Friday Night HighLights – 09/17/2011

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 17, 2011 | 11:10 AM

Friday Night HighLightsWhile the conditions in Western Pennsylvania felt like early to mid-October, it was only the third week on the WPIAL football season, the week in which most teams are playing Conference games…you know, the games that count! With the spotlight shining brighter, these players took advantage with some ready for postseason performances only one-third of the way through the regular season.

Edward Stockett – McKeesport

While the stock market continues to struggle, the Stockett market is on the rise in the greater McKeesport area. Jim Ward’s high flying aerial attack hit the road to Fayette County Friday where quarterback Edward Stockett was huge, hitting on 15 of 21 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns along with a scoring run in leading the Tigers to a 58-21 victory over the Connellsville Falcons in a Class AAAA Foothills Conference opener.

Thomas Woodson – Gateway

Don’t look now, but suddenly the Foothills Conference in Class AAAA is like a 7-on-7 passing camp (see above). Gateway quarterback Thomas Woodson was 15 of 20 passing for 334 yards and four touchdowns, plus he scored on a 27-yard run as the Gators continued their dominance of the Latrobe Wildcats to the tune of 45-7 in a tune-up for a Foothills Conference showdown next week as gateway visits Penn-Trafford.

Andrew Erenberg – Peters Township

Andrew Erenberg continues to show he’s a chip of the ole block as Peters Township won to improve to 2-1 in non-conference play. Erenberg, the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rich Erenberg, rushed for 225 yards on 22 carries and scored three rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown in the Indians 49-14 rout of the Kittanning Wildcats.

Rushel Shell – Hopewell

Hopewell’s great senior running back is no longer knocking on the door of becoming the WPIAL’s all-time leading rusher, he has gone from pounding on the door to one healthy week away from bashing the door down and storming to the next available record. Rushel Shell carried the ball 30 times and gained 366 yards while scoring a total of SIX touchdowns to pull to within 134 yards of the record and propel the Vikings to a 3-0 start with a 56-28 win over the Moon Tigers in Class AAA Parkway Conference action.

Josh Wannamaker – Derry

It isn’t often we get a chance to salute a large performance turned in by a player from Derry High School, so we Wanna-make-it special. The Trojans kicked off their Keystone Conference schedule with the first win of the year thanks to Josh Wannamker, who gained 194 yards on a very busy 38 carries with three touchdowns in a 27-13 triumph over the visiting Laurel Highlands Mustangs.

Demetrius Louis – Ringgold AND Michael Kizzie – Greensburg-Salem

There was no looking ahead to a Class AAA Keystone Conference showdown next week between Ringgold and Greensburg-Salem for these two stars. Demetrius Louis rushed for 253 yards and scored four touchdowns…all on only 9 carries in the Rams 49-7 rout of the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers while Michael Kizzie ran for 136 yards and FIVE touchdowns as the Golden Lions remained perfect in three road games after a 56-19 victory over the Uniontown Red Raiders.

Demetrius Cox – Jeannette

A guess Friday night was a good night to be named Demetrius (see above). The Jeannette version of the D-train, Demetrius Cox rushed for 201 yards and scored four touchdowns as the Jayhawks coasted to a 36-7 win over the visiting Waynesburg Raiders in a Class AA Interstate Conference clash as the ‘Hawks improved to a perfect 3-0 on the season.

John Lerda – South Fayette

Sure, South Fayette lost starting quarterback Christian Brumbaugh and several other key players to graduation from last year’s championship team, but that doesn’t mean the new kids on the block don’t want that winning feeling to disappear. Lions quarterback John Lerda continues to improve, as he threw for 230 yards on 19 completions with two touchdown tosses as the Green Machine opened up Class AA Century Conference play with an impressive 23-20 win over the previously unbeaten and 6th-ranked Steel Valley Ironmen. 

Lenny Williams – Sto-Rox AND De’Andre Moon – Rochester

Again, two players that indeed listened to their coaches, who preach take it one game at time instead of looking ahead to the big showdown next week when Rochester meets Sto-Rox in a game that might eventually decide the Class A Big 7 Conference title. Lenny Williams wa s14 of 18 passing for 262 yards with three scoring tosses and one TD run in the Vikings 43-11 win over the Neshannock Lancers while De’Andre Moon rushed for 133 yards and scored four touchdowns in the Rams 46-7 thrashing of the Union Scotties.

Rock Vargo – Frazier

This Rock knows his role…and that is to successfully chuck the pigskin and lead his Frazier teammates to victory. Both were on display Friday night as quarterback Rock Vargo was 14 of 25 passing for 238 yards and three touchdown tosses in a key Class A Tri-County South victory for the visiting Commodores, a 27-6 win over the host Jefferson-Morgan Rockets.

Tags: Derry Area, Frazier, Gateway, Greensburg Salem, Hopewell, Jeannette, McKeesport