A-K Valley football players to watch in 2023 Week 6

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 6:53 PM

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Player of the week

Jake Cummings

Leechburg, Jr., TE/LB

Cummings carried the ball seven times for 31 yards and two touchdowns, caught an additional five passes for 91 yards and a score and converted two 2-point conversions Friday in Leechburg’s bounce-back win over Frazier. He also blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone. Defensively, he recorded 12 tackles, including two for a loss. Cummings and his Blue Devils teammates continue Eastern Conference action Friday hosting Jeannette.

Players to watch

Sean Franzi

Plum, Sr., QB

Franzi accounted for all four Plum touchdowns in a loss against Franklin Regional in Big East play last Friday. He carried the ball six times for 82 yards, including a 16-yard TD run. Franzi also threw three touchdowns — 4 yards to Jack Tongel, 54 yards to Darien Nelson and 37 yards to Zach Napierkowski — and totaled 205 yards through the air.

Landon Kucic

Kiski Area, Jr., RB/LB

Kucic produced on both sides of the ball for the Cavaliers in their 28-7 victory over Indiana last Friday in Greater Allegheny Conference play. His breakout game included 113 rushing yards and touchdowns of 4, 4 and 16 yards on 19 attempts. He also hauled in a pass from fellow junior Carson Heinle for 18 yards. Defensively, he made several tackles, including a pair of sacks, as Kiski Area held Indiana to 60 rushing yards on 20 carries.

Drew Ross

Freeport, So., QB/DB

Ross continues to make strides in his first year as the Yellowjackets’ starting quarterback. Despite some challenging moments in Friday’s 31-28 loss to Shady Side Academy, he completed 14 passes for 230 yards and a pair of touchdowns — 31 yards to Cyp Selinger and 55 yards to Brady Sullivan. He added a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter to give the Yellowjackets the lead.

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: Freeport, Kiski Area, Leechburg, Plum