A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2023 Week 9

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 | 6:16 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Class 5A Northeast Conference

Shaler (4-5) at Fox Chapel (0-9)

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

Last week: Penn Hills 14, Shaler 0; Kiski Area 39, Fox Chapel 8

Last year’s result: Shaler 55, Fox Chapel 25

Winless (0-4) in the Northeast Conference, both teams are looking to end the season on a high note. … Shaler started 4-0 with nonconference wins over Butler, Hampton, Plum and Hempfield but has lost five straight. Keegan Smetanka threw for 63 yards and an interception against Penn Hills last week. … The Foxes have averaged just 4.7 points per game. D’Angelo Hamilton scored on a 16-yard run against Kiski Area last week. Max Melocchi threw for 74 yards and an interception.

Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

Armstrong (5-4) at Kiski Area (4-5)

7 p.m. Friday, Richard Dilts Stadium, Allegheny Township

Last week: Highlands 17, Armstrong 15; Kiski Area 39, Fox Chapel 8

Last year’s result: Armstrong 40, Kiski Area 21

Both teams need a win qualify. Armstrong also needs Hampton to beat Highlands. … Armstrong is coming off back-to-back losses to Mars and Highlands after a promising 5-2 start. WR Ian Olsen caught six passes for 122 yards and two scores last week. The River Hawks average 30.4 points per game. They lead the series 4-1. … Kiski Area is seeking its 22nd playoff appearance. The Cavaliers have won two straight and three of their past four. Carson Heinle threw for 173 yards and two scores last week, and Landon Kucic ran for 116 yards and two TDs.

Hampton (3-6) at Highlands (5-4)

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

Last week: Mars 42, Hampton 15; Highlands 17, Armstrong 15

Last year’s result: Highlands 19, Hampton 7

A playoff berth is on the line. Hampton can clinch with a win. A loss creates a three-way tie with Highlands and the winner of Armstrong-Kiski Area, and tiebreaker scenarios would decide the qualifiers. Highlands also needs a win and for Armstrong to beat Kiski Area. … Hampton allows 33.4 points per game, most in the Greater Allegheny. The Talbots have lost three of their past four games. RB Brock Brogo has been a bright spot, surpassing 3,000 career yards this season. … Highlands is seeking its 24th playoff appearance. Menage Lucas scored on a 20-yard fumble return, and Jahmar Wright caught a 42-yard TD pass from Aaran Randolph in last week’s win that snapped a three-game skid.

Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference

No. 5 Knoch (7-2) at Valley (2-7)

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

Last week: East Allegheny 14, Knoch 13 (OT); Freeport 27, Valley 0

Last year’s result: Knoch 35, Valley 18

The Knights can seal second place in the Allegheny 6 and a home first-round playoff game with a win. If East Allegheny would lose to Shady Side Academy, Knoch will share the conference title. … Knoch will be in the playoffs for the 22nd time. Codi Mullen threw for 94 yards and a score and ran for 78 yards and a TD last week. Knoch’s victory over Valley last season was the Knights’ lone win of the 2022 season and helped build offseason momentum for this year’s playoff run. … Valley will try to end the season by halting a four-game losing streak. The Vikings were held to 109 yards by Freeport last week. The Vikings lead the all-time series 14-13.

Class 2A Allegheny Conference

Burrell (4-5) at Apollo-Ridge (2-7)

7 p.m. Friday, Owens Field, Apollo

Last week: Derry 29, Burrell 22; Serra Catholic 46, Apollo-Ridge 28

Last year’s result: Apollo-Ridge 28, Burrell 14

Burrell has clinched a playoff berth but can finish in fourth or fifth place in the Allegheny Conference. … Burrell will be in the playoffs for the 21st time. RB Devin Beattie ran for 104 yards and two TDs last week. The Bucs, who have lost three of their past four games, have held teams to 22.4 points per game. Burrell leads all-time series 18-16. … Apollo-Ridge will try to finish the season strong after a 1-6 start. The Vikings beat Yough in Week 7 before falling to Serra Catholic last week. Alex Wurmb and Karter Schrock combined to run for 204 yards and four touchdowns.

Class A Eastern Conference

Greensburg Central Catholic (6-3, 4-1) at Leechburg (6-3, 3-2)

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

Last week: Greensburg Central Catholic 21, Riverview 14; Leechburg 27, Shenango 26

Last year’s result: GCC 48, Leechburg 21

Playoff positioning is at stake and GCC still has a shot at a share of the conference title. … GCC is looking for a sharper performance after allowing Riverview to hang around last week. The defense, though, did hold tight on several second-half drives by the Raiders. … Leechburg, which has won three of its last four, rallied from a 26-14 deficit to squeak past Shenango. Jayden Floyd was 18 of 25 for 138 yards and ran for three TDs. Floyd is the 16th quarterback in WPIAL history to run and pass for 1,000 yards in a season. Leechburg will be in the playoffs for the ninth time.

Springdale (1-8) at Riverview (4-5)

Noon Saturday, Riverside Park, Oakmont

Last week: Jeannette 49, Springdale 12; Greensburg C.C. 21, Riverview 14

Last year’s result: Riverview 52, Springdale 14

Bragging rights are on the line between these neighboring rivals who have been eliminated from playoff contention. … Colton Gent and Garrett Myers scored touchdowns last week for the Dynamos. Springdale is looking to snap a six-game losing streak. … The Raiders suffered a pair of narrow back-to-back losses the past two weeks against Leechburg (29-28) and GCC (21-14). RB Carlo Buzzato continued to pile up yards last week with 140 and a touchdown. The Raiders lead the all-time series 21-17.

Nonconference

Indiana (2-7) at Plum (3-6)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustangs Stadium, Plum Borough

Last week: North Catholic 42, Indiana 6; Plum 38, Hempfield 20

Last year’s result: Plum 46, Indiana 27

Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. … Indiana, which is 0-6 in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference, has lost six straight games and is averaging 15.2 ppg while allowing 31.3. Levi Porter scored on a 2-yard run last week. … Plum went 1-4 in the Class 5A Big East Conference. The Mustangs snapped a six-game skid against Hempfield last week. Sean Franzi threw for 225 yards and two scores and also ran for two scores. Nick Odom ran for 134 yards. Plum leads the all-time series 9-6.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Burrell, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Highlands, Indiana, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Shaler, Springdale, Valley