MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights – Week Seven

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, October 16, 2010 | 12:00 AM

Finally, after six weeks of above normal temperatures on Friday night, there was a bite in the air as we kicked off the MSA Sports Stretch Run. Big games in all four classifications dotted the schedule and MASSIVE performances on the ground and through the air left little doubt that prime time playoff football is just around the corner.

Luke Hagy – Mount Lebanon

In a showdown between two of the premier running backs in Class AAAA, Bre Ford of Bethel Park was very good…Luke Hagy of Mount Lebanon was even better. Hagy rushed for a career high 317 yards and scored on touchdowns jaunts of 71 and 89 yards as the Blue Devils remained undefeated and clinched a playoff berth in the Class AAAA Great Southern Conference with a 21-7 victory over the Black Hawks.

Alex Papson – North Allegheny

Another Friday night…another 200+ yards rushing for Alex Papson of North Allegheny. No matter how many defenses key on him, Papson continues to put up big numbers, including 230 yards and three touchdowns runs of 37, 73 and 15 yards as the Tigers remained perfect on the season and now along atop the Class AAAA Northern Seven Conference with a 35-7 drilling of the host Pine-Richland Rams.

Travis Day – Hempfield

After a rough first six weeks to this 2010 campaign, Hempfield fans can finally enjoy a really good day…thanks to Travis Day. Day rushed for 244 yards on 23 carries and scored three touchdowns, two on scoring runs and one of a touchdown reception to lead the Spartans to their first victory of the season, a 42-6 pasting of the Connellsville Falcons in Class AAAA Foothill Conference action.

Dillon Buechel – Montour

The old saying in these parts is once the leaves turn brown, its time to keep the pigskin on the ground. Nobody told that to Montour however as the top-ranked Class AAA team had junior quarterback Dillon Buechel connect on 18 of 26 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns as the Spartans remained undefeated with a 44-20 win over the Blackhawk Cougars in a key Class AAA Parkway Conference battle of Top Ten teams.

Rushel Shell – Hopewell

Who is this guy and what is he doing in the Friday Night HighLights again? Oh nothing really…other than inching his way toward becoming the all-time leading rusher in WPIAL history with a second consecutive 300+ yards night as Shell rambled for 302 yards on 35 carries with three touchdowns as the Vikings helped their playoff push in the Class AAA Parkway Conference with a 26-22 win over the Central Valley Warriors.

Josh Falatovich & Michael Kizzie – Greensburg-Salem

Whether on the ground or through the air, the Greensburg-Salem offense could do no wrong in a Class AAA Keystone Conference contest in Blair County. Quarterback Josh Falatovich was 11 of 15 passing for 206 yards and four touchdown tosses while running back Michael Kizzie rushed for 216 yards and scored three times on runs of 62, 25 and 44 yards in the Golden Lions 47-35 victory over the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers.

Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin – Knoch

It has become apparent through seven weeks of the high school football season that Knoch is very Good(lin). Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin rumbled for 250 yards on 17 carries with FIVE double-digit yards touchdown runs of 60, 44, 31, 19 and 17 yards as the Knights remained undefeated and tied for first place in the Class AAA Greater Allegheny Conference with a 56-6 pasting of the host Kittanning Wildcats.

Dakota Datz – Southmoreland

The key for Southmoreland staying the in playoff chase in the Class AA Interstate Conference have been a lot of good stats put up by quarterback Dakota Datz. On Friday, Datz completed 14 of 19 passes for 224 yards and three touchdown passes, plus he added a scoring run as the Scotties are one game out of fourth place following a 39-0 whitewash of the Charleroi Cougars.

Kevin Hart – Seton-LaSalle

One thing Seton-LaSalle is proving in their quest for the top spot in the Class AA Century Conference is that to be unbeaten through the first seven weeks, you gotta have Hart. As in running back Kevin Hart, who enjoyed another big game with 252 yards rushing and five long touchdown runs of 40, 20, 48, 44 and 63 yards as the Rebels prepared for their big Week 8 battle of the unbeatens with South Fayette by rolling past the host Burgettstown Blue Devils 54-14.

Christian Henckel – Geibel

It wasn't that long ago that the Geibel nation would rejoice if the team in green could win one game in a season. Now with two weeks left in the regular season, Geibel is one game out of a Class A Tri-County South Conference playoff spot thanks to Christian Henckel's 284 yards rushing with four touchdowns as the Gators attacked and conquered the host Mapletown Maples 48-22.

Tags: Geibel, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Hempfield Area, Hopewell, Knoch, Montour, Mt. lebanon, North Allegheny, Seton-LaSalle, Southmoreland