A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2025 Week 3

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 11:14 PM

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Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Week 3 in the A-K Valley:

Class 5A Big East Conference

Kiski Area (1-2, 0-0) at Gateway (0-3, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Pete Antimarino Stadium, Monroeville

Last week: Hempfield 43, Kiski Area 10; Plum 23, Gateway 14

Last year’s meeting: Gateway 28, Kiski Area 7

Both teams are looking to bounce back from a loss and get off to a positive start in the Big East Conference. … Kiski fell behind 23-0 in the first quarter last week and couldn’t get on track. Aven Shirley scored on a 77-yard TD pass from Landyn Artman, and Andrew Finney booted a 25-yard field for the Cavs. Artman finished with 207 passing yards. … The Gators went back and forth with rival Plum before falling to 0-3. Jakson Smith ran for a score, and Shawn Moorefield Jr. caught a 57-yard TD pass from Mayson Mitchell for the Gators. Both Smith and Mitchell took snaps behind center. … Gateway holds a 16-4 lead in the all-time series that dates to 1972 when the Gators defeated the Cavaliers, 22-13, in the WPIAL semifinals at Three Rivers Stadium. Kiski Area’s last win against Gateway was in 2001.

Class 5A Northeast Conference

Fox Chapel (2-1, 0-0) at Penn Hills (0-3, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Yuhas McGinley Stadium, Penn Hills

Last week: Fox Chapel 20, Knoch 18; North Allegheny 35, Penn Hills 0

Last year’s meeting: Penn Hills 54, Fox Chapel 0

Fox Chapel is chasing its first three-game winning streak since 2019 when the Foxes defeated Mars, Connellsville and Armstrong. Joe Geller paced the Foxes last week, throwing for 203 yards and two touchdowns and also rushing for 64 yards. Max Melocchi caught five passes for 165 yards and two scores. … The Indians have struggled to score this season. They have been outscored 88-7 and shut out twice. QB Jayshon Taylor threw for 59 yards, and RB Doryan Peay ran for 67 last week. … Penn Hills holds an 18-1 lead in the all-time series. The only Foxes win was 22-14 in 1997, which was the last season the Foxes won a conference title.

Plum (2-1, 0-0) at Shaler (0-3, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Titan Stadium, Glenshaw

Last week: Plum 23, Gateway 14; Hampton 25, Shaler 24

Last year’s meeting: Plum 24, Shaler 7

Plum started 1-6 last season, and that one win came against Shaler. QB John Nonnenberg continued to shine last week, throwing for 228 yards and two scores. Sloan Humphries caught four passes for 87 yards and a score, and Semaj Robinson had three catches for 88 yards and a TD. … The Titans have lost all three games they’ve played but by a combined 15 points. Last week, Shaler lost on a last-second, 45-yard field goal. QB Aaron Aversa ran for 235 yards on 14 carries and also threw for 155 yards and a touchdown. … Plum leads 6-5 in an all-time series that dates to 1984.

Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference

Highlands (1-2, 0-0) at East Allegheny (0-3, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Joseph Churchman Memorial Stadium, North Versailles

Last week: New Castle 32, Highlands 0; Elizabeth Forward 53, East Allegheny 13

Last year’s meeting: Highlands 64, East Allegheny 36

Highlands suffered a second straight lopsided loss last week after opening the season with a thrilling 31-28 victory over Armstrong. The Golden Rams will try to bounce back in the Allegheny 7 opener and will need to improve on their 15.3-point average. … East Allegheny allowed two interception returns and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns last week. The Wildcats did come through with a couple big plays on offense. Cedric Mack hit D.J. Warren for a 68-yard strike, and Aumar Everett found Ladar Jackson for a 70-yard TD pass. East Allegheny has been outscored 142-46 this season. … Highlands and East Allegheny played for the first time last year, and it was a high-scoring contest. The teams combined for 100 points. Highlands was led by QB Menage Lucas, who threw for 125 yards and three scores and ran for 141 yards and three scores.

Valley (0-3, 0-0) at No. 2 Imani Christian (3-0, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday, UPMC Graham Field, Wilkinsburg

Last week: Greensburg Salem 26, Valley 10; Imani Christian 3

Last year’s meeting: Imani Christian 46, Valley 0

Valley’s conference opener comes against one of the top teams in Class 3A. The Vikings will need to control the ball with RB Zay Adams, who scored on a 4-yard run last week. The defense, which has allowed 33.6 ppg this season, will have to be stout with its assignments against the Saints’ attack. … Imani Christian has outscored opponents 118-15 this season. QB Gabe Jenkins threw for 135 yards and two scores and also ran for 118 yards and a touchdown last week. David Davis and Jenkins are Penn State commits, and Will Gorman is headed to Youngstown State. … The Vikings are 1-2 against the Saints all-time. The Valley victory was at home in 2019, 22-6. The three times Valley won at Graham Field were in 1972, ’74 and ’81. … Imani is the smallest football school in the WPIAL with 33 boys in the top three grades. It could be a Class A school but has opted to play in Class 3A.

Class A Eastern Conference

Leechburg (2-1, 0-0) at Riverview (2-1, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Riverside Park, Oakmont

Last week: Leechburg 26, Serra Catholic 0; Cornell 35, Riverview 21

Last year’s meeting: Leechburg 43, Riverview 14

Riverview will host the Blue Devils for the program’s annual Friday night game under the temporary lights at Riverside Park. … Leechburg’s running game continued its assault on opponents last week as Tim Andrasy ran for 219 yards and two scores on 35 carries. Nick Hilty added a 58-yard TD run. Andrasy is the WPIAL’s second-leading rusher through three games with 618 yards (Blackhawk’s Brayden McCarthy, 651). … Kaden Levy ran for two scores, and Max Kratt caught a 48-yard TD pass from Connor Kmetz for the Raiders in last week’s loss. Levy ran for 103 yards. … Riverview holds a 29-16-2 lead in the all-time series, though the Blue Devils have won each of the last seven seasons. The last Leechburg appearance in Oakmont was a 29-28 thriller two years ago when Leechburg stopped a Raiders 2-point conversion try to win the game.

Springdale (0-2, 0-0) at Brentwood (1-2, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Brentwood Park, Brentwood

Last week: Avella 35, Springdale 6; Brentwood 41, Sto-Rox 0

Last year’s meeting: Brentwood 48, Springdale 6

Springdale used its two nonconference games to get some young players game experience and will try to get the offense going in the Eastern Conference opener. Corey Brooks scored on a 54-yard run for the Dynamos last week. Will Fowler added 43 yards on 14 carries. … Brentwood rebounded from a pair of losses by shutting out Sto-Rox. Daysaun Spencer caught a 38-yard TD pass and returned a punt 26 yards for a TD. Nicky Wardzinski ran for 110 yards and two scores. … Springdale is 4-9-1 all-time vs. Brentwood with a 7-7 tie coming in 1952. The last Dynamos victory against the Spartans came in 2008 by a 47-7 score.

Nonconference

Burrell (1-2) at Derry (2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Trojan Stadium, Derry

Last week: Burrell 28, Mt. Pleasant 21; Derry 24, Deer Lakes 21

Last year’s meeting: Derry 32, Burrell 13

Burrell snapped a five-game losing streak as it rallied late to knock off banged-up Mt. Pleasant. Derry also staged a thrilling comeback against Deer Lakes. … Antonio Perkins ran for 142 yards and all four touchdowns to lead the Bucs against Mt. Pleasant. Burrell trailed by a touchdown heading to the fourth quarter. … Derry scored 15 points in the fourth to get past the Lancers, with Noah Stough grabbing an 11-yard touchdown from Anthony Sacco with 11 seconds left for the win. The Trojans erupted for 26 second-half points last year to down the Bucs. Dylan Pitzer is a difference maker on defense. … Derry leads 4-6 in the all-time series, which dates to 1982 when Derry won by the unusual football score of 11-0. This marks the 70th football season for Derry Area High School following the consolidation of Derry Borough and Derry Township high schools.

Carlynton (1-2) at Apollo-Ridge (1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Owens Field, Apollo

Last week: South Allegheny 53, Carlynton 0; Greensburg C.C. 35, Apollo-Ridge 16

Last year’s meeting: Carlynton 42, Apollo-Ridge 15

After two close games against Carrick and Avella, the Cougars were routed last week by South Allegheny. QB Maddox Horrel was held to 35 passing yards. Running backs Justin Berger and Ashton Donlin also were bottled up. Carlynton ended the longest playoff drought among active WPIAL schools last season. An opening-round loss to Western Beaver marked the first Carlynton postseason appearance since 2001. … Apollo-Ridge scored on a couple of big plays in last week’s loss to GCC: a 59-yard TD pass from Alex Clawson to Jaden McCray and a 57-yard run by Zac Myers. The Vikings also scored on a safety. Myers ran for a 74 yards on six carries. … Apollo-Ridge has played Carlynton three times, winning 21-18 in 2018 and 22-7 in 2019, prior to last year’s Cougars victory. … Carlynton High School was formed in 1970. The “car” stands for Carnegie; the “lyn” for Rosslyn Farms and the “ton” for Crafton.

Class 4A No. 5 Montour (2-1) at Knoch (0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Knights Stadium, Saxonburg

Last week: Montour 35, Trinity 27; Fox Chapel 20, Knoch 18

Last year’s meeting: Montour 44, Knoch 14

Montour showed balance in last week’s victory as QB Brandon Bennett threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and RB Caden Halajcio ran for 164 yards and a score. Archie Collins and Bennett also ran for scores. … The Knights fell to Fox Chapel on a late field goal last week. Max Wiley and Carter Beres each scored on short TD runs, and Austin Friedline booted a 42-yard field goal. Knoch will play another nonconference game next week against New Castle before opening Greater Allegheny play in Week 5 at Indiana. … Montour has a 10-3 record all-time vs. Knoch. The Knights’ last win in the series was in 2003. Knoch lost to Montour, 42-14, in the 2011 Class 3A title game, the last time an A-K Valley team played for a WPIAL title.

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, Brentwood, Burrell, Carlynton, East Allegheny, Fox Chapel, Gateway, Highlands, Imani Christian, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Montour, Penn Hills, Plum, Riverview, Shaler, Springdale, Valley