Trib HSSN football player of the week for Sept. 2, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Monday, September 2, 2024 | 6:34 PM

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Trib HSSN football player of the week – Donald Barksdale

School – Steel Valley

Class – Senior

Height/weight – 5-foot-10, 172 pounds

Position – Running back, cornerback

What coach says – “Donald prides himself in staying in shape,” Steel Valley coach Ray Brazo said. “He plays the game full speed at all times.

“He can do everything you want in a running back and possesses the great ability to break tackles.

“He was disappointed he couldn’t finish the Clairton game and was determined to play against Wash High. He is also a big-time player on defense and special teams.”

#Earned – Following a nightmarish start to the season in Week Zero, one of the top players in Class 2A rebounded with a dream game in Week 1. Barksdale struggled in the season opener against Clairton and did not play in the second half while battling heat-induced cramps from his neck down that made it tough to even walk. Six days later, Barksdale looked like his 2023 self, rushing for 327 yards on 34 carries for an average of 9.6 yards per tote. He also scored all four touchdowns for the Ironmen on runs of 35 and 21 yards in the first half, and 3 and 19 yards in the second half of a win over top-ranked Washington, 28-6.

Background – Barksdale rushed for 2,061 yards as a junior running back last season as he nears, 3,500 yards for his career. His older brother is DeWayne Murray, who finished as the sixth-leading rusher in WPIAL history with 6,503 yards and helped Steel Valley win the WPIAL and PIAA championships in 2016. His younger brother is junior wide receiver and cornerback Da’Ron Barksdale, who is hoping to come back soon from an injury. Donald Barksdale was a young ball boy who watched Steel Valley up close when the Ironmen captured gold in 2016 and in 2018. Barksdale plans to announce his college plans sometime in the next month or two.

WPIAL Week 1 honorable mention

Aaron Strader, Pine-Richland

It was a slow start on offense for host Pine-Richland, but once the Rams started clicking in the second half, their run of victories over Central Catholic reached three straight. Sophomore quarterback Aaron Strader connected on 11 of 21 passes for 202 yards and a 37-yard scoring pass to Jay Timmons, plus he rushed for 68 yards and scored on a 7-yard jaunt as the Rams came back to stun the Vikings, 22-17.

Menage Lucas, Highlands

In Week 1 for host Highlands against Elizabeth Forward, the code was old school historic: one if by land, two if by air and three if it goes to overtime. Senior quarterback Menage Lucas rushed for 170 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 1, 4 and the game-winning 10-yard scamper. Plus, he threw for 122 yards and a score as the Golden Rams edged the Warriors in triple overtime, 53-52.

Bobby Fadden, Mohawk

Mohawk’s Bobby Fadden threw the ball 18 times and ran with the pigskin on 12 more plays, but visiting Laurel defenders are going to be seeing the junior quarterback in their nightmares. Fadden hit on 11 of 18 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown toss to Blake Logan, plus he rushed for 181 yards and scored on runs of 78 and 16 yards, the latter being the difference in the game as the Warriors defeated the Spartans, 32-27.

2024 HSSN Players of the Week

Week Zero – Drew Welhorsky, South Fayette

Tags: Steel Valley