Trib HSSN high school football player of the week for Nov. 11, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Monday, November 11, 2024 | 6:40 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Trib HSSN football player of the week – Kemon Spell

School: McKeesport

Class: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 5-foot-9, 185 pounds

Position: Running back, cornerback

#Earned: When Mars and McKeesport met in Week 7 for first place in the Class 4A Great Allegheny Conference last month, the Tigers defeated the Fightin’ Planets, 28-7. So with Mars brewing up a dish of revenge and jumping out to an early lead, McKeesport turned to witchcraft and cast a fatal Spell on the Planets. After falling behind, the Tigers scored 35 unanswered points with most of the damage done by sophomore running back Kemon Spell, who carried the ball 15 times for 281 yards and scored three long touchdowns on runs of 55, 36 and 56 yards. In two playoffs wins over Belle Vernon and Mars, Spell has carried the ball 41 times for 558 yards and five TDs.

What coach says: “He has been great all year, but (on Friday), he was able to run through tackles and then make the long run from there,” McKeesport coach Matt Miller said. “I thought he also played an outstanding game at cornerback.”

“He has definitely gotten better each and every week. He had a small injury that kept him out of camp, and it seemed to slow him down early in the year, but as of late, he has been amazing.”

“He has embraced the role as a major contributor to our offense this season and has become more vocal and a leader by his hard work.”

“His youth is so exciting for me, because he is only going to get better over the next couple of years. He has great vision, power and breakaway speed. He is also humble and a true team player, and he will be a great example for younger players coming up through our program.”

Background: McKeesport has a long list of successful running backs over the decades that have enjoyed great scholastic careers running out of the old George Smith flex-bone offense. As a freshman last fall, Kemon Spell finished third on the team in rushing behind Anthony Boyd and Keith Spell with 517 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has moved into the top 10 in rushing in the WPIAL this season with 1,617 yards and in scoring with 24 touchdowns. Even though he’s only a sophomore, Spell has already committed to Penn State. He said he had always wanted to play there, and when they offered earlier this season, he jumped at it. Spell played baseball and basketball through middle school but does plan of joining the McKeesport track team for the first time this spring. As a lifetime McKeesport resident, Spell grew up emulating former Tigers running back and safety Khaleke Hudson, who played his college ball at Michigan and in the pros with Washington and now Cleveland.

Week 11 honorable mention

Ja’Vaughn Moore, Bethel Park

Woodland Hills had never lost a home playoff game at The Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, bringing a perfect 18-0 record into their Class 5A quarterfinal against visiting Bethel Park. Once play began Friday, the Black Hawks made sure that streak would be no Moore. Senior running back Ja’Vaughn Moore continued his tremendous season by rushing 37 times for 280 yards and three touchdowns on runs of 10, 5 and 80 yards, plus his black-and-orange icing on this playoff victory came in a 23-point fourth quarter when he caught a 59-yard scoring strike from senior quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer as the Black Hawks ended the Wolverines’ season with a convincing win, 49-22.

Charlie Nigut, Elizabeth Forward

This WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals game was built up around the quarterbacks with the top passer in the WPIAL, North Catholic junior Joey Felitsky, squaring off against the No. 10 passer in the district, Elizabeth Forward junior Ryan Messina. However, Warriors senior Charlie Nigut said don’t forget about us running backs. Nigut carried the ball 35 times for 269 yards and scored four touchdowns on jaunts of 38, 18, 2 and 4 yards. He also had a pair of catches for 36 yards, building on his EF team lead in rushing and scoring. He’s second in receiving. The tight game went the way of the Warriors, as they ousted the Trojans, 45-42, thanks to a walk-off field goal by sophomore Luke Holdren.

Eric Doerue, South Park

Old-school high school football used to mandate three yards and a cloud of dust as the preferred manor in which to matriculate the ball down the field as the late coach Hank Stram famously said. While there is no most dust, or mud, or even grass in most cases, South Park and star running back Eric Doerue believe strongly in old-school football. The Eagles and their senior back are big-time physical, as proven again Friday when Doeue carried the ball 26 times for 193 yards and two second-half touchdowns of 18 and 31 yards to spark the South Park comeback with 19 unanswered points in a Class 2A quarterfinal victory over visiting Mohawk, 19-9.

2024 Trib HSSN Players of the Week

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: McKeesport