A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2025 Week 1

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 6:50 PM

Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Week 1 in the A-K Valley:

Nonconference

Baldwin (0-1) at Fox Chapel (0-1)

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

Last week: Thomas Jefferson 69, Baldwin 6; Allderdice 30, Fox Chapel 7

Last year’s meeting: Fox Chapel 38, Baldwin 7

Baldwin is looking to snap a 20-game losing streak against a foe that it has had success against, holding a 5-3 all-time advantage against the Foxes. Mwango Kasuba had the lone score for the Fighting Highlanders last week, catching a 55-yard pass from Vince Broccoli in the fourth quarter. … The Foxes defeated Baldwin, 38-7, last season, in addition to wins in 2016 and ’17. Joe Geller threw for 57 yards last week, including a 5-yard scoring strike to Joe Yoshikawa. Max Melocchi led the rushing attack with 38 yards on 12 carries.

Burrell (0-1) at Shady Side Academy (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Michael J. Farrell Stadium, Fox Chapel

Last week: Avonworth 35, Burrell 6; Shady Side Academy 28, Greensburg C.C. 26

Last year’s meeting: Shady Side Academy 42, Burrell 7

Burrell will aim to rebound from a loss to the WPIAL’s top-ranked Class 3A team. The Bucs have something to build on after the offense produced 221 yards. Quarterback Antonio Perkins threw for 91 yards and ran for 45. RB Trey Coury was held to 33 yards on 16 rushes. … Shady Side, playing its 132nd football season, rallied from a 20-8 deficit in the third quarter to top GCC. QB Javon Johnston’s 48-yard TD run helped spark the comeback, and his late TD pass to B.J. Mallory sealed the win. Freshman RB Maddox Harvey also scored on a 4-yard run. … Burrell holds an 11-10 lead in the all-time series.

Derry (1-0) at Freeport (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Freeport Athletic Stadium, Buffalo Township

Last week: Freeport 28, Indiana 0; Derry 33, Ligonier Valley 14

Last year’s meeting: Derry 21, Freeport 7

Derry broke a five-game losing streak and evened the “Riot on the Ridge” series with Ligonier Valley at 2-2 as Max Doherty ran for 148 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Anthony Sacco also threw a pair of scores. The Trojans led 33-0 going to the fourth quarter. … Freeport scored all of its points in the third quarter in a shutout of Indiana. Amos Glenn returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and added a scoring rush, Dawson Gaillot had a 25-yard interception return for a score and Drew Ross had a touchdown run for the Yellowjackets, who made the 3A quarterfinals last year under veteran coach John Gaillot. … The Trojans have won three of the four past games with the Yellowjackets.

Highlands (1-0) at Class 3A No. 4 Elizabeth Forward (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Warrior Stadium, Elizabeth

Last week: Highlands 31, Armstrong 28; Elizabeth Forward 28, West Mifflin 14

Last year’s meeting: Elizabeth Forward 53, Highlands 52 (3OT)

Highlands kicked off its season with an offensive slugfest in Armstrong County. Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg ran for 122 yards and two scores, and Taiy Partlow added 78 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Jamarkus Prager threw for 255 yards, and kicker Jackson Babinsack converted a 40-yard field goal and four extra-point attempts to seal the win. … Elizabeth Forward relied on the arm and legs of one of the WPIAL’s top quarterbacks in its opening win. Ryan Messina threw for 111 yards and ran for 78 yards and three scores. … The Golden Rams return to the scene of one of their greatest triumphs. In the 2001 Class 3A quarterfinals, No. 16 Highlands defeated Moon, 23-22 at Warrior Stadium on a last-second field goal by Chris Cottone. The Golden Rams won two previous games against Elizabeth Forward in 1998 and ’99.

Class A No. 5 Jeannette (0-1) at Apollo-Ridge (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Owens Field, Apollo

Last week: Mt. Pleasant 29, Jeannette 23; Apollo-Ridge 20, Leechburg 16

Last year’s meeting: Jeannette 42, Apollo-Ridge 28

Reeling after a stunning loss, Jeannette will look to regroup in its second straight road game. The Jayhawks built a 23-0 lead against Mt. Pleasant, only to have the Vikings rally for a 29-23 win. Kymon’e Brown threw for 214 yards and a touchdown and ran for 113 yards and two scores in the setback. Jayce Powell had four receptions for 131 yards and a TD. … Apollo-Ridge avenged a 2024 opening-week loss to Leechburg by beating the Blue Devils, 20-16. The Vikings rallied by scoring the final 13 points, with quarterback Alex Clawson scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 4 minutes, 16 seconds remaining. Clawson combined to run and throw for 220 yards, including 148 passing (9 of 18). Jayden McCray had seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Kiski Area (1-0) at Norwin (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Norwin Knights Stadium, North Huntingdon

Last week: Kiski Area 21, Knoch 0; Penn-Trafford 34, Norwin 31

Last year’s meeting: Norwin 33, Kiski Area 21

First-year coach Colyn Haugh earned his first win in his first try as the Cavaliers blanked Knoch. Ashton Taylor ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in the victory. Austin Beck booted two field goals, from 37 and 21 yards. … Norwin nearly rallied from 17 points down in the second half but fell just short against rival Penn-Trafford. Quarterback Tristyn Tavares ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 133 and a score with two interceptions. Giovanni Rothrauff added 116 yards on the ground. Norwin scored three second-half touchdowns to close the gap. Tristian Josephic kicked a 35-yard field goal in his debut. … The game reunites old Foothills Conference foes who first met in 1962 with Norwin prevailing 34-0. The rivalry resumed last year following a nine-year hiatus. Kiski Area has a 22-10 lead in the all-time series.

Knoch (0-1) at North Catholic (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, J.C. Stone Field, McCandless

Last week: Kiski Area 21, Knoch 0; North Catholic 47, Seton LaSalle 14

Last year’s meeting: Knoch 28, North Catholic 17

Knoch’s offense will look to get on track this week after being shut out in the season opener. Quarterback Max Wiley threw for 86 yards and ran for 58 more. Vincent DeFelice was his top target with five catches for 33 yards. … Joey Felitsky, the WPIAL’s leading passer last season with nearly 3,000 yards, guided North Catholic to a Week Zero victory. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 260 yards and two scores. Ryker Kennedy caught five of those passes for 115 yards and two scores. Logan Schade also paced the offense, rushing for 88 yards and three touchdowns.

Latrobe (0-1) at Plum (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustang Stadium, Plum

Last week: Connellsville 28, Latrobe 13; Plum 42, Franklin Regional 13

Last year’s meeting: Latrobe 32, Plum 18

Non-WPIAL team Connellsville avenged last year’s 41-0 loss with a 28-13 victory. Connellsville ran for 197 yards against the Wildcats and new coach Tom McIntyre. The Wildcats played without standout receiver and defensive back Andy Tatsch, who was injured in a scrimmage against Penn Hills. AJ Yaboah, who is from Ghana, had a touchdown run. His 80-yard kick return touchdown was erased by penalty. … Plum started fast in an impressive win over Franklin Regional to open the season. Quarterback John Nonnenberg was 9 of 14 for 228 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Mustangs. Brendan Marston, Sloan Humphries and Semaj Robinson caught scoring passes, and Elijah Jackson ran for a touchdown in Plum’s first win over the Panthers since 2017.

Leechburg (0-1) at Beth-Center (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Beth-Center Stadium, Fredericktown

Last week: Apollo-Ridge 20, Leechburg 16; Riverview 34, Beth-Center 19

Last year’s meeting: Leechburg 42, Beth-Center 8

Leechburg will try to bounce back after a loss to rival Apollo-Ridge. Jaxon Vargo provided a highlight with a 38-yard interception return. Tim Andrasy ran for 89 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown. … Beth-Center will rely on its running game, led by Teagan Veatch, Homer Headlee and Enzo Brown, who had two scores last week. Cyncere Cruse had an 85-yard kickoff return. … The schools played for the first time last season, with the Devils winning 42-8. Formed in 1958, Beth-Center has had some outstanding teams in the past, though its 1967 team had a strange record of 5-0-4. The Bulldogs won the 1975 WPIAL Class 2A title against another Armstrong County school, Kittanning.

Springdale (0-0) at Chartiers-Houston (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Buccaneer Stadium, Houston

Last week: Springdale DNP; Jefferson-Morgan 42, Chartiers-Houston 7

Last year’s meeting: Chartiers-Houston 54, Springdale 0

Springdale will try to snap a 16-game losing streak as it opens the season on the road. The Dynamos dropped a 54-0 decision to Chartiers-Houston last season. Sophomore Jackson Williams, who played at Seton LaSalle last season, is set to start at quarterback for the Dynamos. … Chartiers-Houston was victimized by the Jefferson-Morgan rushing attack last week as three runners combined for 210 yards and six touchdowns. Aaron Walsh connected with Brody McCrerey for a 19-yard touchdown for the Bucs.

Valley (0-1) at Riverview (1-0)

Noon Saturday, Riverside Park, Oakmont

Last week: Southmoreland 40, Valley 0; Riverview 34, Beth-Center 19

Last year’s meeting: Riverview 38, Valley 36

Valley’s defense will try to bounce back after allowing 36 points to Southmoreland last week. The Scotties also converted two safeties. … The Raiders showed balance on offense in Week Zero behind QB Connor Kmetz, who threw for 155 yards and three scores. Dom Williams, Max Kratt, Miles Duncan and Lukas Duncan combined for 181 rushing yards. Miles Sigal returned a fumble 10 yards for a score. … After meeting for the first time last season, Saturday will mark the first time a team in the New Kensington-Arnold School District has visited Riverside Park since Oct. 9, 1965, when Arnold lost to Oakmont, 13-6.

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, Baldwin, Beth-Center, Burrell, Chartiers-Houston, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, North Catholic, Plum, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Springdale, Valley