A-K Valley football notebook: Highlands, Apollo-Ridge bounce back with dominant victory

By: Michael Love
Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 6:03 PM

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With a home matchup against Imani Christian looming this week, Highlands was hoping to build some positive momentum and get back on track in Friday’s Allegheny 7 Conference opener at East Allegheny after consecutive losses to Elizabeth Forward and New Castle.

The Golden Rams responded in a big way with a 42-15 victory over the Wildcats. Senior Jahmar Wright got his team fired up immediately by taking the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.

That score was part of a 28-point first quarter. Sophomore tailback Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg added touchdown runs of 12, 2 and 12 yards in the quarter as the Highlands offense got rolling again after being shut out by New Castle the week before.

Junior Taiy Partlow helped the Golden Rams add on in the second quarter with a 17-yard run, and senior Marqis Johnson’s 15-yard TD reception from fellow senior Jamarkus Prager in the third quarter capped the scoring.

Prager threw only eight passes, but he was efficient with six completions for 117 yards and the touchdown. It was his second TD pass of the season.

While Highlands was taking care of East Allegheny, Imani was doing the same against Valley. The Saints led 52-0 at halftime en route to a 72-0 win.

After a close win over Clairton in Week Zero, Imani has outscored its last three opponents, including Beaver Falls and Beaver Area, by a combined 171-3.

Vikings bounce back

Apollo-Ridge, like Highlands, got back on track Friday in their final nonconference tune-up. It begins Allegheny Conference play Friday against Shady Side Academy at Owens Field.

The Vikings, in the midst of four home games out of five to start the season, erupted for 42 points — 21 in each half — in a 42-0 victory over Carlynton.

It was a satisfying win for A-R coaches and players after tough losses to Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic the previous two weeks.

Vikings veteran coach John Skiba preaches balanced offense, and that is what happened Friday as 11 A-R ball carriers rushed for 225 yards while the passing game produced 181. Senior Jaden McCray scored on runs of 1 and 4 yards and caught a 39-yard TD pass from Chris Dailey.

Dailey was an efficient 8 of 14 with two touchdowns and one interception.

The Vikings defense clamped down to deliver its first shutout since a 21-0 win over Summit Academy in Week 1 of the 2018 season.

A-R also avenged last year’s 42-15 loss to the Cougars.

Yellowjackets’ power stings Lancers

Freeport has put up 177 points over its first four games: wins over Indiana, Derry, Quaker Valley and Deer Lakes.

The Yellowjackets again scored in all three phases Friday to overwhelm the rival Lancers, 58-7. It was a final score that surprised many. Freeport also avenged losses to the Lancers from each of the past two seasons.

Freeport’s 58 points were its most since 2022 when it surpassed 60 points in a 61-7 win over Quaker Valley and a 62-19 triumph over Valley.

The single-game school record is 70 against Allegheny Township in 1925.

Freeport is 4-0 for the first time since 2015. It will seek its first 5-0 start since 1990 when it won all nine of its regular-season games.

The Yellowjackets continue conference play Friday at Burrell (1-3). Deer Lakes hopes to stop its skid at home against East Allegheny (0-4, 0-1).

Freeport extended its advantage over Deer Lakes in the all-time series to 46-8. Senior Amos Glenn scored on TD runs of 44 and 2 yards and also returned a punt 64 yards. Junior Danny King returned two interceptions for touchdowns, senior Drew Ross threw a TD pass to fellow senior Owen Neistein, junior Bryson Paga returned a blocked field goal for a score and sophomore Paxon Cene rushed for a TD in the fourth quarter.

The Yellowjackets compiled 386 yards of total offense with 321 of that coming from the run game.

Friday night lights

Riverview hosted rival Leechburg on Friday in its annual night game under the lights at Riverside Park.

The Raiders hoped to bounce back from their first loss of the season, a nonconference setback at Cornell in Week 2; while the Blue Devils were seeking their third win in a row after a Week Zero loss to Apollo-Ridge.

The game at Riverside Park two years ago went down to the wire before Leechburg won 29-28, as it stopped a late Riverview 2-point conversion attempt.

The Blue Devils’ return to Oakmont on Friday was a little more comfortable as they opened a 21-point lead in the third quarter en route to a 27-18 win.

It was Leechburg’s eighth straight win over the Raiders, and the Blue Devils closed Riverview’s lead in the overall series to 29-17-2.

Senior Timmy Andrasy continues to shine behind Leechburg’s powerful and experienced offensive line. He carried the ball 33 more times against Riverview for 162 yards and three touchdowns.

Blue Devils junior quarterback Jaxon Vargo opened the scoring with a 15-yard TD run.

Kaden Levy scored on runs of 40 and 32 yards for the Raiders (1-3), and Connor Kmetz threw for 119 yards and put additional points on the board with a long TD connection to Rio Stotts.

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: Apollo-Ridge, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Leechburg, Riverview