A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2024 Week Zero

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | 6:41 PM

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Nonconference

Allderdice at Fox Chapel

7 p.m. Friday, Burke Stadium, Fox Chapel

Last year’s result: Did not play

• Fox Chapel will be playing a City League team for the first time in the school’s 64-year history. The Foxes, who went 0-10 last season, are looking to end a 21-game losing streak. Max Melocchi and Joey Geller will play QB in the wing-T offense. Melocchi threw for 401 yards last season. … Allderdice coach Jerry Haslett died July 24. He had coached the Dragons for 15 seasons. Mark Matson is the new head coach. Dice, which went 1-8 last fall, will be led by junior TE/DE Lukas Stead and senior lineman Edward Simms.

Apollo-Ridge at Leechburg

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

Last year’s result: Leechburg 18, Apollo-Ridge 16

• Apollo-Ridge (3-7 last season) graduated dual-threat QB Karter Schrock but returns talented WR Jaden McCray, who had 410 receiving yards in 2023. Alex Clawson and Christopher Dailey were contending to play quarterback. The Vikings beat Leechburg, 34-28, in 2022. … QB Jayden Floyd, who threw for nearly 1,500 yards and ran for more than 1,100 last season, returns to lead the Blue Devils, who were 6-5 and lost in the WPIAL Class A first round in 2023. His top target is Jake Cummings (507 yards, 4 TDs).

Armstrong at Highlands

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

Last year’s result: Highlands 17, Armstrong 15

• The teams are quite familiar with one another after playing as Allegheny 7 Conference foes the past several years. The Golden Rams won three of the past four meetings, with Armstrong winning 56-35 in 2022. … Highlands will lean on QB Menage Lucas, RB Darius Cherry and WR Aiden Burford this season as it moves down to Class 3A. The Golden Rams finished 6-5 last season and lost to Central Valley in the WPIAL first round. … Armstrong (5-5 in 2023) is moving up to Class 5A and has to replace starting QB Colt Sprankle, who transferred to Knoch, and wide receiver Ian Olsen, who is attending IMG Academy. Sophomore Jaydon Oliver is taking snaps this season after contributing 16 TDs last fall.

Avonworth at Burrell

7:30 p.m. Friday, Buccaneer Stadium, Lower Burrell

Last year’s result: Did not play

• Avonworth will be the 82nd school Burrell has played in its 60 football seasons. Burrell finished 4-7 last season and lost to Mohawk in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. The Bucs return QB Stevie Hasson, though he is recovering from a broken hand. Trey Coury and Liam Kasavage will be the team’s primary ball carriers. … Avonworth was 12-1 and was the WPIAL 3A runner-up to Belle Vernon for a second straight season in 2023. First-team all-conference quarterback Carson Bellinger returns after throwing for 1,542 yards and 21 touchdowns. … These teams decided to play in Week Zero after their original opponents, Springdale and Perry, had to cancel because of a lack of available players.

Franklin Regional at Plum

7 p.m. Friday, Plum Stadium, Plum

Last year’s result: Franklin Regional 45, Plum 26

• This is a longtime rivalry between neighboring schools. It dates to 1940 when the Mustangs beat the then-Franklin Township Longhorns, 12-6. In the 1970s, they were part of the original Keystone Conference. … Franklin Regional returns an experienced offense led by senior quarterback Chase Lemke and senior running back Kyle Dupill. Tackle Andrew Devola is a menace on the Panthers’ defense. … The Mustangs hope to get playmakers Darian Nelson and Nick Odom in open space. Odom rushed for 1,043 yards and seven touchdowns, and Nelson caught 42 passes for 619 yards and nine scores. … Plum holds a 25-22 lead in the all-time series, but the Panthers have won the past five games.

Freeport at Indiana

7 p.m. Friday, Andy Kuzneski Field, Indiana

Last year’s result: Indiana 28, Freeport 14

• Freeport begins its 103rd football season at Indiana. The schools have split games in the past two seasons. Freeport won 28-8 in 2022. The Yellowjackets finished 3-7 last season and will try to rebound behind junior QB Drew Ross, who threw for 1,259 yards and 13 TDs last season. … Indiana also went 3-7 last season and was winless in the Greater Allegheny Conference. Senior dual-threat QB Quinn Lipniskis is back to guide the offense after missing most of last season with an injury. Rocco Consentino and Elijiah Thomas will lead the running game.

Keystone Oaks at Deer Lakes

7 p.m. Friday, Lancer Stadium, West Deer

Last year’s result: Keystone Oaks 7, Deer Lakes 6

• Deer Lakes is looking for revenge after falling to KO by a point last season. It was the lowest output of the season for the Lancers, who finished 8-4 and reached the WPIAL quarterfinals. Senior running back Zier Williams returns to lead the offense after rushing for 1,147 yards and 13 TDs in 2023. … Keystone Oaks was 6-5 and lost to Beaver Falls in the WPIAL first round last year when it held teams to 11.4 ppg. MLB Nathan Rohe, DL Roman Pellarin and DBs Sean O’Brien and Jack Hrivnak will anchor the defense.

Valley at Southmoreland

7 p.m. Friday, Russ Grimm Stadium, Alverton

Last year’s result: Did not play

• Former Southmoreland coach Mark Adams brings his Vikings to Alverton to kick off the season. … The Vikings are dressing more than 50 players and are led by QB Mason Simmons. He’ll be throwing to Coury Pitts, Zayaan Ferron and Derek Hassim. Valley won the four previous games between the schools from 1992-95. … Southmoreland has holes to fill on offense, but all eyes will be on talented freshman QB Anthony Smith and freshman running back Jackson Mickens. WR/DE Elliot Premus looks to have another big season. LB Ethan Shawley is back after making 13 tackles. Friday begins the 60th anniversary season for Southmoreland. The school came on the scene in 1964 with a merger of Scottdale and East Huntingdon high schools. The Scotties posted an 8-0-0 record for the inaugural season but lacked enough Gardner Points to make the WPIAL postseason.

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.