Saturdays Scholastic Starz for Week One

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, September 1, 2013 | 11:58 AM

Even though the numbers of teams that play their home games primarily on Saturday in the WPIAL shrunk from eight to five this season, it was a busy opening Saturday around the WPIAL with seven games. Of those contests, here are the players who over came the heat to shine bright on the season lid-lifter on the final day of August.

Dravon Henry – Aliquippa

As Aliquippa unveiled their 2012 WPIAL championship banner in what was the schools 1,000 game played, star running back Dravon Henry shined bright under the historic Saturday night spotlight. The Division I recruit rushed for 68 yards including two third quarter touchdown runs, added 26 yards in receptions and got the ball rolling minutes into the non-conference season opener with an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown as the Quips rolled past the Ambridge Bridgers 44-13.

Tyler Perrone – Seton-LaSalle

Despite falling behind after one quarter, 6th-ranked Seton-LaSalle kept a balanced run game and passing attack going unfazed as they took control and never looked back Saturday in a Double-A Century Conference contest at Baldwin High School. S-L head coach Greg Perry feels junior Tyler Perrone might be the next stud quarterback to play for the green and yellow and he shined in his first start of the year by hitting on 16 of 20 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns as the Rebels scored 40 unanswered to beath the South Allegheny Gladiators 40-3.

Ernie Burkes – Neshannock

It would have been easy for highly ranked Neshannock to look past Western Beaver with Single-A Big 7 Conference heavyweights Laurel and Sto-Rox coming up on the schedule, but senior quarterback Ernie Burkes would have none of that. Burkes was 6 of 9 passing for 70 yards with two touchdowns tosses, plus he ran for 69 yards, including a 45-yard jaunt in the second quarter that helped the 3rd-ranked Lancers pull away to a 56-7 win over the Golden Beavers.

Johnny Camello – Northgate

In a wide open Single-A Eastern Conference, every game is big and every victory is valued…especially on the road. Northgate edged Riverview and Riverside Park in Oakmont thanks in part to quarterback Johnny Camello, who hit on 7 of 9 passes for 175 yards while tossing an 86-yard scoring strike to Romello Snyder, plus he scored on a 14-yard touchdown run as the Flames burned the Raiders with a come from behind 18-13 victory.

Santino Paris – Avella

A trip to Paris is something most folks will always remember. A visit from Paris in Vincentian Academy's first ever home football game is something both fans of Avella and Vincentian won't soon forget. Santino Paris was 10 of 15 passing for 134 yards and two touchdowns, plus he added a scoring run as the visiting Eagles cruised to a 37-8 Single-A non-conference triumph in the Royals first home game at J.C. Stone Field in North Park.

Tags: Aliquippa, Avella