A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2024 Week 4

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | 5:22 PM

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Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for the A-K Valley in Week 4 of the 2024 season:

Class 5A Big East Conference

Penn-Trafford (2-2, 0-1) at Kiski Area (1-3, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Richard J. Dilts Stadium, Allegheny Township

Last week’s result: Woodland Hills 35, Penn-Trafford 21; Gateway 28, Kiski Area 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

The Warriors turned the ball over four times in their loss last Friday. Tasso Whipple was held to 93 yards. Jack Weishaar caught two touchdown passes. … The Cavaliers have dropped three consecutive games after opening the season by defeating Knoch. Quarterback Carson Heinle completed 12 of 21 passes for 151 yards against Gateway but was intercepted three times. Andrew Finney caught six passes.

Class 5A Northeast Conference

Fox Chapel (1-2, 0-1) at North Hills (3-1, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Martorelli Stadium, Ross Township

Last week’s result: Penn Hills 54, Fox Chapel 0; Pine-Richland 29, North Hills 24

Last year’s meeting: North Hills 50, Fox Chapel 0

Fox Chapel tries to bounce back after a loss to Penn Hills in its Northeast opener. Joe Geller was held to 15 passing yards and had two interceptions last week. The Foxes’ runners also were limited to fewer than 50 total yards. … North Hills fell behind Pine-Richland, 27-7, but rallied when Kelly McCarthy found Jack Martin for 26- and 68-yard touchdown passes. McCarthy also ran for 68 yards, and Martin caught three passes for 127 yards. North Hills has a 22-5-1 lead in the series vs. Fox Chapel, including an 8-8 tie in 1970. The last Foxes’ win came in 1978.

No. 2 Pine-Richland (3-0, 1-0) at Plum (1-3, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustangs Stadium, Plum

Last week’s result: Pine-Richland 29, North Hills 24; Plum 24, Shaler 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Pine-Richland’s balanced rushing attack helped pave the way against North Hills as Jalen Neals and QB Aaron Strader combined for 117 yards. Neals ran for a TD, as did Tanner Cunningham. The Rams defense also produced points, including a safety and Jay Timmons’ 58-yard interception return. … Plum snapped a three-game skid with a win in its conference opener last week behind Nick Odom’s 123 rushing yards and two TD runs. Darian Nelson added a touchdown run and five catches for 87 yards. … Plum and Pine-Richland have played twice since 1968, with the Rams winning in 2012-13. The Rams lead 5-4 in the series that dates to 1959.

Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference

Burrell (0-4, 0-0) at Freeport (2-2, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Freeport Area Athletic Stadium, Buffalo Township

Last week’s result: Derry 32, Burrell 13; Deer Lakes 28, Freeport 21

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

With Burrell in Class 2A the past two seasons, these teams were in different conferences. Freeport has a 25-15 lead in the all-time series. … Burrell looks for its first victory and will try to get going on offense where it is scoring 10.0 ppg. The Bucs are allowing 30.2 ppg. Trey Coury was a bright spot last week after he ran for 173 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. … Drew Ross threw for 143 yards and touchdowns to Madden Wisniewski and Owen Neistein, and Amos Glenn ran for a score for Freeport in Friday’s loss. Freeport has been stingy on defense, allowing just 17.0 ppg.

No. 2 Deer Lakes (4-0, 1-0) at East Allegheny (0-4, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Joseph Churchman Memorial Stadium, North Versailles

Last week’s result: Deer Lakes 28, Freeport 21; Highlands 64, East Allegheny 36

Last year’s meeting: East Allegheny 17, Deer Lakes 13

Deer Lakes has never started a season 5-0, so this Friday’s Allegheny 7 Conference class has some historical significance. The Lancers have averaged 31.2 points and allowed 15.5. QB Jake Fleisher threw for 170 yards and two scores and also ran for 74 yards and a TD last week. … Demarjae Warren was on the receiving end of two Cedric Mack TD passes in last week’s loss. The Wildcats allow 46 points per game. East Allegheny holds an 8-4 lead in the series.

Highlands (2-1, 1-0) at No. 1 Imani Christian (4-0, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday, UPMC Graham Field, Wilkinsburg

Last week’s result: Highlands 64, East Allegheny 36; Imani Christian 46, Valley 0

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

The Golden Rams have flooded end zones this season, averaging 51.3 points, which is second highest in the WPIAL (Bethel Park, 51.7). But, they also are allowing 42.0 points, which is sixth worst in the district. Menage Lucas threw for 125 yards and three TDs and also ran for 141 yards and three touchdowns last week. Darius Cherry added 143 yards on 10 totes. … Imani Christian also has been an offensive force, averaging 41.7 points. QB Steve Vandiver threw for 124 yards and four scores last week. David Davis, Gabriel Jenkins and Anthony Portis ran for touchdowns. The Saints have allowed 8.5 ppg.

Nonconference

Knoch (1-2) at New Castle (3-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Taggart Stadium, New Castle

Last week’s result: Montour 44, Knoch 14; New Castle 27, Yough 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Knoch looks to get its offense on track ahead of the Greater Allegheny Conference opener next week against Indiana. Colt Sprankle and Codi Mullen each threw TD passes in the loss last week. … New Castle hopes to maintain its winning run ahead of the Parkway opener next week at Aliquippa. The Red Hurricanes have outscored opponents 118-73. Kyrell Harris ran for 122 yards and a score and threw two TD passes last week, and Chase Lemmon returned a punt 44 yards for a score. New Castle leads the series 5-2. Knoch won in a 2007 opening-round playoff game 42-24 and in a 2018 game 24-21.

Valley (0-4) at Quaker Valley (0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Chuck Knox Stadium, Leetsdale

Last week’s result: Imani Christian 46, Valley 0; North Catholic 38, Quaker Valley 0

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

This will be the first meeting between Valley and Quaker Valley. Both seek their first victory of the season. … Valley has struggled to slow down opponents this season, allowing 44.7 ppg. Offensively, the Vikings tried a number of runners last week against Imani: Corey Pitts, Zay Adams, Patton Eason, Juzef Betts and Nicholas Heakins. … Quaker Valley is averaging 4.0 points on offense after losses to Freedom, Freeport and North Catholic. QB Atticus Barr threw for 116 yards and two interceptions last week.

Class 2A Allegheny Conference

Apollo-Ridge (0-3, 0-0) at Shady Side Academy (1-3, 0-1)

2 p.m. Saturday, Robert J. Grandizio Athletic Complex, Fox Chapel

Last week’s result: Carlynton 42, Apollo-Ridge 15; Ligonier Valley 40, Shady Side Academy 28

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Apollo-Ridge looks to snap a three-game slide in its Allegheny Conference opener. The Vikings have averaged 19.0 points and allowed 34.3 ppg. Avery Grant ran for 59 yards and two TDs, and Alex Clawson threw for 50 yards and two interceptions in Friday’s loss. … Shady Side Academy is playing Saturday for its annual homecoming game. QB Cam Mallory and RB Darrin Haynes lead the way for the Bulldogs. … Apollo-Ridge and Shady Side are knotted at 11-11 in the series.

Class A Eastern Conference

Springdale (0-3, 0-1) at Riverview (1-1, 0-0)

Noon Saturday, Riverside Park, Oakmont

Last week’s result: Brentwood 48, Springdale 6; Leechburg 43, Riverview 14

Last year’s meeting: Riverview 40, Springdale 21

Springdale scored its first points of the season in Friday’s loss as Nathan Gebauer found the end zone on a 13-yard run. The Dynamos struggle to stop opponents, allowing 48.6 ppg. … Riverview is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses to Cornell and Leechburg in its Eastern Conference opener. Rio Stotts had a 78-yard kickoff return last week and threw a 29-yard TD pass to Alex Schultheis. … Riverview has a 26-17 lead in the series against Springdale, though the Dynamos won 10 of 11 games from 2007-17. Last season, Springdale jumped out to a 21-0 lead, only to see Riverview come up with 40 unanswered points in second half.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Fox Chapel, Highlands, Imani Christian, Kiski Area, Knoch, New Castle, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Plum, Quaker Valley, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Springdale, Valley