A-K Valley high school football players to watch for 2025 Week 7

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 8:44 PM

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Player of the week

Landyn Artman

Kiski Area, So., QB/DB

Artman delivered for the Cavaliers in their 34-13 victory over Latrobe last Friday that vaulted them back into the playoff hunt in the Big East Conference. He threw a season-best five touchdown passes and finished with 267 yards through the air. Artman tossed a pair of TDs to Teegan Shirley and added scoring throws to Andrew Finney, Aven Shirley and Collin Peterson as Kiski pulled away in the second half to the 21-point win. Artman has thrown for 766 yards and 11 touchdowns in his five games under center. The Cavaliers (4-3, 2-2) hope for more big things Friday at home against conference rival Armstrong.

Players to watch

Nick Hilty

Leechburg, Jr., TE/HB/LB

The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder is a strong complement to senior workhorse Timmy Andrasy. While Andrasy has gotten a bulk of the carries and has responded with more than 1,000 yards through six games, Hilty has shown big-play ability, too. In last Friday’s 48-14 win over Frazier, Hilty carried the ball three times for touchdowns totaling 56, 48 and 37 yards.

Elijah Jackson

Plum, Sr., RB/DB

One half of Plum’s 1-2 punch in the backfield, Jackson made his presence felt in the first half of Friday’s close loss to North Hills. He scored on a 15-yard run to get the Mustangs (2-5, 0-3) on the board en route to be a 13-7 halftime advantage. Jackson finished the game with 20 carries for 112 yards in the 14-13 setback. Jackson and his Plum teammates hope to get back in the win column this week against conference foe Fox Chapel (2-5, 0-3).

Owen Neistein

Freeport, Sr., WR/DB

Neistein is one of several dependable receiving options for senior quarterback Drew Ross. Last Friday against Highlands, Neistein caught a 39-yard TD pass from Ross that tied the score at 21 in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with three catches for 48 yards. Neistein hopes to be a major factor for the Yellowjackets (6-1) as they attempt to bounce back this week at home against Hopewell.

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: Freeport, Kiski Area, Leechburg, Plum