A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2025 Week 5

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 6:13 PM

Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for A-K Valley teams in Week 5:

Class 5A Big East

Franklin Regional (0-5, 0-2) at Kiski Area (0-5, 0-2)

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

Last week: Gateway 33, Franklin Regional 28; Penn-Trafford 42, Kiski Area 0

Last year’s meeting: Franklin Regional 35, Kiski Area 30

Both teams are coming off tough losses, and both blew games in the fourth quarter against Gateway. … The last time the Panthers started 0-5 was 2000. Four players scored against Gateway. QB Dom Devola rushed for 96 yards and a score and completed 13 of 19 passes for 178 yards and two scores. … Ashton Taylor rushed for 68 yards last week for the Cavaliers, who have lost four straight games. The Cavaliers had trouble moving the ball. Kiski Area returns home after a rare four-game road trip. … Franklin Regional leads 14-11 in the all-time series.

Class 5A Northeast

No. 1 Pine-Richland (4-1, 2-0) at Fox Chapel (2-3, 0-2)

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

Last week: Pine-Richland 56, Plum 14; North Hills 56, Fox Chapel 7

Last year’s meeting: Pine-Richland 71, Fox Chapel 0

Pine-Richland has been one of the most dominant teams in the WPIAL this season, averaging 42.4 points and allowing 16.2. The Rams’ lone loss was to Class 6A No. 1 Central Catholic in Week 1. They have since outscored Seneca Valley, North Hills and Plum a combined 153-40. In last week’s win, Jalen Neals returned a kickoff 70 yards for a score, and Khalil Taylor caught two touchdown passes and returned a punt 85 yards for a score. RB Maclane Miller ran for 103 yards and two TDs, and QB Aaron Strader threw for 206 yards and three scores. He ran for 57 yards and another TD. … Fox Chapel struggled to slow the North Hills attack last week. The Foxes were led offensively by QB Joe Geller, who threw for 100 yards, including a 14-yard TD to Nathan Johnson. … Pine-Richland leads the all-time series 11-1. Fox Chapel’s only win was its first win in school history, 7-6, on Oct. 6, 1961.

Class 4A Greater Allegheny

Knoch (0-5, 0-0) at Indiana (2-3, 0-0)

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

Last week: New Castle 45, Knoch 0; Indiana 41, Derry 34

Last year’s meeting: Knoch 42, Indiana 13

Knoch wrapped up its nonconference slate and opens Greater Allegheny Conference play this week. The Knights faced a grind against some of the area’s top teams in North Catholic (5-0), Montour (3-2) and New Castle (4-1). Last week, Knoch was held to 80 yards of offense. … Indiana is coming off a thrilling win over Derry, sparked by late touchdown runs by Jason Strack and Roman Jones. Jones finished with 131 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Jace Brocious also had a 70-yard kickoff return for a score. The Little Indians have won back-to-back games after a 0-3 start. … Knoch owns a 12-11 advantage in the all-time series that dates to 1988 when Indiana joined the WPIAL.

Class 3A Allegheny 7

Burrell (1-4, 0-1) at East Allegheny (1-4, 1-1)

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

Last week: Freeport 34, Burrell 7; East Allegheny 14, Deer Lakes 7

Last year’s meeting: Burrell 22, East Allegheny 14

Burrell will head on the road in search of its first Allegheny 7 victory. The Bucs have struggled offensively the past two weeks after putting up 26 points against Shady Side Academy and 28 versus Mt. Pleasant. Last week, QB Antonio Perkins threw for 134 yards and two interceptions and ran for 138 yards and a score. … East Allegheny rallied to beat Deer Lakes when Cedrick Mack found Ronte Lawrence for a 17-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter. Mack threw for 239 yards and two scores. D.J. Warren, who caught eight passes for 121 yards last week, is his top target. … East Allegheny is 17-10-1 vs. Burrell, with the 14-14 tie coming in 1988. The series dates to 1969 when East Allegheny was known as Westinghouse Memorial High School. The school district was formed in 1960 with a merger of Wilmerding and East McKeesport high schools.

Freeport (5-0, 2-0) at Valley (0-5, 0-1)

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

Last week: Freeport 34, Burrell 7; Quaker Valley 29, Valley 20

Last year’s meeting: Freeport 48, Valley 20

Freeport is riding high at 5-0 with an average of 42.2 points. The Yellowjackets defense is allowing 5.4 ppg. Running back Amos Glenn fronted the offensive attack last week with 205 yards and four touchdowns. Judah Thompson also played a key role with two field goals and four converted extra points. … Valley got off to a strong start last week when Brendon Knuckles returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a score. Juzef Betts added a 46-yard TD run, and Skyler Lincoln found the end zone on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Vikings struggled to stop lengthy Quaker Valley drives, however. Valley is allowing 40.4 points per game. … Valley leads Freeport, 10-9, in the all-time series that began in 1986. Freeport has won the last four games. Nine of their meetings have been decided by 10 points or less.

Class 2A Allegheny

Apollo-Ridge (3-2, 1-0) at OLSH (2-3, 1-1)

7 p.m. Saturday, Tigers Stadium, Moon

Last week: Apollo-Ridge 22, Shady Side Academy 14; OLSH 40, Ligonier Valley 6

Last year’s meeting: OLSH 26, Apollo-Ridge 7

It’s Saturday night lights for Apollo-Ridge as OLSH rents Moon Tigers Stadium along University Boulevard for its home games. When Moon has the field on a Friday, OLSH follows with a Saturday night contest. … Apollo-Ridge is seeking its first three-game winning streak in three years. The Vikings got two fourth-quarter touchdown runs from Jaden McCray last week to beat Shady Side Academy. He finished with seven carries for 37 yards and three scores. … OLSH had a balanced effort against Ligonier Valley last week as Christian Bush scored on a 50-yard blocked punt return and 54-yard run, and Fabian Nixon threw for 250 yards and four touchdown passes. Ty’Aire Hawkins, Owen Nestor and John Anderson combined to rush for 238 yards. … Apollo-Ridge and OLSH played for the first time last season.

Class A Eastern

Greensburg C.C. (3-2, 1-1) at Riverview (3-2, 1-1)

Noon Saturday, Riverview Park, Oakmont

Last week: Greensburg Central Catholic 34, Brentwood 6; Riverview 64, Springdale 14

Last year’s meeting: Greensburg Central Catholic 45, Riverview 14

Both teams rebounded from opening conference losses with impressive road wins. … GCC used three touchdowns to defeat Brentwood. QB Bobby Smithnosky scored one touchdown and threw a 60-yard touchdown to Jerry Davis. … Riverview had seven players score touchdowns against Springdale. Kaden Levy rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and Max Kraft scored twice. … GCC leads Riverview, 12-7, in the all-time series. The Centurions have won 10 of the last 11 games with the Raiders last win coming in 2016, 13-7.

Nonconference

Penn-Trafford (4-1) at Plum (2-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustangs Stadium, Plum

Last week: Penn-Trafford 42, Kiski Area 0; Pine-Richland 56, Plum 14

Last year’s meeting: Penn-Trafford 34, Plum 10

These teams are former Keystone Conference rivals. … Penn-Trafford wide receiver Nick Ponko caught five passes for 135 yards and a touchdown last week. Ben Grabowski and Cody Yacamelli scored two touchdowns as P-T coach John Ruane spread the offense between 16 players against Kiski Area. … Nico Signor and Elijah Jackson scored touchdowns for Plum against Pine-Richland. John Nonnenberg is a dual threat as the Mustangs quarterback. … Penn-Trafford holds a 17-6 lead against Plum in the all-time series that dates to 1972, the first year of P-T when both were Keystone Conference members. Plum has lost the last 11 games against Penn-Trafford, with its last victory coming in 2001, 14-3.

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, Burrell, East Allegheny, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Indiana, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Pine-Richland, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Valley