Trib HSSN football player of the week for 2023 Week 8

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, October 22, 2023 | 7:13 PM

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There is an old saying in sports that you can’t make the club in the tub, referencing that a players job could be in jeopardy if you can’t play because of injury.

Playing time might be severely hampered as well if your replacement rushes for more than 800 yards in two starts.

West Mifflin senior running back DelRon White was having a big season when he injured his leg a few weeks ago.

Unable to play, the Titans turned to a fabulous freshman who has taken the ball and hasn’t stopped running.

Armand “Mondo” Hill rushed for the second most yards in a game in WPIAL history Friday when he gained 499 yards in the Titans’ 42-7 playoff-clinching victory over Hopewell.

“It was nice to see him display his talent,” West Mifflin coach Rod Steele said. “He has a lot of different skill sets. To see him running tough was a nice thing to watch.”

Only Dylan Rush of Mapletown six years ago gained more yards in a WPIAL game when he ran for 524 yards in a 2017 contest.

The 499 yards on 27 carries came a week after Hill debuted as Titans starting running back and gained 313 yards in a 44-point win over Quaker Valley.

“He’s a team player, and he’s getting better every day,” Steele said. “We have never had to question his effort or his skill set. He does things you cannot teach. That’s what separates the great ones.”

Steele believes the sky is the limit for this 15-year old, who does not look like a freshman on the football field.

“Opposing coaches are shocked after they see him play,” Steele said.

Against Hopewell on Friday, Hill scored five touchdowns on long runs of 75, 40, 61, 7 and 26 yards.

While Hill is learning quickly on being the focal point of the Titans offense, he has been contributing since Day 1 on the defensive side of the ball.

“He’s a great kid and an honor student who just loves playing the game,” Steele said. “He’s a playmaker that leads the team with four or five interceptions as one of our cornerbacks.”

White is expected to return at some point for West Mifflin, which will try to clinch second place in the Class 3A Western Hills Conference Friday when at South Park.

When White returns, Steele will have the great problem of having to feed two No. 1 running backs, who will be relied on to ground and pound opponents come postseason time.

WPIAL Week 8 Honorable Mentions

Tanner Pfeuffer, Bethel Park

In a key Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference matchup in Week 8, the Bethel Park offense soared to victory on the right arm of junior quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer. While Ja Vaughn Moore gouged the South Fayette defense on the ground with 185 yards rushing, Pfeuffer was lighting them up in the air, completing 7 of 14 passes for 212 yards and three long touchdown passes of 24, 66 and 60 yards, plus he scored on two short touchdown runs as the Black Hawks beat the Lions, 45-29, to take over second place.

Evan Wright, Mars

When it comes to scoring touchdowns, Mars’ senior running back has the right stuff. Evan Wright continued to rack up touchdowns and pad his WPIAL lead in scoring with another big night in a Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference victory over Hampton. Wright rushed for 244 yards and scored five touchdowns on gallops of 70, 27, 3, 33 and 5 yards as the Fightin’ Planets remained in first place by beating the Talbots, 42-15. Wright now has 31 touchdowns this season.

Payton Molter, Jeannette

Jeannette has had some great quarterbacks in its tradition-rich program, but this season the Jayhawks have one quietly having a big season. With a name made for success at the QB position, senior Payton Molter connected on 11 of 18 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns as the Jayhawks rolled over host Springdale, 49-12. The win kept Jeannette’s hope of a Class A Eastern Conference championship alive heading into a Week 9 showdown with visiting Clairton.

2023 HSSN Players of the Week

Week 7 – Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley

Week 6 – Ethan Varesko, Beth-Center

Week 5 – Jay Wrona, Mohawk

Week 4 – Elijah Faulkner, Central Catholic

Week 3 – Jonah Williamson, Trinity

Week 2 – Jake Wolfe, Montour

Week 1 – Bruce Giles, Connellsville

Week Zero – Cameron Epps, South Allegheny

Tags: West Mifflin