Trib HSSN don’t miss high school football matchups for 2025 Week 2

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 7:40 PM

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Week 2 of the 2025 WPIAL season is the final tuneup for some District 7 teams before conference play begins next week.

Already the third weekend of the new season is minus one game after Shady Side Academy pulled out of its nonconference game at Clairton.

For now, the game is just postponed with the Bulldogs remaining at 2-0 and the Bears at 1-1; however, the game could be ruled a forfeit by the district if not made up down the road, which is unlikely.

Through two weeks, 29 other WPIAL football teams are a perfect 2-0 with three teams — Aliquippa, Burgettstown and Carmichaels — at 1-0.

The three district games matching 2-0 teams against each other are Penn-Trafford at Moon, Southmoreland hosting Laurel Highlands and Freeport visiting Quaker Valley.

Don’t forget the WPIAL Scoreboard Show can be seen from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Here is a look at some of the top high school football matchups for Friday in Week 2.

Class 5A vs. 6A nonconference

Class 5A No. 3 Woodland Hills (1-1) vs. 6A No. 1 Central Catholic (1-1)

3:30 p.m. Saturday, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio

Coaches: Brian Tarrant, Woodland Hills; Ryan Lehmeier, Central Catholic

Last week: Woodland Hills 41, Penn Hills 7; Central Catholic 34, Pine-Richland 20

Players to watch: Cam Walter, Woodland Hills (Sr., 6-1, 185, QB); Roman Thompson, Central Catholic (Jr., 6-0, 200, RB/LB)

Team notes

Woodland Hills: Following a tough season-opening loss at home to North Allegheny, the Wolverines bounced back big time last week with a nonconference victory at rival Penn Hills. Senior quarterback Cam Walter connected on 12 of 15 passes for 116 yards and three touchdown tosses, two to Malik McCloud and one to Landon Atkins. Senior Scoop Smith returned a punt 51-yards for a score and Ziggy Moore closed out the scoring for Woody High with a 15-yard scoring run.

Central Catholic: The Vikings came back last week to avoid a second straight 0-2 season start and finally picked up a win against nemesis Pine-Richland. Junior running back Roman Thompson was in beast mode as he rushed for 123 yards and scored three touchdowns, including a highlight reel jaunt from 43-yards. Central Catholic quarterback Owen Herrick hit on 9 of 17 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown, and Chrys Black got the scoring started by returning the opening kickoff 99 yards for a TD.

Historic factoids

• This is the 31st meeting between former Class 4A eastern rivals Woodland Hills and Central Catholic with the Wolverines leading the all-time series, 16-14, this despite the fact the Vikings have won the last seven meetings between the football powers.

• In last year’s Week 2 clash, the visiting Vikings picked up their first win of the season with a rout of the Wolverines. Central Catholic quarterback Jy’Aire Walls threw for two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, all in the first half, as the Vikings scored 35 points by halftime and cruised past Woodland Hills, 54-14.

• Back when they were foes in the old Quad-East, these two powerhouse programs met in the WPIAL 4A playoffs seven times. Central Catholic picked up postseason wins in 2003, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Woodland Hills won playoff games in this series in 2001, 2005 and 2009. Two of those postseason meetings were in the district championship game at then-Heinz Field. The Wolverines won big in 2001, 41-6, while the Vikings claimed gold in 2013, 27-7.

• Instead of being played at The Wolverina in Turtle Creek or at Carnegie Mellon University, this game was selected to be part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Classic, which showcases several high school football teams each year, with games played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Class 5A vs 6A nonconference

South Fayette (2-0) at Canon-McMillan (0-2)

7 p.m. Friday, AHN Field at Canonsburg Memorial Stadium

Coaches: Marty Spieler, South Fayette; Brian DeLallo, Canon-McMillan

On air: Video stream on TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: South Fayette 35, Shaler 27; Upper St. Clair 48, Canon-McMillan 0

Players to watch: Drew Welhosky, South Fayette (Sr., 6-1, 185, QB/FS); Ethan Campoli, Canon-McMillan (Sr., 6-1, 180, WR/FS)

Team notes

South Fayette: The Lions offense has come out roaring in two games in 2025, scoring 38 points in a Week Zero win at Chartiers Valley and dropping 35 last week in a road win at Shaler. Senior quarterback Drew Welhorsky enjoyed another big night with 96 yards passing on nine completions and a touchdown, plus he rushed for 169 yards. Bo Stover scored on a pair of touchdown runs and freshman Aayden Wright showed the future is bright with two kickoff returns of 90 yards each for touchdowns.

Canon-McMillan: Scoring has not come easy for the Big Macs in back-to-back losses to Class 5A powers Peters Township and Upper St. Clair. Canon-McMillan scored two touchdowns in its season opener, then was blanked last week at USC. Senior wide receiver Ethan Campoli has six receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown this season while quarterback Ty Jansma has thrown for 237 yards, and Mason Calgaro leads the team in rushing with 48 yards, 45 of them coming last week.

Historic factoids

• This is only the fourth meeting between South Fayette and Canon-McMillan with the previous three games being played in the last three years.

• All three previous matchups between the Lions and Big Macs have been low-scoring, close contests. Canon-McMillan was triumphant in the first two games, winning 21-17 in 2022 and 14-7 in 2023. South Fayette was a winner in Week 2 a year ago, 13-10.

• In the game last year at South Fayette, the Lions scored first in the second quarter on a Drew Welhorsky 6-yard run. A Zach Barzd 27-yard field goal put the Big Macs on the board before halftime. Welhorsky hit Ben Cavenaugh on a 32-yard scoring strike in third quarter to extend the South Fayette lead before Ty Jansma hit Ethan Campoli on a 4-yard scoring pass to cut the Lions lead to three and ended the scoring in a 13-10 game.

Class 4A nonconference

Trinity (1-1) at No. 5 Montour (1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium at Montour

Coaches: Dan Knause, Trinity; Lou Cerro, Montour

On air: Video stream on TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: Trinity 35, McGuffey 13; Moon 41, Montour 13

Players to watch: Jonah Williamson, Trinity (Sr., 6-2, 200, QB/FS); Brandon Bennett, Montour (Soph., 6-3, 205, QB/DB)

Team notes

• Trinity: Following a season-opening loss by one point to Moon, the Hillers hit the road and picked up their first victory with a win over McGuffey. Senior quarterback Jonah Williamson was near perfect, completing 9 of 10 passes for 190 yards and touchdowns to four Trinity receivers, Owen Gardner from 26 yards, Draden Berdar from 3 yards, Owen Samogala from 22 yards and Ayvari Chandler from 59 yards, as the Hillers led 35-0 by halftime and cruised to the victory.

Montour: The young Spartans opened the season with an impressive win at Central Valley, but then were outscored 20-0 in the second half in a 28-point loss at home to Moon. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Bennett was 9 of 17 passing for 126 yards and a 41-yard scoring strike to Archie Collins. Bennett had thrown for 193 yards in the Week Zero win for Montour. Senior running back Caden Halajcio rushed for 92 yards, 43 of which came on a first-quarter touchdown run.

Historic factoids

• This is the 16th meeting between Trinity and Montour in a series that has been one-sided. Montour has won the last eight straight and 13 of the 15 contests.

• The game a year ago was tight. Trey Hopper hit A.J. Alston on a first-quarter touchdown pass to put the Spartans up before a Jonah Williamson run tied the game in the second quarter. The lone score in the second half was a Daniel Batch 6-yard run in the final quarter as Montour won, 14-7.

• The only two wins for the Hillers in this series came in 1969, 8-6, and again in 1973, 8-0.

• Trinty and Montour met once in the WPIAL playoffs. The Spartans defeated the Hillers in the first round of the 2012 Class 3A playoffs, 27-6.

Class 4A vs. Class 3A nonconference

Class 3A No. 1 Avonworth (2-0) at 4A No. 3 Aliquippa (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Heinz Field at Aliquippa

Coaches: Duke Johncour, Avonworth; Mike Warfield, Aliquippa

Last week: Aliquippa 42, Belle Vernon 7; Avonworth 37, West Mifflin 7

Players to watch: Marques Council, Aliquippa (Sr., 6-2, 168, QB); Carson Bellinger, Avonworth (Sr., 5-10, 180, QB/P)

Team notes

Avonworth: The defending WPIAL Class 3A champion Antelopes are bounding out of the gates this season with convincing victories over Burrell and West Mifflin. In the win last week, senior quarterback Carson Bellinger threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns on scoring tosses to Luca Neal of 94 yards (he ended up with 144 yards in receptions) and Bryce Metz of 6 yards. Avonworth running back Dimitri Velisaris carried the ball 30 times, rushed for 138 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Aliquippa: The return of the Mike Warfield era for the Quips was as successful as a trip to the beach. Aliquippa won its season opener last week on the gold turf at Belle Vernon thanks in part to the play of senior quarterback Marques Council, who completed 11 of 15 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns, 62 yards to Qa’lil Goode, 70 yards to Akiva Woods and 29 yards to Anthony Ingram. Council also scored on a 66-yard run and backfield mate Cameron Cannon scored on two short runs.

Historic factoids

• This is only the fourth time Aliquippa has played Avonworth. The Quips are 2-0-1 in the previous three meetings.

• In Week 2 of last year, Aliquippa fell behind host Avonworth early before rallying to win going away, 46-20. Tikey Hayes had three touchdown runs for the Quips, who also scored twice on defense on a Qa’Lil Goode 60 yard pick-six and a Cameron Cannon 58-yard fumble return. Bryce Metz had two early touchdown runs for the Antelopes.

• The first meeting between these schools was 106 years ago. Aliquippa crushed Avonworth in the fall of 1919, 68-0. The teams met three years later in 1922 and the Quips and Antelopes played to a scoreless tie.

• Aliquippa has the most district football championships in WPIAL history with 20. The first championship was won in 1952. Avonworth has captured district gold three times, with the first also coming in the 1950s when the Antelopes and Union played to a 13-13 tie and were declared Class A co-champions in 1959. Title No. 3 for the ‘Lopes came last fall, the same year the Quips’ championship game streak ended at 16.

Class A vs. 2A nonconference

Class A No. 3 Bishop Canevin (0-2) at 2A No. 1 Steel Valley (1-1)

7 p.m. Friday at Campbell Field in Munhall

Coaches: Rod Steele, Bishop Canevin; Ray Braszo, Steel Valley

On air: Video stream on TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Last week: Seton LaSalle 22, Bishop Canevin 7; Steel Valley 21, Washington 6

Players to watch: Damar Olds, Bishop Canevin (Sr., 5-11, 175, WR/CB); Da’ron Barksdale, Steel Valley (Sr., 5-11, 185, QB/WR/CB)

Team notes

Bishop Canevin: In a Week 1 battle between Dormont Stadium tenants, the Crusaders fell to 2024 Class 2A district runner-up Seton LaSalle. Bishop Canevin scored first when senior wide receiver Damar Olds caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Brady Wagner. However, the Rebels tied the game in the second quarter, then scored 15 unanswered points in the second half to claim bragging rights. In Week Zero, the Crusaders fell to Clarkson North from Canada in a game played in York by seven points.

Steel Valley: After coming up short against Westinghouse in the season opener two weeks ago, the Ironmen bounced back on the road to even their record with an impressive win against then-No. 2 Washington. Dual threat senior quarterback Da’Ron Barksdale only threw for 27 yards but did plenty of damage with his legs as he ran for 117 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 31, 1 and 1 yard. Barksdale had 255 yards from scrimmage in the loss to Westinghouse.

Historic factoids

• This is the 15th meeting between Steel Valley and Bishop Canevin with the Ironmen holding a slim lead series against the Crusaders, 7-6-1.

• This is only the second meeting between the Crusaders and the Ironmen in the last 16 years with the other coming last season. In that 2024 Week 2 matchup, Bishop Canevin rolled to the win over Steel Valley, 42-6. Myontae Mott rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns, plus he returned a kickoff 78 yards for a score.

• The teams met for the first time in 1987 with the Crusaders winning, 20-15. The next year, when the two met in the regular season, it produced the only blemish on the Ironmen’s championship record when the two played to a 14-14 tie. The same two teams met again in the 1988 Class 2A playoffs with Steel Valley beating Canevin, 20-14, on its way to the school’s first WPIAL championship.

• These teams dominated Class 2A football in a three-year span from 1988-1990. Steel Valley defeated Center, 6-0, to win the ’88 title, then successfully defended their district crown when they knocked off Freeport in the ’89 finals, 20-14. Canevin Catholic, as it was known then, upset Washington in the 1990 Class 2A title game, 21-20, to capture its first district football championship.

Class A nonconference

Jefferson-Morgan (2-0) at Burgettstown (1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Mill Memorial Stadium in Burgettstown

Coaches: Shane Ziats, Jefferson-Morgan; Mark Druga, Burgettstown

Last week: Jefferson-Morgan 57, Waynesburg Central 30; Burgettstown 23, Nemtworth 20

Players to watch: Deakyn Dehoet, Jefferson-Morgan (Sr., 5-11, 195, WR/CB); Colton County, Burgettstown (Sr., 6-1, 180, RB/OLB/K)

Team notes

Jefferson-Morgan: The defending Class A Tri-County South champion Rockets have exploded out of the gates in an effort to match their undefeated regular season a year ago. After a win two weeks ago, Jefferson-Morgan clubbed Waynesburg. Senior running back Deakyn Dehoet rushed for 167 yards on nine carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 17, 66 and 50 yards. He also had a 30-yard scoring reception from Triton Farbee and returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD.

Burgettstown: After not playing in Week Zero, the Blue Devils opened the season with a thrilling victory last week against Bentworth. Senior Colton County was King of the County in Week 1 when he scored on a 60-yard touchdown run, booted a 40-yard field goal and secured the victory with a late-game strip sack. Blake Neal connected with Bryce Speer for a score and Brady Rightweiser got into the end zone on a short run to help Burgettstown win its season opener.

Historic factoids

• This is the eighth meeting between these Greene County and Washington County schools. The series has been tight with Burgettstown holding a slight edge over Jefferson-Morgan, 4-3.

• This is the second meeting in the last two years. The 2024 contest was the first between the schools since 2005. The Rockets cruised past the Blue Devils in Week 2 a year ago, 49-14. Houston Guseman threw for 185 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for two more scores to lead Jefferson-Morgan to victory.

• The Rockets won the first meeting between the teams in 1958, 25-6. The Blue Devils then won three times in the next three years by a combined score of 54-13. The programs split regular season meetings in 2004 and 2005.

Tags: Aliquippa, Avonworth, Bishop Canevin, Burgettstown, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Jefferson-Morgan, Montour, South Fayette, Steel Valley, Trinity, Woodland Hills