MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights for Week One

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 3, 2016 | 11:46 AM

Week Zero produced plenty of memorable moments last weekend, but the problem was only half of the WPIAL teams were able to enjoy that sweet opening night feeling. Well, all 122 teams were suited up for action for Week One, with 63 of the 66 district games taking place on a wonderful weather wise Friday night. These players took full advantage of the conditions as they thrived in victories that for most, put them atop their section standings with conference opener triumphs.

Phil Jurkovec – Pine-Richland

Last week, the outstanding junior signal caller for Pine-Richland put up big numbers in a losing performance. This time around, he made sure that his outstanding play would not go for naught. Phil Jurkovec hit on 21 of 32 passes for 351 yards while connecting on a 21-yard touchdown pass, plus he rushed for 124 yards and scored on touchdown jaunts of 15, 2, 8 and 24 yards as the Rams evened their record with a 42-31 Class 6-A non-conference victory over the host Mount Lebanon Blue Devils in a battle of 5 teams.

Cam Tarrant – Penn Hills

The numbers put up these first two games for Penn Hills Quarterback Cam Tarrant are mind boggling in comparison to his numbers from a year ago. Last year, Cam Tarrant threw for 783 yards and 9 touchdowns in a usually conservative PH offense. Well the shackles have come off and Tarrant is loving it as he connected on 27 of 32 passes for 321 yards and four touchdown passes, giving him 851 yards and 10 touchdowns in only TWO games as the Indians routed the host Butler Golden Tornado 37-6 in a Class 6-A Northern Seven Conference opener. 

Jack Cook – Seneca Valley

Most people strongly believe that to many cooks in the kitchen can ruin a meal and cause ill will. However, the Seneca Valley football team is discovering that one cook under center is a perfect recipe for success. Quarterback Jack Cook connected on 8 of 15 passes for 243 yards and tossed four long touchdown [passes of 74, 34, 25 and 31 yards as well as toting the pigskin on scoring runs of 7 and 22 yards in leading the Raiders to a 48-24 victory over the visiting Peters Township Indians in a Class 6-A non-conference tune-up. 

Cam Laffoon – Penn-Trafford

They always say you want to be the man to follow the man who followed a legend. Brett Laffoon had an outstanding career at quarterback for Penn-Trafford, culminating last year with a trip to Heinz Field in the Quad-A championship game. Just for a pinch of more pressure in trying to fill those shoes, this years quarterback in younger brother Cam. Undaunted, Cam Laffoon began making a name for himself Friday when he connected on 9 of 12 passes for 219 yards and five touchdown passes as the host Warriors cruised to a 48-7 Class 5-A Big East Conference opener over the Connellsville Falcons.

Zane Dudek – Armstrong

Same some for the conference games! That’s probably the thought process of Armstrong High School football fans as their favorite running back continues to be a beast. Zane Dudek rushed for 270 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 6, 49, 17 and 54 yards, plus to prove that his overall talents are truly insane, Dudek found the end zone again, this time on defense as he returned an interception 86 yards for the games opening score in what proved to be the only score the visiting River Hawks would need in their Class 5-A non-conference 35-0 rout of the Moon Tigers.

Brendan Small – Ringgold

Some guys live up to their names (see Cam Laffoon above as states evidence) while others must overcome that particular hurdle to achieve large things. Case in point is Ringgold junior running back Brandan Small, who is off to a BIG start in trying to fill the void by the graduated Chacar Berry. On Friday, Small rushed for 259 yards and scored four touchdowns on runs of 16, 69, 2 and 37 yards as the visiting Rams blew open a tight game at halftime en route to a 42-28 victory over the host Greensburg-Salem Golden Lions in a Class 4-A Big Nine Conference opener.

Johnny Yester – Mount Pleasant

High school football fans are a unique study. Sure you have the students along with parents and various family members of all the participants, but you also have the ‘old school’ fans who like to talk about the glory days of yesteryear. Well, Mount Pleasant fans are talking about the glory days of Yester, and they are fresh and in the now. Johnny Yester connected on 10 of 13 passes for 304 yards and a pair of first quarter touchdown tosses of 28 and 68 yards that giot the ball rolling on the host Vikings 42-14 Class 3-A Interstate Conference win over the Waynesburg Raiders.

Lionel Deanes – Seton-LaSalle

There was offense a plenty in the Class 3-A Allegheny Conference opener between Seton-LaSalle and Shady Side Academy and the conducted of the points parade was Lionel Deanes. The diminutive junior running back rna wild, rushing for 287 yards and scoring on four long touchdown runs of 30, 44, 17 and 60 yards as the Rebels came from behind in the fourth quarter to beat the visiting Indians 44-35 for the first victory as new head coach for former green and gold players and assitant coach Rob Carter.

Anthony Crider – South Side

There are a lot of travel plans set for this Labor Day weekend which is traditional looked at as the last weekend of the summer. South Side relied instead on the guidance of Travelpiece for a season opening win. First year coach Luke Travelpiece picked up his first win thanks to the running of Anthony Crider, who exploded for 240 yards on the ground as the host Rams held on for a 23-13 triumph over the New Brighton Lions in a new look Class 2-A Midwestern Atheltic Conference tilt.

Dylan Rush – Mapletown

Earlier in this article we were talking about living up to names and overcoming names and son on and so forth. Some times a name fits like a pair of warm comfy slippers after a long, griding chilly day at the office. Mapletown running back Dylan Rush continues to do just that in large doses as he gained 257 yards on the ground and owned all of the games scoring on touchdown runs of 86 yards in the second quarter and 7 and 3 yards in the fourth quarter of the Maples 18-0 Class 1-A non-conference road win over the returning Cornell Raiders.