MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights – Week One 2010

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 4, 2010 | 12:00 AM

While the 2010 WPIAL football season started with cooler temperatures, it didn’t take long for the action across the football field in Western Pennsylvania to heat up. So who are the players that were quick to shake off the off-season rust? The first focus of 2010 on the players whose outstanding performance led their teams to lid lifting victories.

Manny Simpson – Penn-Trafford

Another new coach at P-T, but early signs that these are the same middle of the road Warriors. Manny Simpson rushed for 230 yards on a busy 43 carries, four of which ended up in the end zone for touchdowns as Penn-Trafford surprised Peters Township 31-28.

Luke Hagy – Mount Lebanon

A rising star on both the basketball court and baseball diamond, junior Luke Hagy proved once again he is one of the top three sport athletes in the league by rushing for 205 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns, including a 62-yard punt return for a score in the Blue Devils 34-22 victory over the Pine-Richland Rams.

Donny Holl – Seneca Valley

There is no truth to the rumor that quarterback Donny Holl drove the team bus to North Huntingdon for Seneca Valley’s season opening non-conference tilt. But he did just about everything else for the Raiders, including two rushing scores, and two touchdown passes in a 40-24 victory over the Norwin Knights.

Gary Negley – Highlands

In 2008, Highlands was nearly unbeatable. Last fall, they couldn’t buy a win as they went from first to worst in the Class AAA Greater Allegheny Conference. Now they are off and running in 2010 thanks to Gary Negley’s 269 yards rushing and four touchdowns in the Golden Rams 34-24 conquest of the highly touted Freeport Yellowjackets.

Chad Barton – Hollidaysburg

Welcome to the WPIAL Hollidaysburg…sort of. Opening up against fellow FORMER District 6 member Altoona, Chad Barton was 12 of 21 passing for 260 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Golden Tigers to a 41-20 win over the Mountain Lions.

Mark Piccolo – Moon

It has been a while since Moon has had anything to celebrate when it comes to football, but they were the toast of the town after the 2010 opener. Mike Piccolo rushed for 224 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Tigers snapped an 18-game losing streak with a 21-14 shocker of the 7th-ranked Mars Planets.

Zack Middleby – Burrell

Two old rivals who for years were conference foes, now opened up 2010 with a non-conference meeting after Burrell remained in Class AA while Valley rose to Class AAA. But it turned out to be the Zack Middleby show as he was 9 of 12 for 247 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 147 yards and three more scores in the Buccaneers 45-13 thrashing of the Vikings.

Delrece Williams – Steel Valley

The Rod Steele era at Steel Valley began with an exclamation point thanks to his star running back. Delrece Williams rushed for 226 yards and scored on a 45-yard scamper as the Ironmen blanked the Albert Gallatin Colonials 39-0.

Matt Butter to Bobby Gustine – Bishop Canevin

The combination of Bishop Canevin quarter Matt Butter and top target Bobby Gustine was smooth as…well, butter in an opening week Eastern Conference showdown with Avonworth. Butter ended up passing for 177 yards and three touchdowns, all three to Gustine in the Crusaders 21-14 triumph over the Antelopes.

Clairton Defense

Would this Clairton Bears squad be as good as last years team that captured gold in the WPIAL and PIAA? Most felt no due to key losses to graduation on both sides of the ball. Now after one week… The Clairton defense was dominant against a Washington team that made the playoffs a year ago. Wash High quarterback Josh Wise completed 3 of 10 passes for no yards while the Little Prexies finished with minus-22 yards of total offense as the Bears coasted to a 41-0 rout.

Central Valley and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Both the Warriors and Chargers played their first ever high school football games in school history last night. Central Valley blasted Allderdice 35-0 while OLSH lost to Northgate 44-6. No matter what the results though…welcome to WPIAL Friday nights boys!

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Burrell, Central Valley, Clairton, Highlands, Hopewell, Moon, Mt. lebanon, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn-Trafford, Seneca Valley, Steel Valley