A-K Valley football preview capsules for Week 4

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 | 7:00 PM

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Class 5A northern

Hampton (1-3, 0-3) at Fox Chapel (0-4, 0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, James Burk Athletic Complex, O’Hara Township

On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: North Hills 3, Hampton 0; Kiski Area 37, Fox Chapel 0

Coaches: Jacque DeMatteo, Hampton; Tom Loughran, Fox Chapel

Top players: Shane Susnak, Fox Chapel (Jr., 5-11, 175, QB); Max Obenrader, Hampton (Sr., 5-10, 180, QB)

Keep an eye on: Vince Schmitt, Hampton (Sr., 5-9. 165, RB)

Momentum: Each team hopes to gain a measure of it. The winner will break the ice in the conference standings.

Four downs: 1. Despite pressure from the Kiski defense that produced six sacks and a few dropped passes, Susnak finished with 180 yards passing last Friday; 2. Schmitt totaled 197 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries in a one-point loss to Shaler in Week 2; 3. Korey Simmons leads the Foxes in receiving through four weeks with 12 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown; 4. Fox Chapel has scored the second fewest points per game (7.8) in 5A. Albert Gallatin has the fewest at 6.3.

Extra point: This is the third year Hampton and Fox Chapel have played as members of the same 5A conference. The Foxes won both last year (41-23) and in 2016 (41-7).

Class 4A northern eight

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

7 p.m. Friday, Knoch Knight Stadium, Saxonburg

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

Last week: Blackhawk 48, Ambridge 6; Knoch 28, Highlands 21

Coaches: Terry George, Ambridge; Frank Whalen, Knoch.

Top players: Mason Osborn, Ambridge (Jr., 6-4, 205, QB/OLB); Chase Mullen, Knoch (Sr., 5-10, 160, QB/CB)

Keep an eye on: Scott Fraser, Knoch (Jr., 6-1, 165, WR/S)

Momentum: The Knights’ victory over Highlands puts them back in the hunt for a Class 4A playoff spot in the Northern Eight Conference.

Four downs: 1. Knoch’s Matt Goodlin rolled to 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 17 carries in last Friday’s victory. Mullen added 125 yards and a score on the ground; 2. Ambridge snapped a 22-game losing streak with a 14-0 victory over Waynesburg in Week 2; 3. The Knights have scored a combined 42 first-half points the past two weeks and just seven after halftime; 4. The Bridgers have scored only six combined points in their three losses this season.

Extra point: Knoch dominated last year’s meeting with Ambridge, winning 42-0.

Class 4A Northwest Eight

Beaver (3-1, 2-1) at Highlands (0-4, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Golden Rams Stadium, Natrona Heights

Last week: Beaver 21, New Castle 13; Knoch 28, Highlands 21

Coaches: Jeff Beltz, Beaver; Dom Girardi, Highlands

Top players: Brodie List, Beaver (Sr., 6-3, 205, QB/LB); Seth Cohen, Highlands (Sr., 6-2, 194, QB/S)

Keep an eye on: Gino Mavero, Beaver (Sr., 5-6, 160, RB/LB)

Momentum: Beaver has won two straight since a 35-7 loss to Class 4A No. 2 South Fayette in Week 1.

Four downs: 1. Down 21-7 to Knoch at halftime last week, the Golden Rams tied the game with two scores in the third quarter before the Knights won it in the fourth; 2. Beaver jumped to a 21-0 lead over New Castle last Friday before holding on; 3. Cohen, with his three touchdowns last week — two throwing and one running — gives him nine total through four weeks; 4. List paced the Beaver offensive attack last week with a rushing and passing touchdown, and he finished with 177 rushing yards and another 118 through the air.

Extra point: Beaver is a newcomer to 4A this year. The Bobcats went 9-3 overall and made the WPIAL semifinals in 2017, their last year in 3A.

Class 3A Big East

Burrell (1-3, 1-2) at Yough (2-2, 2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Yough’s Cougar Mountain Stadium

Last week: Burrell 61, Uniontown 6; Yough 32, Deer Lakes 13

Coaches: Shawn Liotta, Burrell; Scott Wood, Yough

Top players: Logan Phillips, Burrell (Jr., 6-0, 190, QB/DB); Dustin Shoaf, Yough (Sr., 6-2, 210, RB/S)

Keep an eye on: Seth Fischbach, Burrell (Jr., 6-1, 190, WR/DB)

Momentum: Both teams hope to build on key section victories from last Friday.

Four downs: 1. Luke Kastelic had a career night running against Uniontown, as he finished with 304 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries; 2. With his 401 rushing yards against Deer Lakes, Shoaf became the first WPIAL running back this season to rush for 400 or more yards in a single game; 3. Burrell surpassed the 60-point mark in a game for the first time since tallying 62 in a 62-30 win over Sto-Rox in Week 6 of the 2015 campaign; 4. Yough is hoping to make the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Extra point: Yough is averaging 28.8 points while allowing 27.3.

Deer Lakes (1-2, 1-2) at Mt. Pleasant (1-3, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Mt. Pleasant Stadium

Last week: Yough 32, Deer Lakes 13; Derry 48, Mt. Pleasant 7

Coaches: Tim Burk, Deer Lakes; Jason Fazekas, Mt. Pleasant

Top players: Colin Kadlick, Deer Lakes (Sr., 6-4, 230, TE/DE); Lucas Pieszak, Mt. Pleasant (Sr., 6-4, 190, QB/S)

Keep an eye on: Ethan Bender, Deer Lakes (Sr., 6-2, 185, WR/SS)

Momentum: Despite the loss to Yough, the Deer Lakes passing game continued its early-season success and hopes to be a factor again this week.

Four downs: 1. Kadlick and Jared Colton hauled in scores for the Lancers last Friday for a 13-0 lead in the first half before Yough rallied; 2. Pieszak, who threw for more than 1,000 yards last year, collected 111 yards and a touchdown against Derry; 3. Aris Hasley’s two TD throws against Yough gives the junior signal caller seven for the season to go along with 613 passing yards; 4. Mt. Pleasant is hoping for a return to the WPIAL playoffs after a one-year hiatus.

Extra point: This is the first meeting between the Lancers and Vikings.

Freeport (0-3, 0-3) at Uniontown (0-4, 0-3)

7 p.m. Friday at Uniontown’s Bill Power Stadium

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

Last week: Elizabeth Forward 27, Freeport 21; Burrell 61, Uniontown 6

Coaches: John Gaillot, Freeport; Cedric Lloyd, Uniontown

Top players: Garrett Ben, Freeport (Jr., 5-5, 170, OL/LB); Dom Richter, Uniontown (Jr., 6-2, 190, QB/WR/DB)

Keep an eye on: Garret Schaffhauser (Jr., 6-0, 190, TE/QB/LB)

Momentum: Despite a late rally by Elizabeth Forward last week, Freeport showed positive signs in several areas it hopes to build on for Friday’s matchup.

Four downs: 1. Ben leads the Freeport defense with 21 tackles through three games; 2. Richer tallied Uniontown’s only touchdown last week against Burrell, a 63-yard run, and finished with 163 passing yards; 3. Conor Selinger returned to the lineup against Elizabeth Forward after missing most of the Derry matchup and last week against North Catholic because of a leg injury. He rushed 14 times for 33 yards and a touchdown and added a team-best 14 tackles on defense; 4. Uniontown has allowed the most points per game in 3A this season at 53.5.

Extra point: Uniontown and Freeport have never played. The Yellowjackets are hoping to avoid an 0-4 start for the first time since 1994.

Class 2A Allegheny

Avonworth (3-1, 1-1) at Apollo-Ridge (2-2, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Apollo-Ridge’s Owens Field

Last week: Avonworth 35, New Brighton 7; East Allegheny 34, Apollo-Ridge 7

Coaches: Duke Johncour, Avonworth; John Skiba, Apollo-Ridge

Top players: Derek Johncour, Avonworth (Sr., 6-2, 180, QB); Jake Fello, Apollo-Ridge (So., 6-1, 180, QB/DB)

Keep an eye on: Turner Grau, Avonworth (Sr., 6-3, 185, WR/CB)

Momentum: Avonworth bounced back in a big way Friday from its lone loss, a 31-24 setback to Steel Valley in Week 2.

Four downs: 1. Apollo-Ridge hopes to cut down on miscues this week against Avonworth. The Vikings had 81 yards in penalties last week; 2. Johncour had a big game against New Brighton as he completed 22 of 28 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns. He has 1,181 yards and 11 touchdowns against only two interceptions; 3. Logan Harmon leads the Vikings’ defense with 38 tackles. He’s been consistent with nine against Leechburg, 11 against Summit, nine against Carlynton and nine against East Allegheny; 4. Grau has 26 catches for 395 yards and seven touchdowns.

Extra point: Apollo-Ridge and Avonworth last played in 2012 and ‘13 when they were members of the Class A Eastern Conference. The Vikings won 28-21 in 2012, and the Antelopes captured the 2013 meeting 35-27.

No. 4 Steel Valley (2-1, 2-1) at Valley (1-3, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, New Kensington

Last week: Shady Side Academy 56, Steel Valley 36; Imani Christian 32, Valley 25

Coaches: Rod Steele, Steel Valley; Muzzy Colosimo, Valley

Top players: Todd Hill, Steel Valley (Sr., 5-10, 221, RB/LB); Vaun Ross, Valley (Jr., 5-9, 165, WR/DB)

Keep an eye on: Kam Williams, Steel Valley (Sr., 5-11, 166, RB/LB)

Momentum: Valley came within an eye lash of sending last week’s nonconference game with Class A No. 2 Imani Christian to at least overtime.

Four downs: 1. Deonte Ross has a team-leading seven rushing touchdowns this season. The 230-pounder tallied scoring runs of 1 and 3 yards against Imani; 2. Steel Valley’s Hill is a Howard commit; 3. The combined record of the teams that have defeated Valley is 9-2; 4. Williams led Steel Valley with 230 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries last Friday against the Class 2A No. 1 Indians.

Extra point: Steel Valley and Valley played a nonconference home-and-home series the past two years. The Ironmen won both matchups, including 40-14 last year.

Class A Eastern

Riverview (0-3, 0-2) at Leechburg (1-3, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Leechburg’s Veterans Memorial Stadium

Last week: Clairton 54, Riverview 0; Greensburg Central Catholic 29, Leechburg 0

Coaches: Todd Massack, Riverview; Mark George, Leechburg

Top players: Ben Blacksmith, Riverview (Sr., 6-0, 160, WR/DB); Nico Venanzio. Leechburg (Sr., 6-3, 205, OT/DE)

Keep an eye on: Jake Blumer, Leechburg (Jr., 6-1, 190, RB/LB)

Momentum: Both teams are seeking their first win in Eastern Conference play, but Leechburg owns a victory over rival Apollo-Ridge from Week Zero.

Four downs: 1. Riverview was limited to minus-20 yards rushing against the Clairton defense last week; 2. Leechburg’s defense forced four GCC turnovers: three interceptions and one fumble; 3. Riverview has just one touchdown for seven points in three games, but Northgate has the fewest points-per-game average in WPIAL Class A at 1.8 for four games; 4. The Blue Devils were limited to just 80 yards of total offense last Friday. The ground game accounted for 54 of those yards.

Extra point: Riverview leads the series against Leechburg, 29-9-2, and has won four straight. The Blue Devils last beat the Raiders in 2014. Riverview won 16-0 last year.

Springdale (0-3, 0-1) at No. 1 Jeannette (4-0, 2-0)

7 p.m. Friday, McKee Stadium, Jeannette

On the air: 107.1 FM; TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: Bishop Canevin 34, Springdale 14; Jeannette 55, Avella 7

Coaches: Seth Napierkowski, Springdale; Roy Hall, Jeannette

Top players: Christian Vokes, Springdale (Jr., 5-8, 140, RB/DB); Marcus Barnes, Jeannette (Sr., 6-4, 185, WR/DB)

Keep an eye on: Zach Crutchman, Jeannette (Jr., 6-3, 230, TE/DE)

Momentum: The defending WPIAL and PIAA champs are rolling again and own a key victory over Class A No. 2 Imani Christian from Week 2.

Four downs: 1. Jeannette is averaging 38.3 points over the first four weeks and is surrendering just 7.8; 2. Vokes rushed for 125 yards and both Springdale touchdowns last Friday; 3. Four Jeannette running backs had at least 50 yards rushing last week against Avella, including Isaiah Winters, whose only two caries went for touchdowns of 53 and 4 yards; 4. Springdale drew Imani Christian, the No. 2 team in Class A, in Week 1 and also faced Class A No. 5 Monessen in a nonconference game in Week 2. Clairton, ranked No. 3, looms in Week 8.

Extra point: Jeannette and Springdale have met 10 times, with the Jayhawks winning all 10, including last year’s matchup 42-14.

Class 5A Big East

Plum (1-3, 0-3) at McKeesport (3-1, 2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Weigle-Schaeffer Memorial Stadium, McKeesport

Last week: Connellsville 30, Plum 6; Penn-Trafford 20, McKeesport 9

Coaches: Matt Morgan, Plum; Matt Miller, McKeesport

Top players: William Guzzi, Plum (So., 5-7, 155, RB/DB); Konota Gaskins, McKeesport (Sr., 6-1, 190, QB/S)

Keep an eye on: Devin Sims, McKeesport (Sr., 5-8, 165, RB/OLB)

Momentum: Despite the loss to rival Penn-Trafford last Friday, McKeesport set itself up with three victories to start the season, including two in conference play.

Four downs: 1. Plum had six drives into the red zone against Connellsville with no points scored. The seventh time produced the Mustangs’ lone score, a 6-yard TD pass from Hunter Linhart to Jaxon Marzec; 2. Sims leads the Tigers with five touchdowns — three receiving and two rushing; 3. The Mustangs have been outscored 130-13 the past three weeks after a 32-14 triumph over Highlands in Week Zero; 4. McKeesport has qualified for the WPIAL playoffs every year since 1998.

Extra point: Plum is 5-21 against McKeesport. The Mustangs last beat the Tigers in 1997.

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

Tags: Ambridge, Beaver, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Hampton, Highlands, Jeannette, Kiski School, Knoch, Leechburg, McKeesport, Penn Hills, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Steel Valley, Uniontown, Valley, Yough