Friday Night HighLights – 10/22/2011

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, October 22, 2011 | 5:59 PM

Different strokes for different folks. Some of the top performers from Friday night in Week Eight helped their teams stay alive for a conference title…others helped their teams solidify a district playoff berth…while others stayed alive for a drive on the Highway to Heinz. As the Stretch Run continues, here are some of the top performances from the next to the last Friday night of the regular season.

Jaquan Williams – Penn Hills

Gone are the days of ground Gordon at Penn Hills, who have taken to the air to find success in what has been a rough season. However the Indians still have a chance to finish as high as second place in the Class AAAA Big East Conference thanks to quarterback Jaquan Williams, who was 14 of 17 passing Friday for 278 yards and two touchdown passes plus a pair of scoring runs in a playoff clinching 41-6 triumph over the Kiski Area Cavaliers.
 

Eddie Stockett – McKeesport

First you’re telling me Penn Hills is throwing the ball all over the field (see above), next thing you’re going to tell me is that McKeesport has taken to chuckin the ole pigskin. Why yes, you are correct mister. Quarterback Eddie Stockett enjoyed another big game as he connected on 11 of 16 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, plus he scored on a two-yard run as the Tigers clinched a playoff berth in the Class AAAA Foothills Conference with a 42-0 hammering of the Hempfield Spartans setting up Gateway at McKeesport next week for second place behind Penn-Trafford.

Rushel Shell – Hopewell

Strangers in the night… It’s been several weeks since we last heard about the WPIAL’s all-time leading rusher, but with Hopewell’s back to the wall (much like last season), the senior running back carried the team to a meaningful Week Nine contest. Shell rushed for 226 yards and scored four touchdowns in the Vikings 49-0 whitewash of the Ambridge Bridgers setting up a win-and-your-in regular season finale for Hopewell in the Class AAA Parkway Conference.

Dane Brown – Franklin Regional

Franklin Regional running back Dane Brown ran roughshod early and often on the Ringgold defense, turning this Class AAA Keystone Conference showdown in Murrysville from a game with great sizzle to a one-sided contest that fizzled. Brown rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns…IN THE FIRST HALF, before tacking on another 14 yards early in the third quarter before calling it a night as the Panthers remained undefeated with an impressive 38-0 mauling of the Rams setting up a showdown at Greensburg-Salem next week.

Danzel Beasley – Laurel Highlands

With playoff hopes barely flickering entering Week Eight, Laurel Highlands needed some help…both in their own huddle and on the Class AAA Keystone Conference scoreboard. They received both Friday when Danzel Beasley helped the LH cause with 242 yards rushing and two touchdowns, including a 97-yard kickoff return for a score as the Mustangs outgunned the host Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers 46-42 to keep their playoff hopes alive thanks in part to a Uniontown upset victory over Derry. 

Dillon Buechel – Montour

Another battle of Top Ten teams on a Friday night? It’s just another night at the office in the Class AAA Parkway Conference. So it was another night at the office for Montour quarterback Dillon Buechel as well. He completed 14 of 19 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns, shredding one of the top defenses in the WPIAL as the Spartans clinched a playoff berth with a 35-17 victory over the host West Allegheny Indians.

John Matarazzo – New Castle

In the tough Class AAA Parkway Conference, there are guaranteed two very good teams that won’t make the playoffs. A surprise loss at Moon on Friday and New Castle knew they would be one of those dreaded pair.  Trailing by ten at halftime, quarterback John Matarazzo led a big second half comeback as he hit on 17 of 26 passes for 264 total yards and four touchdowns, two of them coming in the final two quarters along with an icing on the cake TD run as the Red Hurricane stayed alive with a 41-31 triumph over the pesky Tigers.

Reggie Mitchell –Shady Side Academy

After a slow start to the season, Shady Side Academy has come on strong with five consecutive wins thanks in large part to quarterback Reggie Mitchell. On Friday at home, the Wisconsin recruit did in Summit Academy with his legs, rushing for 230 yards and scoring four touchdowns as the Indians blew open a close game in the fourth quarter by knocking out the Knights 43-20 to clinch a playoff spot in the Class AA Allegheny Conference.

Skyler Dickinson – California

With folks talking about Monessen at Frazier in Week 9 possibly being a battle for a home playoff game, California figured the Sky was the limited and tossed their hat in the ring in the chase for second place in the Class A Tri-County South Conference. Skyler Davis rushed for 180 yards and on a touchdown reception and tow touchdown runs as the Trojans slammed the Commodores 35-0 to clinch a playoff spot and stay alive for second place and hosting a first round playoff game.

Shawn Owens–Cornell

A near perfect night by their quarterback helped Cornell tie a school mark and earn a berth to the postseason. Signal caller Shawn Owens hit on 6 of 7 passes for 164 yards and two touchdown passes, both the B.J. Lipke, as the Raiders beat the visiting Union Scotties 40-0 to win a return trip to the WPIAL playoffs for only the second time in school history and the first since 1980 and 1981.

Tags: California, Cornell, Franklin Regional, Hopewell, McKeesport