Trib HSSN don’t miss high school football matchups for 2025 Week 1

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, August 28, 2025 | 6:12 PM

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Welcome to Week 1 of the 2025 WPIAL football regular season.

While most of the district teams are hitting the field for a second time this season, seven teams are making their 2025 debuts.

It is the season opener for Aliquippa, Belle Vernon, Burgettstown, Carmichaels, Springdale, Union and West Allegheny.

Also, for the third time in district history, a full second weekend of scholastic football will be played in the month of August.

With the advent of Week Zero in 2016, this campaign joins the 2024 and 2019 seasons as the only two years to have two weeks of high school football in the books before Sept. 1.

Here is a look at some of the top high school football matchups for Friday in Week 1.

Class 6A vs. 5A nonconference

Class 6A No. 2 North Allegheny (1-0) at Gateway (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Pete Antimarino Stadium at Gateway

Coaches: Art Walker, North Allegheny; Don Holl, Gateway

On air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: North Allegheny 28, Woodland Hills 26, State College 41, Gateway 14

Players to watch: Brady Brinkley, North Allegheny (Jr., 6-3, 180, QB/FS); Elvis Koutsakis, Gateway (Soph., 5-10, 170, QB)

Team notes

North Allegheny: This will be the Tigers’ second straight trip to the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh after a season-opening win over Woodland Hills in Turtle Creek last week. In a back-and-fourth dandy last week, NA junior quarterback Brady Brinkley threw a pair of touchdown passes, Korry Pitts returned an interception 35 yards for a score and Luke Rohan rushed for 107 yards and scored twice, including the game-winning touchdown with 50 second remaining for the North Allegheny win.

Gateway: The Gators open up their home schedule Friday after a rough trip east last week when they opened against District 6 power State College. Gateway fell behind 20-0 before they hit on a couple of big second-half touchdown passes by sophomore signal caller Elvis “Dino” Koutsakis. He first hit Terrance Cole on a 63-yard scoring pass, and then he connected with Tyree Gowder on a 75-yard scoring strike for the two Gators scores, both in the third quarter.

Historic factoids

• This will be the 42nd all-time meeting between Gateway and North Allegheny. The Gators lead the series 22-18-1, but the Tigers have won 10 of the last 11 regular season meetings.

• These football powers met every year from 1960-1979. However, since 1997, North Allegheny and Gateway have only played three times in the regular season, including last year’s Week 1 contest won by the Tigers at home, 42-7. Jackson Failla had a touchdown pass and a scoring run for NA and Peter Notaro booted two field goals for the Tigers, including a 52-yard kick.

• Fifty years ago, the Tigers edged the Gators in a 1975 meeting, 10-8. These programs have met three times in the WPIAL playoffs. North Allegheny won in 1987, Gateway was victorious in the 2007 4A semifinals in overtime, 28-27, and the Tigers edged the Gators in the 2011 4A semis, 21-17.

Class 5A nonconference

South Fayette (1-0) at Shaler (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Louis C. Martig Field at Titans Stadium in Glenshaw

Coaches: Marty Spieler, South Fayette; Jim Ryan, Shaler

On air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: South Fayette 38, Chartiers Valley 15; Butler 32, Shaler 26

Players to watch: Drew Welhorsky, South Fayette (Sr., 6-1, 185, QB/FS); Aaron Aversa, Shaler (Sr., 5-9, 160, QB/ATH)

Team notes

South Fayette: The Lions made the short trek down Thoms Run Road to face neighboring Chartiers Valley and returned home up the hill with a victory. Senior quarterback Drew Welhorsky was efficient, connecting on 9 of 11 passes for 108 yards and hitting Daniel Speca on a 46-yard touchdown pass. Aayden Wright scored on a 61-yard jaunt for South Fayette, which also saw Bo Stover score on two short runs and a 39-yard TD. SF kicker Luke Gillen booted five extra points and a 35-yard field goal.

Shaler: In the season opener last week, the Titans offense and defense enjoyed some really good and some rather forgettable moments in a home loss to Butler. Senior quarterback Aaron Aversa had some good and not-so-good moments for Shaler. He threw for 135 yards and a touchdown but also tossed three interceptions. He led the team in rushing with 59 yards and scored on two short plunges, but it wasn’t enough against a Butler team that broke a tie with a fourth-quarter score for the win.

Historic factoids

• This marks the second meeting between these teams with the first coming last season. Host South Fayette scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters to go on to beat Shaler, 28-6. Welhorsky tossed a touchdown pass and ran for two scores.

• These programs were on the complete opposite end of the football spectrum in 2012 and 2013. South Fayette defeated Aliquippa in the WPIAL 2A championship game in 2013, 34-28, and again in 2014, 31-22, giving the Lions three titles in four years. Meanwhile, Shaler had back-to-back winless campaigns in 2013 and 2014, going a combined 0-18.

• Fifty years ago, Shaler finished the 1975 season with a record of 6-2-1 while South Fayette struggled to a 2-7 record. Then 25 years ago, both teams qualified for the 2000 playoffs as the Titans finished 7-4 and the Lions had a record of 8-3.

Class 5A vs. 4A nonconference

Class 5A No. 2 Peters Township (1-0) at Class 4A No. 1 McKeesport (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, George Smith Field at Weigle-Schaeffer Stadium at McKeesport

Coaches: T.J. Plack, Peters Township; Matt Miller, McKeesport

Last week: Peters Township 42, Canon-McMillan 14; McKeesport 51, Delaware Valley 24

Players to watch: Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township (Sr., 6-2, 210, QB/SS); Kemon Spell, McKeesport (Jr., 5-11, 175, RB/SS)

Team notes

Peters Township: The Indians jumped out to a quick two-touchdown lead in the first quarter last week and never looked back in beating rival Canon-McMillan, 42-14. Senior quarterback Nolan DiLucia enjoyed a great opener, hitting on 15 of 20 passes for 271 yards and three touchdown tosses, two to Lucas Shanafelt and one to Jeremy Poletti of 56 yards. While DiLucia also ran for 54 yards, the PT ground attack was guided by Cole Neupaver, who carried the ball 26 times for 123 yards and two scores.

McKeesport: Talk about quick starts. It doesn’t get any better than the beginning of the 2025 season for Tigers stud running back Kemon Spell. The Penn State recruit scored the first three times he touched the ball. Spell returned the opening kickoff against Delaware Valley 98 yards for a touchdown, and then on his first two carries, he scored on a 56-yard run and an 80-yard burst. He finished the game with 295 yards on 13 carries and scored four touchdowns.

Historic factoids

• This is only the third meeting between Peters Township and McKeesport with the second clash coming last season. The Indians won big at home over the Tigers, 42-7. DiLucia had a touchdown pass and scoring run for PT. Both teams returned fumbles for touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Ian Watson for Peters and Javien Robinson for the only score for McKeesport.

• The first meeting between the two was in the first round of the 2011 4A playoffs. The teams combined for 82 points as the Tigers outlasted the Indians, 54-28. McKeesport fullback Mikell Moore rushed for 228 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. Tim Swoope hit Matt Augenstein for three touchdown passes for Peters Township.

• Peters Township’s lone WPIAL football title came two years ago in 2023. McKeesport has won district football gold four times, with the most recent coming 20 years ago in 2005. Both teams are trying to reach the WPIAL championship game for a third straight season. The Indians won the 5A crown by beating Pine-Richland in 2023, and then lost to the Rams in a final rematch last fall. The Tigers have lost to Aliquippa and Thomas Jefferson in the last two WPIAL 4A title games.

Class 3A vs. Class 4A nonconference

Class 3A No. 1 Avonworth (1-0) at West Mifflin (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Titans Stadium at West Mifflin

Coaches: Duke Johncour, Avonworth; B.J. Pugh, West Mifflin

On air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: Avonworth 35, Burrell 6; Elizabeth Forward 28, West Mifflin 14

Players to watch: Carson Bellinger, Avonworth (Sr., 5-11, 180, QB/P); Armand Hill, West Mifflin (Jr., 5-10, 178, RB/CB)

Team notes

Avonworth: The title defense began smoothly for the Antelopes in Week Zero as they scored 35 first-half points to put the game into the mercy rule in the second half of a home victory over Burrell. Avonworth senior quarterback Carson Bellinger connected on 11 of 16 passes for 180 yards and three touchdown tosses, all to Luca Neal. Dimitri Velisaris rushed for 140 yards on 11 carries for the ‘Lopes and he scored twice on scoring runs of 8 and 9 yards.

West Mifflin: The Titans came into the season tied with Carmichaels for the longest current winning streak in the WPIAL at three in a row. That feel-good story came to an end in Week Zero when West Mifflin dropped a hard-fought game against Elizabeth Forward. Titans junior running back Armand Hill carried the ball 18 times for 110 yards and a 56-yard touchdown run. The other score came on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Zawaun Glover to Jose Perez that tied the game before halftime.

Historic factoids

• This is the fourth all-time meeting between Avonworth and West Mifflin with the three previous contests all being played in the last three years. The Antelopes are a perfect 3-0 against the Titans.

• In last year’s nonconference Week 1 game at Avonworth, the Antelopes had a slim five-point lead at halftime before outscoring the Titans 14-0 in the third quarter and holding on for the win, 28-22. Carson Bellinger had a touchdown pass and Mason Metz scored twice for the ‘Lopes while Zahir Ismaeli had a touchdown pass and a scoring run in the fourth quarter for the Titans.

• The first two meetings between these programs came in the 2022 and 2023 seasons when both were members of the Class 3A Western Hills Conference. Avonworth won the first meeting against West Mifflin in 2022, 14-8. Then in the 2023 season, the Antelopes rolled past the Titans, 38-14.

Class 2A nonconference

No. 1 Steel Valley (0-1) at No. 2 Washington (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Wash High Stadium

Coaches: Ray Braszo, Steel Valley; Mike Bosnic, Washington

Last week: Westinghouse 22, Steel Valley 12; Washington 28, McGuffey 7

Players to watch: Da’Ron Barksdale, Steel Valley (Sr., 5-11, 185, QB/WR/CB); Tristan Reed, Washington (Sr., 6-4, 160, QB)

Team notes

Steel Valley: For the second straight year, the Ironmen kicked off the season with a loss to an elite Class A team in a game played at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek. In 2024, it was Clairton. Last week, it was City League power Westinghouse. The star for the maroon and gold was senior Da’Ron Barksdale, who completed 6 of 9 passes for 104 yards and a 29-yard touchdown to Torian Barnett and rushed for 151 yards and a score on a 13-yard jaunt.

Washington: It was a sweet yet crushing start to the new season for the Little Prexies as they opened with a win over rival McGuffey; however, the program is dealing with the sudden passing of assistant coach Ron Todd. In the game, senior quarterback Tristan Reed hit on 5 of 7 passes for 122 yards while adding another 61 yards on the ground on only two carries. Ameer Nelson led the Wash High ground attack with 106 yards and two touchdown runs.

Historic factoids

• This is the eighth meeting between these Class 2A powerhouses with Washington leading the series with Steel Valley, 4-3.

• This the fourth time the Little Prexies and Ironmen have squared off in the regular season. Last season, Donald Barksdale scored four touchdowns as the Ironmen beat the Little Prexies in Munhall, 28-8. The programs split their other two contests with Steel Valley winning in 2010, 48-13, and Washington prevailing in 2011, 39-31.

• Steel Valley and Washington have met four times in the WPIAL playoffs. The lone playoff win for the Ironmen came in a 2018 quarterfinals tilt, 39-7. The first playoff game between the two was in the 2000 quarterfinals, with the Little Prexies winning, 26-18. Wash High also won a 2014 first round game over SV, 34-7. Finally, these two squared off for WPIAL gold in 2017 with Washington beating Steel Valley in the 2A finals at Robert Morris, 37-10.

Class 2A vs. A nonconference

Class 2A No. 5 Mohawk (1-0) at Laurel (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Spartan Stadium at the Leonard S. Rich Athletic Complex

Coaches: Tim McCutcheon, Mohawk; Brian Cooper, Laurel

On air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: Mohawk 37, Neshannock 20; Laurel 43, Ellwood City 14

Players to watch: Bobby Fadden, Mohawk (Sr., 6-1, 155, QB/WR/DB); Luca Santini, Laurel (Sr., 6-0, 165, QB/DB)

Team notes

Mohawk: It was a great start to the season for the “Boys from Bessemer” as the Warriors pulled away from one of the top teams in Class A, Neshannock, last week. One of the top athletes in the WPIAL is Mohawk senior Bobby Fadden, who connected on 10 of 16 passes for 180 yards and a 47-yard scoring strike to Cash Stratton. Fadden also rushed for 82 yards and scored two touchdowns while Stratton was money in gaining 136 yards on 23 carries and also scoring twice.

Laurel: The Spartans used a big second quarter to stun host Ellwood City and win their season opener convincingly last week. Laurel broke open a 7-7 game with 22 unanswered points in the second quarter to take control. Senior quarterback Luca Santini was 6 of 11 passing for 119 yards and a touchdown for the green and white. The scoring pass was a 53-yard connection with Kolton Carlsson. Carlsson rushed for 108 yards to lead the ground attack with two more touchdowns.

Historic factoids

• This is the 52nd meeting between these Lawrence County rivals. Laurel holds the advantage with 34 wins while Mohawk has 14 victories and there have been three ties, the most recent coming 54 years ago when the two played to a 12-12 draw in the 1971 season.

• While the Warriors have won the last two meetings, the Spartans won 11 of the previous 13 matchups before 2023. Last season, Mohawk won at home, 32-27, thanks to a touchdown pass and two scoring runs by Fadden. Santini had a pair of touchdown passes for Laurel. The final was the closest outcome in the series since the Spartans edged the Warriors in 1993, 7-6.

• The teams have split their last eight games against each other. In the four Mohawk wins in 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024, the Warriors have won by an average score of 27-15, while in the four triumphs for Laurel, the Spartans won by an average score of 41-8.

• Mohawk and Laurel are squaring off for the 12th year in a row. The Warriors and Spartans did not meet in 2012 and 2013. The only other years they did not play in this century were in 2008 and 2009.

Tags: Avonworth, Gateway, Laurel, McKeesport, Mohawk, North Allegheny, Peters Township, Shaler, South Fayette, Steel Valley, Washington, West Mifflin