Aven Shirley moves under center, helps lead Kiski Area past Franklin Regional

By: Josh Rizzo
Friday, September 26, 2025 | 10:14 PM

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If Aven Shirley didn’t seem uncomfortable under center Friday night at Richard J. Dilts Field, it was because he already developed many of the skills to do the job. Shirley, a 6-foot-2 senior wide receiver, was far from a fish out of water when he was asked to lead Kiski Area’s offense in a Big East Conference game against Franklin Regional.

Shirley ran for 152 yards on 16 carries and threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to his brother, Teegan, to help the Cavaliers upend Franklin Regional, 14-7.

“I actually just switched to receiver last year,” Shirley said. “I’m comfortable with it. The coaches did a good job of preparing me for this week. We executed the game plan.”

Aven Shirley also intercepted a pass on defense in the fourth quarter. Cavaliers coach Colyn Haugh said he wanted his players to lean on their physicality to push past the Panthers.

“I wanted him to manage the game and do the things we executed during the week,” Haugh said. “We knew we weren’t going to be able to take shots down field. He isn’t comfortable doing that. The plan was to put the ball in his hands on the feet and use our line to establish dominance.”

Kiski Area (2-4, 1-2) ended up leaning on its mental toughness to win the game. The Cavaliers attempted an onside kick to start the game but didn’t recover. Franklin Regional (0-6, 0-3) started on the Cavaliers’ side of the field but couldn’t pick up a first down.

The Cavaliers then would go on a lengthy drive that chewed up most of the first quarter and was highlighted by a 40-yard run by Shirley.

Shirley gave Kiski Area a lead it would never lose with an 8-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes, 25 seconds left in the first quarter.

Franklin Regional had several good scoring opportunities in the second and third quarters. Austin McClure intercepted a Shirley pass and set the Panthers up at the Kiski Area 41. However, Franklin Regional’s drive would end when Cavaliers linebacker Braden Anderson stacked up a Panthers runner on fourth-and-2 from the Kiski Area 22.

“Braden has been one of those kids where it hasn’t always been his number that was called,” Haugh said. “At that moment, his number got called, and it was awesome to see.”

In the third quarter, Franklin Regional moved the ball inside the Kiski Area 30 again. However, the Panthers would turn the ball over on downs when Dom Devola’s pass was beyond the arms of McClure.

Franklin Regional also had a touchdown pass called back for an ineligible man downfield.

“The story of the year, missed opportunities,” Panthers coach Lance Getsy said. “We had a big penalty when we got the ball back at the end of the first half. It’s little things like that we keep doing week after week, and it has to stop. I think the effort is there. It’s about limiting the mistakes when we have the opportunity.”

The Panthers scored with 2 seconds remaining when Devola found Evan Chadwick for a 4-yard touchdown.

Shirley was happy to help Kiski Area secure its first win in conference play.

“I’ll do whatever my team needs me to do to get the dub,” Shirley said.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Kiski Area