A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2025 Week 8

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | 6:58 PM

Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Week 8 in the A-K Valley:

Class 5A Northeast

Shaler (2-6, 2-1) at Fox Chapel (2-6, 0-4)

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

Last week: Shaler 17, North Hills 14; Plum 35, Fox Chapel 0

Last year’s meeting: Shaler 35, Fox Chapel 19

The Titans, who snapped a three-game losing streak last week with a win over North Hills, can sew up a playoff berth with a victory, coupled with a North Hills loss at Penn Hills. The Titans’ other Northwest win was 27-20 over Plum in Week 3. Last week, Aaron Aversa threw for 130 yards and a score and also ran for 94 yards and a touchdown. … Fox Chapel’s offense struggled to get untracked against Plum last week as the Foxes dropped a fifth straight game. Nathan Johnson led the running attack. Fox Chapel will close out the season next week with a nonconference game at East Allegheny. … Shaler is 35-14 against Fox Chapel in a series that dates to 1963.

Class 4A Greater Allegheny

West Mifflin (2-6, 1-2) at Knoch (0-8, 0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Knights Stadium, Saxonburg

Last week: West Mifflin 42, Indiana 6; Hampton 38, Knoch 0

Last year’s meeting: West Mifflin 48, Knoch 21

West Mifflin snapped a four-game losing streak last week by beating Indiana to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth in the Greater Allegheny. Running back Armand Hill led the way for the Titans with 180 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries. Jose Perez caught two passes for 105 yards, both resulting in touchdowns. … Knoch has been eliminated from a playoff berth but can endanger the Titans from committee consideration with a win. The Knights have lost all four previous games to West Mifflin. In last week’s loss to Hampton, Knoch rotated three players behind center, as Max Wiley, Kade Sundie and Roman DeFelice completed 12 of 22 passes for 123 yards.

Class 3A Allegheny 7

Burrell (3-5, 2-2) at No. 2 Imani Christian (8-0, 4-0)

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

Last week: Highlands 42, Burrell 21; Imani Christian 56, Deer Lakes 14

Last year’s meeting: Imani Christian 60, Burrell 6

Burrell remains in the hunt for one of the top three spots in the Allegheny 7 or one of three Class 3A wild card berths but faces a daunting test this week. QB Antonio Perkins continued to show his dual-threat abilities last week, rushing for 155 yards and two scores on 29 carries while throwing for 70 yards and a touchdown to Zack Coudriet. … Imani Christian can clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Saints are averaging 46.2 points while allowing just 6.5. They have allowed just 21 points total in four conference games. Gabe Jenkins, who recently decommitted from Penn State, threw for five touchdowns and ran for another in last week’s win over Deer Lakes. … Burrell is 1-2 against Imani Christian, winning 42-30 in 2022. The Bucs last won at Graham Field in 1981 with a 14-6 victory over Wilkinsburg when both schools were Greater Allegheny Conference members.

Deer Lakes (1-7, 0-4) at Valley (0-8, 0-4)

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

Last week: Imani Christian 56, Deer Lakes 14; East Allegheny 16, Valley 10

Last year’s meeting: Deer Lakes 44, Valley 13

Both Deer Lakes and Valley are all but mathematically eliminated from postseason play. Either team would have to win its final two games and hope for a huge combination of other factors to impress the football steering committee. … In last week’s loss to Imani Christian, Evan Moore caught a 3-yard TD pass from Dante Mangieri and Ryan Love scored on a 1-yard run for the Lancers. … Valley is looking to snap a 23-game losing streak. The Vikings put forth a strong effort last week against East Allegheny, rallying from a 15-3 deficit with a fourth-quarter score when Raymond Loury caught a 6-yard TD pass from Skyler Lincoln. … Deer Lakes will be seeking its fifth consecutive victory over the Vikings, though Valley has a 17-7 lead in the all-time series with two of the Lancers wins coming via forfeits.

East Allegheny (2-6, 2-3) at Freeport (6-2, 3-1)

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

Last week: East Allegheny 16, Valley 10; Hopewell 48, Freeport 20

Last year’s meeting: Freeport 42, East Allegheny 15

Freeport is on the verge of clinching the school’s 34th WPIAL playoff berth, needing a victory against the Wildcats and a Burrell loss to Imani Christian. The Yellowjackets are looking to snap a two-game losing streak after starting 6-0. Against Hopewell last week, Amos Glenn rushed for 126 yards and two scores. The passing game, however was held in check, as Drew Ross and Danny King were a combined 6 of 21 for just 24 yards. The Freeport defense also allowed Hopewell to score four offensive touchdowns of 40 or more yards. … East Allegheny rebounded from back-to-back losses last week with a win over Valley. Chris Portis caught a 12-yard TD pass from Cedric Mack and also returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown. …The all-time series is knotted at 7-7-1. One of the Yellowjackets’ wins was a 21-7, 1996 playoff victory. A 6-6 tie occurred in 1987.

Class 2A Allegheny

Apollo-Ridge (5-3, 3-1) at South Park (4-4, 1-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Eagle Stadium, South Park

Last week: South Allegheny 35, Apollo-Ridge 0; South Park 42, Ligonier Valley 21

Last year’s meeting: South Park 34, Apollo-Ridge 10

An Apollo-Ridge win would nail down the school’s 18th WPIAL playoff trip. Last week’s loss to South Allegheny snapped the Vikings’ four-game winning streak. Apollo-Ridge has averaged 20.8 points per game while allowing a near-identical 20.1. Apollo-Ridge QB Alexander Clawson was held to 127 passing yards in last week’s loss. Preston Clemens rushed for 50 yards on eight carries. … Defending WPIAL champion South Park is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs the season after winning the title. That also happened last season in Class 2A when Beaver Falls won the 2023 crown, but failed to qualify in 2024. The Eagles’ win at Ligonier Valley snapped a four-game skid. Quinton Napper returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score and ran for touchdowns of 65 and 48 yards. …The schools met for the first time last season.

Class A Eastern

No. 2 Clairton (6-1, 5-0) at Riverview (4-4, 2-3)

Noon Saturday, Riverside Park, Oakmont

Last week: Clairton 48, Leechburg 0; Frazier 41, Riverview 20

Last year’s meeting: Clairton 84, Riverview 0

Clairton secured its 20th consecutive WPIAL playoff berth in the win vs. Leechburg last week. The Bears have been dominant for six straight games, outscoring opponents 350-0 since a 19-12 loss to Class 3A Imani Christian in the season opener. Against Leechburg last week, Jeff Thompson threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns, and Deon Lovelace-Pompey ran for 151 yards and a score. … Riverview is trying to rebound after back-to-back Eastern Conference losses to Brentwood and Frazier. Last week, QB Connor Kmetz threw for 132 yards and a score to Rio Stotts, who caught three passes for 95 yards. The defense allowed Frazier’s Derek Diamond to run for 284 yards and five scores on 37 carries. … The Raiders need victories over Clairton and Jeannette to remain in WPIAL playoff consideration. … Clairton is 25-13-1 against Riverview. The last Raiders’ win in the series was a 24-14 decision in 2005.

Jeannette (5-3, 3-2) at Springdale (0-6, 0-4)

7 p.m. Friday, Springdale High School Athletic Field, Springdale

Last week: Jeannette 23, Brentwood 18; Greensburg Central Catholic 52, Springdale 14

Last year’s meeting: Jeannette 42, Springdale 0

Jeannette took a big step toward a playoff spot with its second straight home win. Kymon’e Brown passed for 149 yards and a touchdown and ran for 128 and another score. Jayce Powell returned a punt 66 yards for a score, a pivotal play in the fourth quarter. … Springdale has lost 22 straight games. The Dynamos have had trouble fielding enough healthy players. R.J. Landis and Corey Brooks had touchdown runs last week against GCC. … Jeannette holds a 1-16 lead in the series, with Springdale’s lone victory coming in 2021 by a 20-9 score.

Nonconference

Kiski Area (4-4) at Plum (3-5)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustangs Stadium, Plum

Last week: Kiski Area 27, Armstrong 25; Plum 35, Fox Chapel 0

Last year’s meeting: Kiski Area 15, Plum 14

Kiski Area is looking for a fourth straight victory after taking down Franklin Regional, Latrobe and Armstrong in Big East Conference play. The Cavaliers are still alive for a top three playoff berth, but need to defeat Woodland Hills next week. Ashton Taylor ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns last week, including the winning score in the third quarter. QB Landyn Artman threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, and Aven Shirley caught 10 passes for 184 yards and a score. … Plum got off the schneid and broke a four-game skid by shutting out Fox Chapel. Elijah Jackson and CJ Hart (2 TDs) combined to run for 274 yards, and Antonio Hanzlik ran for two scores. Nico Signor returned an interception 20 yards for a score. … A North Hills victory at Penn Hills would all but eliminate Plum from playoff consideration in the Northeast Conference. … Plum is 19-16-1 vs. Kiski Area with the 14-14 tie coming in 1981.

McGuffey (0-8) at Highlands (5-3)

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

Last week: Avonworth 49, McGuffey 0; Highlands 42, Burrell 21

Last year’s meeting: Highlands 47, McGuffey 23

McGuffey is looking for its first win of the season. The Highlanders are averaging 4.8 points while allowing 49.2. They have been shut out in three of the past four games. … Highlands will clinch a playoff berth if Burrell loses to Imani Christian on Friday. Last week, the Golden Rams were again led by Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg, who ran for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Jahmar Wright made a key play on defense, returning an interception 52 yards for a score. …Highlands is 3-0 against McGuffey, winning 35-14 in 2002 and 35-7 in 2003 to go with last year’s win. … The school is named for William McGuffey, who published elementary-age textbooks used from 1846-1960.

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, Clairton, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Imani Christian, Kiski Area, Knoch, McGuffey, Plum, Riverview, Shaler, South Park, Springdale, Valley, West Mifflin