Trib HSSN high school football team of the week for Dec. 8, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, December 8, 2025 | 8:00 PM

Trib HSSN football team of the week – Avonworth Antelopes

Coach: Duke Johncour (15th season)

Result: Avonworth 31, Northwestern Lehigh 7

Record: 15-0 overall, 6-0 in Class 3A Western Hills Conference

#Earned: Avonworth was squaring off against District 11 champion Northwestern Lehigh for the second straight year in the PIAA Class 3A championship game following a heartbreaking overtime loss for the Lopes in 2024, 36-33. It looked like it was going to be another dogfight early on as both teams scored touchdowns on their first drives. However, when the Antelopes scored with 1:52 remaining in the first quarter to go up 14-7, they never looked back, scoring 10 more points in the second quarter to lead at the half, 24-7, then producing the only points in the second half on a fourth-quarter touchdown for the final margin of victory. While the first-down total was close, 15-14 in favor of the ‘Lopes, total yardage told the story of the game as the Antelopes had 389 total yards to 187 for the Tigers. The victory marked the first PIAA championship for the program after falling in the state finals in 2019 and 2024. With the Avonworth win and the Twin Valley loss in the Class 4A title game, the Antelopes claimed the only perfect football season in 2025 in the state of Pennsylvania.

Statistical standouts: As was the case all season, there were stars aplenty draped in white Antelopes uniforms on Saturday. The historic win started with a bang as senior quarterback Carson Bellinger connected with sophomore wide receiver Jaden Jones on the first play from scrimmage on a 53-yard touchdown pass. Bellinger finished the game connecting on 9 of 11 passes for 248 yards while Jones had seven receptions for 187 yards and the score. The Avonworth star from a year ago in the finals was the junior Luca Neal, who ran for 252 yards in the loss. He didn’t have as many rushing yards in what was his final high school football game, but he was still a major contributor. Neal rushed 21 times for 123 yards and scored three touchdowns on runs of 8, 9, and 8 yards, and he had two receptions for 61 yards. He also tied for the team lead in title-game tackles with six along with seniors Jackson Krul and Evan Loutzenhiser. Avonworth accomplished this without the team’s leading rusher this season in junior Dimitri Velisaris, who was injured in the WPIAL finals, and junior Bryce Metz, who after a great start had to leave the game Saturday due to injury.

Last year: Last year, after four games, the Lopes were sitting at 2-2 entering Western Hills Conference play. The Antelopes won their first five conference games and needed one more to claim the conference crown outright, but Avonworth lost to Beaver, dropping into a three-way tie for the conference title with the Bobcats and Central Valley. At the start of the WPIAL playoffs, the Antelopes went wild as they starting leaning heavily on the direct-snap wildcat formation on offense and the wins piled up. Down went Greensburg Salem, Beaver, Imani Christian and in the district ifnals, Central Valley, to win the program’s third WPIAL championship. Avonworth beat Penn Cambria in the state semifinals to earn their second trip to the PIAA finals, where they lost in overtime to Northwestern Lehigh, 36-33.

Remember when: The first WPIAL championship for the Antelopes was a shared title in 1959. Avonworth and Union played to a tie in the Class A finals, 13-13. Because there was no overtime, the Lopes and Scotties were declared co-champions. Avonworth wouldn’t return to the district finals until 2014; however, they were no match for powerhouse Clairton as the Bears claimed their sixth championship in seven years with a Class A victory, 46-14. Then exactly 60 years after sharing gold, the Antelopes rolled past Washington in the WPIAL Class 2A finals, 28-6, to claim their second title and first outright district crown.

Week 15 honorable mention

Clairton

For as decorated as Clairton has been this century, it was hard to believe the Bears had not won both the WPIAL and PIAA football championships in 13 years. The Bears won district and state gold in a four-year rampage from 2009-2012. Their challenge in the 2025 title game was defending Class A state champion and the program that beat the Bears in the 2014 and 2016 PIAA Class A finals, Bishop Guilfoyle. Clairton scored touchdowns twice in the first half and added three more end zone trips in the third quarter as the Bears rolled past the Marauders, 35-3.

Central Catholic

Ten years ago, Central Catholic won its fourth and most recent PIAA championship with a victory over Parkland. The Vikings’ fifth state title and first Class 6A crown will have to wait another year as District 12 winner LaSalle College handed bookend losses to Central Catholic this season. The Explorers defeated the Vikings in Week Zero, 23-6, and on Saturday, in the final high school football game of 2025, LaSalle College eventually pulled away for a win over the WPIAL champs, 34-20.

2025 Trib HSSN teams of the week

Week 14 – Clairton Bears

Week 13 – Peters Township Indians

Week 12 – Laurel Spartans

Week 11 – McKeesport Tigers

Week 10 – Frazier Commodores

Week 9 – Steel Valley Ironmen

Week 8 – Moon Tigers

Week 7 – North Allegheny Tigers

Week 6 – Apollo-Ridge Vikings

Week 5 – Albert Gallatin Colonials

Week 4 – Aliquippa Quips

Week 3 – Avella Eagles

Week 2 – Southmoreland Scotties

Week 1 – Mars Fightin’ Planets

Week Zero – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Tags: Avonworth