A-K Valley high school football don’t-miss matchups for Week 3

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 6:18 PM

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Class 5A Big East

Plum (1-2, 0-2) at Connellsville (1-2, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday at Falcon Stadium, Connellsville

On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: Gateway 55, Plum 0; Penn-Trafford 57, Connellsville 3

Coaches: Matt Morgan, Plum; Marko Thomas, Connellsville

Top players: William Guzzi, Plum (So., 5-7, 160, RB/DB); Josh Maher, Connellsville (Jr., 6-6, 190, QB)

Keep an eye on: Hunter Linhart, Plum (Sr., 6-1. 190, QB)

Momentum: Both teams are hoping to build momentum and stop two-game losing skids after winning in Week Zero.

Four downs: 1. Guzzi led Plum with 40 yards on 16 carries last week. He became the featured back when backfield mate James Schropp went down with an injury in the second quarter; 2. Gage Gillott, who quarterbacked the Falcons in the second half against Penn-Trafford, kicked a 37-yard fourth-quarter field goal to avoid the shutout; 3. Plum and Connellsville have been outscored by a combined 214-24 the past two weeks; 4. Plum won three games last year, and one was against Connellsville, 48-12.

Extra point: Plum leads the most recent series, started in 2014, by a 4-0 count. The teams played five times in the 1980s, with the Falcons holding a 3-1-1 edge.

Class 4A Northwest Eight

Highlands (0-3, 0-1) at Knoch (0-3, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday at Knoch Knights Stadium, Saxonburg

On the air: 680 AM; TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: Blackhawk 34, Highlands 14; Beaver 35, Knoch 21

Coaches: Dom Girardi, Highlands; Frank Whalen, Knoch

Top players: Johnny Crise, Highlands (Jr., 6-6, 185, WR/CB); Matt Goodlin, Knoch (Jr., 5-9, 180, RB/LB)

Keep an eye on: Noah Gillette, Highlands (Sr., 5-10, 182, FB/LB)

Momentum: One team will gain a measure of it with its first win of the season.

Four downs: 1. Gillette has 35 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery to lead the Golden Rams defense through three weeks; 2. Knoch led Beaver, 21-14, at halftime before the Bobcats outscored the Knights, 21-0, to earn the win; 3. Highlands has surrendered an average of 38.3 points a game, the second most in 4A (Uniontown, 51.0); 4. Highlands won last year’s meeting with Knoch, 24-16.

Extra point: The series between Knoch and Highlands has been competitive over the years. The Knights lead the series 17-15.

Class 3A Big East

Elizabeth Forward (2-0, 2-0) at Freeport (0-2, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday at Freeport Area Athletic Field, Sarver

Last week: Elizabeth Forward 43, Burrell 14; North Catholic 40, Freeport 8

Coaches: Mike Collodi, Elizabeth Forward; John Gaillot, Freeport

Top players: Zach Benedek, Elizabeth Forward (Sr., 6-1, 190, QB/LB); Austin Romanchak, Freeport (Sr., 5-10, 175, QB/DB

Keep an eye on: Chris Makosey, Elizabeth Forward (Sr., 5-8, 165, RB/S).

Momentum: Elizabeth Forward has averaged 38 points over its two victories.

Four downs: 1. Benedek rushed for 112 yards and four touchdowns and threw for 100 yards and a touchdown last Friday; 2. Freeport is hoping to avoid an 0-3 start for the first time since 2007; 3. Elizabeth Forward is hoping to start 3-0 for the first time since 2012; 4. Junior linebacker Garrett Ben leads the Yellowjackets defense with 18 tackles through two games.

Extra point: This is the first meeting between the Freeport and Elizabeth Forward football programs.

Uniontown (0-3, 0-2) at Burrell (0-3, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday at Burrell’s Buccaneers Stadium

On the air: 590 AM, 101.1 FM; TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: Deer Lakes 47, Uniontown 14; Elizabeth Forward 43, Burrell 14

Coaches: Cedric Lloyd, Uniontown; Shawn Liotta, Burrell

Top players: Ky’Ron Craggette, Uniontown (So., 5-11, 210, RB); Logan Phillips, Burrell (Jr., 6-0, 190, QB/DB)

Keep an eye on: Lukas Kastelic (Sr., 5-10, 180, RB/LB)

Momentum: The winner will gain a measure of it with its first victory of the season.

Four downs: 1. Despite the loss to Deer Lakes last Friday, Craggette carried the ball 15 times for 162 yards and both touchdowns; 2. Phillips and Kastelic each scored second-half rushing touchdowns against Elizabeth Forward; 3. Uniontown has given up the most points, on average (51.0), of any team in 3A; 4. Kastelic’s four touchowns leads Burrell through three games.

Extra point: Friday’s game will be the first-ever matchup between the Burrell and Uniontown football programs.

Yough (1-2, 1-1) at Deer Lakes (1-1, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Lancers Stadium, West Deer Township

Last week: Mt. Pleasant 22, Yough 16; Deer Lakes 47, Uniontown 14

Coaches: Scott Wood, Yough; Tim Burk, Deer Lakes

Top players: Dustin Shoaf, Yough (Sr., 6-2, 210, RB/S); Aris Hasley, Deer Lakes (Jr., 5-10, 175, QB/FS)

Keep an eye on: Jack Hollibaugh, Deer Lakes (Jr., 6-1, 220, TE/LB)

Momentum: Deer Lakes exploded offensively last week to pick up its first win of the season.

Four downs: 1. Hasley threw for 341 yards and five touchdowns and added a rushing score in the rout of Uniontown last Friday; 2. Shoaf’s 646 rushing yards ranks him third in the WPIAL. He also has seven touchdowns to his credit; 3. The Cougars led Mt. Pleasant, 16-14, at the half last week but were shut out the rest of the way as the Vikings rallied; 4. A victory Friday would lift Deer Lakes past its conference win total (1-6) for all of last season.

Extra point: This will be the first-ever meeting between the Yough and Deer Lakes football programs.

Class 2A Allegheny

East Allegheny (1-2, 0-1) at Apollo-Ridge (2-1, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Owens Field, Spring Church

Last week: East Allegheny 29, South Allegheny 23; Apollo-Ridge 28, Carlynton 18

Coaches: Dom Pecora, East Allegheny; John Skiba, Apollo-Ridge

Top players: Logan Harmon, Apollo-Ridge (So., 5-8, 205, FB/LB); Tyler Padezan (Jr., 6-2, 165, WR/DB)

Keep an eye on: Alex Gamble, Apollo-Ridge (Sr., 5-7. 160, HB/LB)

Momentum: After a Week Zero setback to Leechburg, Apollo-Ridge righted its ship with two victories, while East Allegheny got in the win column after starting 0-2.

Four downs: 1. The Vikings won their second in a row last week behind 133 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Harmon. The sophomore also leads the team in tackles with 29, while Gamble has 20; 2. East Allegheny’s Padezan has Division I offers from Morgan State and Howard. He had 145 receiving yards and a touchdown against South Allegheny; 3. Wildcats quarterback Dan Kasmier, a senior, stands 6-3 and weights 240 pounds. He recorded 641 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a tight end last year; 4. The Apollo-Ridge defense forced eight Carlynton turnovers en route to the nonconference victory.

Extra point: Jake Fello’s two passing touchdowns against Carlynton gives him five on the season against only one interception.

Class A Eastern

Leechburg (1-2, 0-1) at Greensburg Central Catholic (2-1, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Centurion Field, Greensburg

Last week: Rochester 42, Leechburg 6; Clairton 40, GCC 0

Coaches: Mark George, Leechburg; Aaron Smetanka, GCC

Top players: Jake Blumer, Leechburg (Jr., 6-2, 190, RB/LB); Max Pisula, GCC (Sr., 6-2, 212, QB/LB)

Keep an eye on: Brando Ciccarelli, GCC (Sr., 5-9, 215, HB/LB)

Momentum: Both teams hope to return to the win column after tough losses last week.

Four downs: 1. Pisula, a 1,000-plus yard passer last season, has thrown for 329 yards and five touchdowns in three games this season; 2. Leechburg ended a seven-quarter scoring drought as Blumer ran one in late in last Friday’s setback; 3. GCC gave up four defensive touchdowns last week against Class A No. 3 Clairton; 4. GCC won last year’s meeting with Leechburg, 36-13.

Extra point: GCC has triumphed in all four games in the recent conference series by an average of 15.5 points.

No. 3 Clairton (2-0, 1-0) at Riverview (0-2, 0-1)

Noon Saturday at Riverside Park, Oakmont

Last week: Clairton 40, Greensburg Central Catholic 0; Charleroi 48, Riverview 7

Coaches: Wayne Wade, Clairton; Todd Massack, Riverview

Top players: Brendan Parsons, Clairton (Jr., 6-1, 150, QB); JD Sykes, Riverview (Sr., 5-8, 170, RB/LB)

Keep an eye on: Taevon Thompson, Clairton (Sr., 5-8, 136, RB)

Momentum: Clairton limited GCC to minus-31 yards of total offense.

Four downs: 1. The Bears produced a dominating performance last week after not playing in Week 1 as Mapletown forfeited the game because of a lack players; 2. Devon Binz rushed for 68 yards and the Raiders’ lone score against Charleroi. JD Sykes led the defense with 10 tackles; 3. Clairton scored four defensive touchdowns last week against GCC, with two fumble returns and two by way of interceptions; 4. Riverview trailed Charleroi, the No. 3 team in 2A, only 14-7 at halftime before the Cougars broke open the game in the third quarter.

Extra point: Clairton won last year’s meeting with Riverview, 56-0.

Nonconference

Valley (1-2) at Class A No. 2 Imani Christian (2-1)

7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Wolvarena, Turtle Creek

Last week: Shady Side Academy 43, Valley 14; Jeannette 28, Imani Christian 12

Coaches: Muzzy Colosimo, Valley; Ronnell Heard, Imani Christian

Top players: Deonte Ross, Valley (Sr., 6-0, 225, RB/LB); Israel Reed (Sr., 6-2, 205, QB/LB)

Keep an eye on: Rahmon Hart Jr., Imani Christian (Sr., 6-3, 210, WR/DB)

Momentum: The Saints remained at No. 2 in the TribHSSN Class A rankings after the loss to No. 1 Jeannette.

Four downs: 1. Saturday’s game was moved to the Wolvarena because of rain and the condition of Graham Field in Wilkinsburg; 2. Ross scored both touchdowns last Friday against Shady Side Academy and finished with 177 yards on 17 carries; 3. Quarterback Israel Reed paces the Imani offense with 689 yards and nine passing touchdowns. He also has tallied two rushing scores; 4. After scoring a combined 118 points the first two weeks, Imani was limited to 12 in the loss to Jeannette.

Extra point: This is the first-ever meeting between the Valley and Imani football programs.

Bishop Canevin (1-2) at Springdale (0-2)

7 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Field, Springdale

Last week: Laurel 44, Bishop Canevin 7; Monessen 40, Springdale 6

Coaches: Chris Lucas, Bishop Canevin; Seth Napierkowski, Springdale

Top players: Keshawn Harris, Bishop Canevin (Fr., 5-9, 165, RB); Josh Jones, Springdale (Sr., 6-0, 180, QB/DB)

Keep an eye on: Jon Ruffing, Bishop Canevin (Sr., 6-2, 180, QB/FS)

Momentum: Springdale hopes home field is an advantage in a matchup of teams hoping to put one in the win column.

First downs: 1. Ruffing is a dual-threat quarterback. He has thrown for 276 yards and two touchdowns and has 210 yards and a score on the ground; 2. Friday’s game is Springdale’s home opener. The Dynamos also play conference home games against Greensburg Central Catholic, Riverview and Leechburg; 3. Harris has totaled 256 rushing yards and three touchdowns for the Crusaders; 4. Springdale snapped a seven-quarter scoring drought to start the season with a fourth-quarter score last Friday.

Extra point: Bishop Canevin moved to 2A in the offseason. The Crusaders and Dynamos were recent conference foes, and Springdale won last year’s meeting 37-27.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MLove_Trib.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Valley