. However Trey Hall put a big, loud exclamation point on Friday's win with 228 yards on the ground and scored on touchdown jaunts of 28 and 63 yards as the Tigers rolled past the Freedom Bulldogs 35-7.

Josh Guiser – Frazier

This is no boxing match. There are no mocking taunts of "Down Goes Frazier" reigning down from the cheap seats. This is a Class A Tri-County South Conference football team that is doing everything it can to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Josh Guiser is leading the way, as he rushed for 214 yards and four touchdowns, including an 89-yard interception return for a score as the Frazier Commodores ran past the Mapletown Maples 36-6.

T.D. Conway – California

With their backs to the wall in the WPIAL Class A Tri-County South Conference, California needed their quarterback to live up to his name…and he did. T.D. Conway was a near perfect 11 of 12 passing for 223 yards and five touchdown passes, all coming in the first half as the Trojans blasted the West Greene Pioneers 41-12 to stay in control of their playoff chances.

Tags: Beaver, Belle Vernon, California, Frazier, Hopewell, Laurel, Penn Hills, South Fayette, Steel Valley