Trib HSSN football players of the week for Dec. 1, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, December 1, 2024 | 8:21 PM

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Trib HSSN football player of the week – Nico and Luca Neal

School – Avonworth

Class – Nico, senior; Luca, junior

Height/weight – Nico: 5-foot-10, 225 pounds; Luca: 5-10, 190

Position – Nico: Running back, linebacker; Luca: Running back, defensive back

What coach says – “What stood out (Friday) was Lucas’ patience and persistence,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said. “He kept getting 3, 5, 4, 10 yards a pop and you knew he was bound to break one, and he ended up breaking two long ones.

“Nico and Luca are difference-makers. The Neal brothers embody what high school football is all about. They play for each other, our team and our school. They are unselfish and never complain about anything. They are a true joy to our team and locker room.

“The recipe has been get the ball into the hands of your best athletes and run behind a strong offensive line. We knew coming down the stretch these two would be impact players.

“This team has battled adversity throughout the year and is resilient. They definitely will be ready for Saturday.”

#Earned – Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love, however Avonworth could be considered the School of Brotherly Shove because three sets of brothers have pushed the Antelopes to a WPIAL Class 3A championship and now within one win of adding PIAA gold to a dream season. The ‘Lopes have senior Perry and sophomore Dimitri Velsaris, senior Mason and sophomore Bryce Metz and senior Nico and junior Luca Neal. The last trio of brothers has been spectacular in the postseason since Avonworth turned to the wildcat offense with the direct snap going right to the running back. The two Neals have alternated with big games. In the district quarterfinals, Nico rushed for 272 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Beaver. In the semifinals, Luca had 176 yards and two scores in a victory over top-seeded Imani Christian, and in the WPIAL finals, Nico ran for 112 yards and scored both TDs in a title win over Central Valley. So it was Luca’s turn in the state semifinals against Penn Cambria, as he rushed for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries as the Antelopes defeated the District 6 champion Panthers, 16-6.

Background – You can call the Neal brothers late bloomers when it comes to their rolls on offense as wildcat running backs. For the senior Nico, he only had 28 carries for 165 yards heading into the playoffs, but since then became the Antelopes’ leading rusher with 707 yards heading into the state playoffs. Now he has been passed at the top of the Avonworth rushing list by the junior Luca, who had 213 yards rushing on 26 carries through the first 10 weeks of the season, but has exploded in the last four weeks and now has 765 yards on 100 carries. The two have combined for 21 touchdowns this season, with 10 of them coming in the last four playoff games. Nico had a 51-yard scoring run nullified by a penalty early in the state semifinal against Penn Cambria. Both Neal brothers are hoping to continue their athletic success on the basketball court this winter. Nico has not decided what school he will be attending next year, but he is leaning toward a business major.

WPIAL Week 14 Honorable Mention

Jy’Aire Walls, Central Catholic

It was another big game for Vikings senior running back Elijah Faulkner, who continues to shine in the postseason with 132 yards on 26 carries and an ice-breaking 42-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter. However, in a game where both the Central Catholic and Harrisburg offenses were shining, the field general for the Vikings was quarterback Jy’Aire Walls. The senior connected on 7 of 15 passes for 89 yards, but two of those completions went for scores, one to Max Roman for 25 yards and the other to Xxavier Thomas from 23 yards. Walls also scored twice on runs of 12 and 1 yard as the Vikings held on to defeat the District 3 champion Cougars, 38-33.

2024 HSSN Players of the Week

Week 13 – Elijah Faulkner, Central Catholic

Week 12 – Maclane Miller, Pine-Richland

Week 11 – Kemon Spell, McKeesport

Week 10 – Eric Kasperowicz, Mars

Week 9 – DevonTe Dean, Carlynton

Week 8 – Brady Brinkley, North Allegheny

Week 7 – Kymon’e Brown, Jeannette

Week 6 – Tasso Whipple, Penn-Trafford

Week 5 – Julian Dahlem, Upper St. Clair

Week 4 – Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry

Week 3 – Trey Hopper, Montour

Week 2 – Tyler Eber, Thomas Jefferson

Week 1 – Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley

Week Zero – Drew Welhorsky, South Fayette

Tags: Avonworth