A-K Valley football players to watch in the first week of WPIAL playoffs
By:
Wednesday, October 30, 2019 | 5:40 PM
Ryan Creehan
Fox Chapel, Jr., TE/LB
Creehan has been a key defender for the Foxes over the past several weeks. He led the way last Friday against Shaler with a team-best 12 tackles. He added 13 combined stops in wins over conference foes Mars and Armstrong to help Fox Chapel earn a WPIAL playoff spot.
Jake Fello
Apollo-Ridge, Jr., QB/DB
The Vikings will be home Friday for the first round of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs, and Fello hopes to continue to provide leadership from his quarterback and defensive back spots. Fello has totaled 854 passing yards and six touchdowns through nine games and added three rushing scores.
Justin Hessom
Kiski Area, Sr., OL/DL
While Kenny Blake and Luke Lander combined for 397 rushing yards in last Friday’s 35-26 win over Armstrong, Hessom was making his defensive presence felt. He recorded two sacks among five total tackles and caused two fumbles for the Cavaliers, who wrapped up the No. 3 spot in the 5A Northern Conference.
Peyton McCann
Kiski Area, Sr., RB/LB
A pair of special teams plays from McCann helped put the Kiski Area offense in good position against the River Hawks. He blocked a punt to set up the Cavaliers’ second touchdown, and his 48-yard kickoff return early in the third quarter led to a score that kept Kiski ahead at 28-19.
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, Fox Chapel, Kiski Area
More Football
• 5 things to watch in H.S. football: Will coaches Cherpak, Walker add to trophy collections?• Trib HSSN game-by-game playoff previews for 2024 Week 12
• Through the Years: 87-yard run sparked Freeport to playoff win in ’84
• Trib 10: 3 pairs of power-ranked teams to clash this weekend
• PIAA football postseason set to commence