MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights for Week Zero

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, August 27, 2016 | 6:43 PM

I was never a math wizard, but I was always told that zero = nothing. Well these athletes have spit in the faces of mathematicians everywhere by proving that Zero actually can equate into a whole lot. Once again this season, MSA Sports looks back at some of the top performances from Friday nights around the WPIAL as we tip our first caps to those who proved that they did not need a second scrimmage to be ready for primetime.

Jordan Castelli – Canon-McMillan

For the first time in a long time, there are high hopes in Canonsburg about the local football team. Coming off a three win season in 2015, which matched the programs combined win total in the previous five years, there is hope for a playoff chase for Canon-McMIllan in a wide open 6-A Southeastern Conference. The Big Macs are off to a good start thanks to the play of quarterback Jordan Castelli, who hit on 16 of 33 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-22 victory over the visiting Kiski Area Cavaliers in a non-conference opener.

Jordan Kempka – Hempfield

Perhaps this is the Year of the Jordan. Jordan Kempka enjoyed a big night on the season opener as Hempfield squeeked past Greensburg-Salem in the first meeting on Westmoreland County rivals in nearly a decade. While he was kept out of the end zone, Kempka did his damage between the goal lines, rushing for 183 yards as the Spartans rolled to a 28-7 lead, then held off a furious Golden Lions fourth quarter comeback before registering a 28-21 victory on the road that ended a three game losing streak going back to last year.

David Harvey – Mount Lebanon

So the next time you and your buddy’s are enjoying a friendly game of Time out for Trivia, remember the name David Harvey. Apparently, the Mount Lebanon running back scored the first official touchdown of the new season and the first ever Week Zero score on his 63-yard run on one of the first plays from scrimmage. It was a sign of things to come for both Harvey and Lebo as he ended up rushing for 168 yards and two touchdowns as the Blue Devils coasted to a 44-13 victory over the host Fox Chapel Foxes.

Zane Dudek – Armstrong

In 2015, Zane Dudek tormented WPIAL defenses and finished second in the district in rushing with 2,059 yards on 220 carries with 25 touchdowns in the regular season. The senior running back from Armstrong is off and running in 2016, this time going out of district to run roughshod. Dudek rushed for 278 yards and four touchdowns of both long and short distances on runs of 4, 65, 49 and 1 yard as the RiverHawks traveled to District 9 perennial playoff team Karns City and beat the Gremlins 35-22.

Will Hirt to Brice Walker – North Hills

Before competing in a challenging 5-A Allegheny Nine Conference schedule, North Hills opened up against neighbor Shaler and a passing duo for the red and white put a ‘hurt’ on the blue and white visitors. NH quarterback Will Hirt completed 14 of 23 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns, with eight of those competitions going to top target Brice Walker,  who ended up with 132 yards receiving and a touchdown catch as the Indians jumped out early and cruised to a 28-7 triumph over the Titans.

Drew Saxton – South Fayette

After throwing for huge numbers on the grand stage of Heinz Field in the 2015 WPIAL Class AA championship game, quarterback Drew Saxton was looking to start another win streak after South Fayette’s 44-game streak ended in a tough loss to Aliquippa on the North Shore. And win they did as Saxton completed 18 of 22 passes for 259 yards and a 38-yard touchdown pass to Noah Plack for the final score in the Lions 28-17 victory over the visiting Central Valley Warriors in one of the top games of opening night.

Tyler Balega – Derry

After a winless campaign in 2013, Derry enjoyed a turnaround campaign with a 4-6 season in 2014 which included the snapping of a 20-game losing streak. The team was able to build on that success a year ago, winning four of their last five and finishing 5-4 overall and just one game out of the playoffs. With many of the same teams back in the 3-A Interstate Conference this year, the Trojans have high hopes thanks to players like Tyler Balega, who Friday rushed for 208 yards and scored two touchdowns and tossed a pass for another score in a 28-20 triumph over the host Latrobe Wildcats.

Max Garda – Burrell

The dual threat of Max Garda at quarterback with his legs and his arm have Burrell looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2012. Now while we must caution that there is a LOT of football left and zero Class 3-A Allegheny Conference games have been played, Garda’s opener has Buccaneers fans excited as he rushed for 186 yards, including a 59-yard scoring jaunt, plus he threw for 99 yards and a pair of touchdown strikes in the Bucs 33-20 victory over the host Springdale Dynamos.

Brady Doudt – Sto-Rox

There is no ‘Doudt’ that after two struggling seasons in Class AA, Sto-Rox is thrilled and ready to contend for titles again now that they are in 1-A after the expansion wheel stopped spinning. S-R quarterback Brady Doudt enjoyed a big debut in 2016 as he completed 11 of 15 passes for 205 yards with three touchdowns tosses of 13 yards to LaVaughan Hawkins, 19 yards to Antwion Ebore and 48 yards to Amir Austin as perhaps the next great Vikings quarterback has been unleashed in a 42-22 triumph over the visiting Vincentian Academy Royals.

Charleori and Western Beaver

There were not a whole lot of HighLights for both Charleroi and Western Beaver in 2015. The two programs were a combined 0-18 a year ago with the Golden Beavers having lost 10 straight and the Cougars 9 in a row after winning only two games in 2014. But hope spring eternal for all teams in August and both team took advantage of a clean slate in a new season. Errict Tedrow rushed for 126 yards and scored on a 36-yard run as Charleroi came back to beat Monessen 23-21 while Jeddy Young hit Turner Anthony on a pair of first half touchdown passes as Western Beaver won at Avella 14-6.

Tags: Armstrong, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Charleroi, Derry Area, Hempfield, Western Beaver