A-K Valley high school football players to watch for 2024 Week 9

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 6:27 PM

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Player of the week

Landon Kucic

Kiski Area, sr., RB/LB

The 210-pound tailback continues to run hard for a Cavaliers team in the hunt for a wild-card berth in the Class 5A Big East Conference. Kucic tallied his third straight 100-plus rushing-yard performance last Friday in a 15-14 comeback win over Plum. He carried the ball 24 times for 110 yards and touchdown runs of 9 and 52 yards. He owns six rushing scores over the past three weeks, victories over Armstrong, Latrobe and Plum. Through nine games, Kucic has 895 yards and 14 touchdowns. Kiski Area (4-5, 2-3) closes out the regular season Friday against conference leader Woodland Hills (7-2, 5-0) at the Wolvarena.

Players to watch

Lucas Gamble

Leechburg, sr., FB/DE

Gamble is not the biggest defensive lineman in the Alle-Kiski Valley, but Blue Devils coach Randy Walters knows his strength and quickness serves him well in that capacity. Offensively, he is used mostly as a blocker in the run and pass games, but Friday against Brentwood, he got the chance to carry the football. Gamble collected 40 yards on six rushes in a 23-point victory last week.

Lee Henglesberg

Deer Lakes, sr., OL/DL

The veteran center, a three-year starter, anchors an offensive line that has opened holes in the run game and protected senior quarterback Jake Fleischer. Henglesberg has helped Deer Lakes senior tailback Zier Williams produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Fleischer and graduate Derek Burk have combined to throw for more than 3,000 yards the past two seasons. The playoff-bound Lancers (7-2, 4-1) close out the regular season Friday at home against Burrell.

Danny King

Freeport, so., QB/WR/S

King has proven to be a reliable target for quarterback Drew Ross and is one of the top defenders for a Freeport defense which has surrendered just 15 points a game this season. King also made an impact on special teams in last week’s 42-15 victory at East Allegheny, returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score to begin what turned out to be a 21-point first quarter.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Freeport, Kiski Area, Leechburg