Through the Years: Nothing could slow Valley running back vs. Burrell in 2000

By: George Guido
Thursday, August 28, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic legacy.

Valley’s Donny Booker shook off the effects of an asthma attack and ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries as the Vikings blasted Burrell, 42-14, on Sept. 1, 2000 at Valley Memorial Stadium. Valley’s B.J. Flenory returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score.

75 years ago

• Leechburg halfback Bill Brown scored three TDs, lifting the Blue Devils to an opening-night win against Washington Township, 39-6.

• West Deer opened the season with a 26-6 win at Millvale in Allegheny Valley Conference play. Fullback Bill Suvoy scored on runs of 2 and 5 yards for the Braves.

60 years ago

• Plum ended Arnold’s 17-game regular-season winning streak by handing the defending AIC champion Lions a 27-6 setback behind Dean Griffin’s touchdown runs of 74 and 24 yards.

• Kiski Area won its 13th consecutive game with a 39-7 victory over South Hills Catholic. Jesse Taylor, who later played for the San Diego Chargers, tallied two Cavaliers touchdowns.

50 years ago

• Riverview’s Ron Virostek returned an interception 41 yards for a score and recovered a late fumble at the Raiders 3 to wrap up a 14-7 victory at Leechburg.

• Fox Chapel sophomore Frank Rocco Jr. passed for one touchdown and ran for another as the Foxes blanked Steel Valley, 21-0.

40 years ago

• Deer Lakes quarterback Phil Caruso tossed a 42-yard scoring pass to Mark Palmer, and the Lancers recorded safeties on two errant plays with Mars in punt formation en route to an 11-6 victory.

• Rob Hrivnak ran for 234 yards and three TDs, leading Burrell to a 27-0 victory at Ford City. The Bucs held the Sabers to 2 net rushing yards.

25 years ago

• Apollo-Ridge’s Zach Gourley scored touchdowns three different ways in a 34-9 Vikings victory over Mars. Gourley scored on a 74-yard run, a 15-yard pass from Jacob Nulph and a 14-yard fumble return.

10 years ago

• Summit Academy jumped out to an 18-0 lead over Highlands barely four minutes into the game, but it was all Golden Rams after that. Brayden Thimons passed for 199 yards, rushed for 88 and accounted for three TDs in a 42-24 victory.

• Springdale junior Ben Sowinski ran for 196 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns in leading the Dynamos to a 34-20 victory over Serra Catholic.

Five years ago

• Schedule shuffling continued in the wake of a delayed season because of the covid-19 pandemic. Kiski Area canceled its Sept. 25 game with West Allegheny and rescheduled its original season opener at Penn Hills for Sept. 26. A nonconference game with Connellsville was carded for Sept. 21, a rare Monday night encounter.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Highlands, Kiski Area, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Valley