Week 1’s don’t miss matchups in the A-K Valley

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | 6:30 PM

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Class 5A Allegheny 9 CONFERENCE

2-5A WEST ALLEGHENY (0-0, 0-0) at FOX CHAPEL (0-1, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: West Allegheny geared up for the start of the season with a scrimmage against Trinity. Fox Chapel led for most of the game but suffered a 32-27 loss to Mt. Lebanon in a Week Zero contest.

The buzz: West Allegheny begins defense of its 2016 WPIAL 5A championship, and the Foxes hope to bounce back from a close setback to the Blue Devils.

Key players: Senior running back Will Weber scored 12 rushing touchdowns last year to lead the Indians. Foxes quarterback Nicholas Gizzo finished with 100 yards rushing and 145 yards passing against Mt. Lebanon.

About the Indians: West Allegheny coach Bob Palko described his team as “green” in the preseason. But the Indians do return talent in Weber, linebacker Anthony Dellovade and tight end Mateo Vandamia. West Allegheny defeated Fox Chapel, 23-0, last season as part of a 13-game winning streak it carried into the PIAA semifinals.

About the Foxes: Fox Chapel had a one-point lead late against Mt. Lebanon (No. 4 in 6A), but the Blue Devils rallied in the final minutes. The Foxes passing defense surrendered 11 catches and 235 receiving yards to Blue Devils wide receiver Aiden Cain.

Class 4ANORTHWEST NINE CONFERENCE

HIGHLANDS (0-0, 0-0) at AMBRIDGE (0-1, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Highlands continued preparation for the season with a scrimmage against McKeesport and Indiana. Ambridge felt to Moon, 34-6, in a Week Zero matchup between former Parkway Conference foes.

The buzz: The Class 4A Northwest Nine foes hope to get off to a positive start in conference play.

Key players: Highlands running back Jermaine Jett rushed for 368 yards and five touchdowns last season. Ambridge's Noah Campalong returns as the starter at quarterback, and Mahki Robinson is an experienced running back.

About the Rams: Dom Girardi, a Valley graduate and an assistant at Geneva the past two seasons, makes his head coaching debut Friday. Highlands dominated Ambridge, 56-6, last year but then lost three in a row to put them behind the 8-ball in the playoff race.

About the Bridgers: Ambridge comes into the game riding an 11-game losing streak. The Bridgers' lone score against Moon was a 71-yard fumble return by cornerback Tay Lindsey.

Class 3A ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE

DEER LAKES (0-0, 0-0) at APOLLO-RIDGE (1-0, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Deer Lakes tested its mettle in a scrimmage against Perry from the City League. Apollo-Ridge upended Leechburg, 34-7, in a Week Zero nonconference game.

The buzz: The matchup is the Class 3A Allegheny Conference opener for both teams. Deer Lakes toppled Apollo-Ridge, 35-14, last year.

Key players: Tight ends Jack Hollobaugh (6-foot-1) and Colin Kadlick (6-4) factor into the running and passing games for Deer Lakes. Apollo-Ridge freshman wideout Klay Fitzroy caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Blue Devils.

About the Lancers: Deer Lakes is young this season with only five seniors on the roster. One of those seniors is running back Josh Solomon, the team's leading ground gainer last year with 335 yards and nine touchdowns.

About the Vikings: Kyle Fitzroy threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score against Leechburg in Week Zero. He played only the first half. Jacob Fello and Bradley Milko also caught touchdowns.

CLASS 3AALLEGHENY CONFERENCE

VALLEY (0-0, 0-0) at KEYSTONE OAKS (0-0, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last season: Valley went 6-3 overall, 5-2 in conference play, but it missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. Keystone Oaks won the 2016 conference title at 7-0 and made the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals. Neither team played a Week Zero game.

The buzz: Both teams come into this game and the season overall after losing standout offensive players (Alex Smith for Keystone Oaks and Chase Balla for Valley) to graduation.

Key players: Valley's Deonte Ross, an all-conference selection last year, moves from fullback to tailback in coach Muzzy Colosimo's run-preferred offense. Keystone Oaks first-team all-conference tight end Jerry Volpe returns as a key cog in the offense.

About the Vikings: Valley will attempt to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2013. Four starters are back along the offensive line. Point differential determined the Class 3A wild card spot, and the Vikings lost out to South Park.

About the Golden Eagles: Freshman Logan Shrubb and junior Mason Brooks both got looks at quarterback in preseason camp to fill the shoes of the graduated Smith, who now is at Duquesne.

CLASS AEASTERN CONFERENCE

RIVERVIEW (0-0, 0-0) at LEECHBURG (0-1, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Riverview continued preparations for the season with a scrimmage against Shady Side Academy. Leechburg suffered a 34-7 loss to Apollo-Ridge in a Week Zero nonconference contest.

The buzz: Last year's conference opener went to Riverview, 28-7, and the win helped the Raiders qualify for the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

Key players: Zach Hanlon, a sophomore offensive and defensive lineman, played every offensive and defensive snap for Riverview last year as a freshman. Leechburg quarterback Bret Kardos was a bright spot in Week Zero with 80 yards passing and 46 rushing.

About the Blue Devils: Leechburg is looking to snap an eight-game conference losing streak. Because of low numbers compounded by injuries, the Blue Devils dressed only 19 players for last Friday's game against Apollo-Ridge.

About the Raiders: Jared Massack, a junior, takes over at quarterback for the still-young Riverview offense. Only three seniors dot the 24-player roster.

NONCONFERENCE

BURRELL (1-0) at HOPEWELL (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Both teams played Week Zero nonconference games. Burrell defeated Springdale, 39-12. Hopewell fell at home to Freedom, 7-3.

The buzz: The Bucs hope to build off of a strong start, and the Vikings look to bounce back from a low-scoring setback. Hopewell edged Burrell in last year's meeting 27-26.

Key players: Seth Tatrn's debut as Bucs quarterback was successful as he accounted for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing). Hopewell senior wideout Tyler Sabo also figures into the running game and on special teams.

About the Bucs: Seth Fischbauch caught six of Tatrn's passes for 61 yards and a touchdown against the Dynamos. He was one of five receivers to haul in receptions. Logan Bitar complemented the passing game with 138 rushing yards and a score.

About the Vikings: It was night and day for Hopewell last season. Including the win over Burrell, the Vikings started 5-0. However, the Vikings lost their last five games and missed the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. Only seven seniors dot the Hopewell roster.

NONCONFERENCE

JEFFERSON-MORGAN (1-0) at SPRINGDALE (0-1)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Jefferson-Morgan edged Chartiers Houston, 7-6, in Week Zero action, while Springdale suffered a 39-12 loss at Burrell.

The buzz: Springdale hopes to get first-year coach Seth Napierkowski his first win in its home opener. The Dynamos won last year's meeting with Jefferson-Morgan, 54-7.

Key players: Jefferson-Morgan running back/linebacker Colten Davidson is a key on both sides of the ball and a 2016 all-conference performer. Springdale's Scott Landis rushed for a team-best 59 yards and a touchdown against Burrell.

About the Rockets: Jefferson-Morgan got a big defensive effort against Chartiers-Houston after giving up an average of 39 points a game last year.

About the Dynamos: Springdale is hoping to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2013. Quarterback Josh Jones, in his first varsity start, threw for 59 yards against Burrell as the Dynamos amassed 161 total yards.

CLASS A EASTERN CONFERENCE

IMANI CHRISTIAN (1-0, 0-0) at GREENSBURG C.C. (1-0, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Imani rolled past Union-Rimersburg, 50-22. Greensburg Central gave new coach Aaron Smetanka a win in his debut, 26-13 at Tuscarawas Central Catholic (Ohio).

The buzz: Imani, met with plenty of hype this season after three key players transferred in, is looking to challenge conference front-runners Clairton and Jeannette and start Eastern play with a win.

Key players: Sam Fairley, a transfer from University Prep, had nine receptions for 216 yards and two touchdowns (75 and 77 yards) last week for Imani. Max Pisula made his debut at quarterback for Greensburg Central Catholic and ran for two scores, and kicker Ethan Slike had field goals of 20 and 21 yards.

About the Saints: While they piled up 532 yards of offense in their opener, Imani also had 19 penalties. Quarterback Tawaun Wesley threw for 284 yards and two TDs, completing 18 of 29 attempts.

About the Centurions: After missing the playoffs last season for the first time in 13 years, a young team and coach are looking to get this back on track.

Class 5ABIG EAST CONFERENCE

LATROBE (0-1, 0-0) at 4-5A GATEWAY (1-0, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Latrobe lost its second straight in the series to Derry, 29-14. Gateway won at Woodland Hills, 35-23.

The buzz: Gateway is expected to be one of the top teams in the Big East, but Latrobe is looking to sneak up on some teams with an improved offense.

Key players: Isaiah Cameron scored three touchdowns for the Gators, two via run and another on a catch, in last week's win. Jason Armstrong, who moved from tight end to quarterback for Latrobe, was 16 of 34 for 158 yards in his debut last week at Derry.

About the Gators: Fast starts often fuel Gateway wins, and the opener was no different as a 95-yard kickoff return by Courtney Jackson set the tone for a 21-0 halftime lead.

About the Wildcats: Latrobe has not won a conference opener since 2014.

CLASS 5ABIG EAST CONFERENCE

3-5A PENN-TRAFFORD (1-0, 0-0) at CONNELLSVILLE (1-0, 0-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Penn-Trafford won a defensive struggle against rival Norwin, 3-0, for its seventh straight win over the Knights. Connellsville retained the Coal Bucket Trophy with a 46-33 win over Uniontown in coach Marko Thomas' debut on the Falcons sideline.

The buzz: Thomas is a Penn-Trafford graduate and was a standout wide receiver there in the late 1990s. He opens conference play against his alma mater.

Key players: Quarterback Cam Laffoon rushed for 130 yards, and running back John Gay IV added 110 for Penn-Trafford, which got a 20-yard field goal from Nick Tarabrella to hold off Norwin. Luke White ran for 67 yards and a score on 11 carries for Connellsville in Week Zero.

About the Warriors: A nasty pass rush kept Norwin at bay, led by linemen Logan Hawkins, Will Mayr and Cameron Elma. Defense is the driving force for this team.

About the Falcons: They scored 31 consecutive points in the opener to take an 18-point lead but only led 31-27 at halftime.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Leechburg, Riverview, Springdale, Valley