Week 3’s don’t-miss high school football matchups in the A-K Valley

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 13, 2017 | 5:39 PM

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Class 5AAllegheny Nine CONFERENCE

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

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: North Hills fell to West Allegheny, 29-28, in overtime. Fox Chapel edged Woodland Hills, 22-21.

The buzz: Fox Chapel hopes to build on its big victory over the Wolverines, while North Hills attempts to bounce back from the dramatic setback to No. 2 West Allegheny.

Key players: Micah Morris was a workhorse for the Foxes with 174 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries against Woodland Hills. Indians signal-caller William Hurt threw only 10 passes against West Allegheny, but he completed 7 for 121 yards and a touchdown.

About the Indians: Melvin Blanks has proven to be a force for North Hills this season. He paced the Indians last week with 205 yards rushing and two TDs against West A.

About the Foxes: Fox Chapel held a 278-144 rushing edge at Woodland Hills. Quarterback Nick Gizzo's winning TD with 43 seconds left gave him 93 yards on 19 carries. The Foxes hope to clean up their penalty situation after committing 14 for 140 yards against the Wolverines.

Class 5ABig East Conference

4-5A Franklin Regional (2-0, 2-0) at Plum (1-2, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Franklin Regional topped Kiski Area, 19-14, while Plum suffered a 48-0 loss against state-ranked Penn-Trafford.

The buzz: The neighboring rivals clash as the Panthers hope to keep pace in 5A. The Mustangs will attempt to bounce back from the P-T loss and spring an upset.

Key players: First-year starting quarterback Adam Rudzinski, a junior, threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns last week to help lead the Panthers over Kiski Area. Plum coach Matt Morgan said junior Hunter Linhart and sophomore Anthony Little will compete for the starting quarterback job this week to replace senior Corey Thomas, who was injured last week against Penn-Trafford.

About the Panthers: The Panthers averaged 10.5 points given up over the first two weeks.

About the Mustangs: Plum hopes to get in the end zone this week after not scoring a touchdown over its first three games. Its nine points against Kiski Area in Week 1 — after being shut out by Penn Hills in its opener — came on a trio of field goals from Jackson Gildea.

Class 5ABig East Conference

Latrobe (1-2, 0-1) at Kiski Area (0-3, 0-2)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Latrobe picked up its first victory of the season and snapped a 13-game home losing streak with a 48-26 win over Chartiers Valley. Kiski Area stayed with No. 4 Franklin Regional before falling 19-14.

The buzz: Kiski Area is desperate to get first-year coach Sam Albert his first win, but Latrobe has momentum as it also seeks its first conference win.

Key players: Shifty senior running back Iven Ettiene has good field vision and can get the offense churning for Latrobe. Ross Greece is looking to get going after rushing for more than 1,000 yards last season for Kiski Area.

About the Wildcats: The 48-point outburst last week was the most they have scored at home since scoring 50 against Kiski Area in 2014.

About the Cavaliers: Like Latrobe, the school has a new turf field on campus but plays at Davis Field, a longtime venue in downtown Vandergrift.

Class 3AAllegheny CONFERENCE

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

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Apollo-Ridge went on the road and upended Beaver Falls, 27-19. Shady Side Academy routed Burrell, 42-8.

The buzz: Apollo-Ridge is on a roll after beating the defending the WPIAL Class 3A champ, but Shady Side Academy also is feeling good after its big win last Friday.

Key players: Apollo-Ridge freshman Logan Harmon continues to impress. He scored two touchdowns and totaled 82 rushing yards for the Vikings last week. Skyy Moore, a junior dual-threat quarterback, soared for the Indians against Burrell with five touchdowns — four rushing and one passing.

About the Vikings: Apollo-Ridge is looking for its second 4-0 start in four years. The 2014 Vikings began that season 4-0 en route to a runner-up conference finish and spot in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

About the Indians: Moore is back in the lineup and healthy after missing most of last season with a broken ankle. Shady Side Academy is averaging 31 points through its first two games.

Class 3AAllegheny CONFERENCE

Burrell (1-2, 0-1) vs. 3-3A Seton LaSalle (2-0, 2-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Peters Township

Last week: Burrell fell to Shady Side Academy, 42-8, while Seton LaSalle rallied past Valley, 37-14.

The buzz: The Bucs hope to right the ship after two straight losses against a Rebels team that is averaging 36 points over its first two games.

Key players: Junior linebacker Alex Bellinotti is the heart of a defense that needs to be at the top of its game to limit the bruising running of Seton LaSalle's Lionel Deanes, who pounded his way to 212 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries last week.

About the Bucs: Logan Bitar paced Burrell with 76 yards on 18 carries against Shady Side, while fellow running back Logan Kastelic scored from 6 yards out.

About the Rebels: Matt Banbury complemented Deanes against Valley with three touchdowns and 137 yards through the air. He added a 3-yard plunge as Seton rallied from a 14-0 first-half deficit with 37 unanswered points.

Class 3AAllegheny CONFERENCE

Deer Lakes (0-2, 0-2) at

Keystone Oaks (2-0, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Deer Lakes was blanked by Freeport, 31-0, while Keystone Oaks shut out Carlynton, 42-0, in a nonconference game.

The buzz: The Lancers travel to Dormont Stadium hoping to avoid a 0-3 start to conference play and put points on the board against a Golden Eagles team that has surrendered just six points in two games.

Key players: Deer Lakes senior Josh Solomon tallied 57 yards on 29 carries running out of the wildcat formation against Freeport. Michael Daure, a star in the wildcat for KO in a Week 1 win over Valley, tallied four touchdowns and 135 rushing yards against Carlynton.

About the Lancers: Deer Lakes has surrendered a conference-worst average of 32.5 points over its first two games. The Lancers defense limited Freeport to only a field goal in the first half before the Yellowjackets broke out over the final 24 minutes.

About the Eagles: Freshman quarterback Logan Shrubb took over for standout graduate Alex Smith, now a freshman at Duquesne. Against Carlynton last week, Shrubb threw for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Class 3AALLEGHENY CONFERENCE

Valley (0-2, 0-2) at 1-2A Steel Valley (2-0, 1-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Valley fell to Seton LaSalle, 37-14, while Steel Valley rolled past Avonworth, 35-7.

The buzz: A challenging early-season portion of Valley's schedule continues as it will try to slow down the defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A champions, who mercy-ruled every opponent last season.

Key players: Tyler Green paced Valley with 195 yards passing and both Vikings touchdowns against Seton LaSalle. Steel Valley's 1-2 punch of Trevon Adams (117 receiving yards, two TDs) and Kameron Williams (129 rushing yards and two TDs) helped lift the Ironmen past the Antelopes.

About the Vikings: Valley is hoping to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2011. The Vikings were limited to 32 yards in the second half against Seton LaSalle. Valley's first three opponents — the Ironmen, along with Seton LaSalle and Keystone Oaks — are a combined 6-0.

About the Ironmen: Steel Valley is back to its high-scoring ways. The Ironmen averaged 41.5 points in their first two games this season after averaging 53.7 points over 15 games in 2016.

Class A EASTERN CONFERENCE

Bishop Canevin (0-2, 0-1) at Leechburg (0-3, 0-1)

7 p.m. Friday

Last week: Bishop Canevin suffered a 34-0 loss at Burgettstown, while Leechburg fell to Jeannette, 49-6.

The buzz: Something has to give as the 0-2 Crusaders and 0-2 Blue Devils meet in conference play. Bishop Canevin won last year's meeting 35-3.

Key players: In replacing its passing, receiving and rushing leaders from a year ago, the Crusaders have turned to quarterback Brian DeSchon and running back Zach Trusky for offensive leadership. Leechburg hopes to get running back Jake Blumer going against Bishop Canevin.

About the Crusaders: Bishop Canevin is one of only two teams in the WPIAL — Carlynton is the other — without a point scored this season. The Crusaders were blanked 32-0 by Class A No. 1 Clairton in Week 1.

About the Blue Devils: Leechburg will attempt to snap a 10-game conference losing streak dating to the final game of the 2015 season.

Class AEastern Conference

2-A Jeannette (3-0, 1-0) at Riverview (1-1, 1-1)

Noon Saturday

Last week: Jeannette eased past Leechburg, 46-6. Riverview lost to Imani Christian, 66-6.

The buzz: Jeannette isn't fond of Saturday afternoon games but this will be the first of back-to-back Saturday games. This game will be Jeannette's tuneup for next week's game at Imani Christian.

Key players: Robert Kennedy has been a scoring machine for the Jayhawks. Last week, he threw for three scores, ran for two more and scored on a punt return. QB Jared Massack, son of former Raiders coach Todd Massack, threw a TD last week against Imani Christian.

About the Jayhawks: They are averaging 45 points, second in the conference to Imani (62.0).

About the Raiders: Two of their three wins last season came at Riverside Park, their longtime home that sits along the Allegheny River.

NONCONFERENCE

Freeport (2-0) at 1-3A Aliquippa (3-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Key players: Freeport linebacker Austin Kemp has a team-best 22 tackles. Avante McKenzie leads Aliquippa with six touchdowns.

About the Yellowjackets: After only allowing a touchdown in a 43-6 win over Yough in Week Zero, the Yellowjackets recorded five sacks, forced two turnovers and surrendered just 2 yards per rush against Deer Lakes.

About the Quips: The Quips shut out their first two opponents, and Beaver's points last week came on an interception return and a field goal.

NONCONFERENCE

Springdale (1-2) at Beth-Center (3-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday

Key players: Springdale senior tailback Josh Harmon tallied a TD run against Clairton after scoring twice in a win Sept. 1 against Jefferson-Morgan. Dominic Fundy paced Beth-Center with 153 rushing yards against Frazier. He had 1,100 rushing yards and nine scores last year.

About the Dynamos: Springdale put a scare into Clairton and its 40-game win streak against WPIAL opponents. The Dynamos had the ball down eight with five minutes left before an interception returned for a score preserved the win.

About the Bulldogs: QB Bailey Lincoski finished with 109 rushing yards against Frazier in addition to 64 passing yards and two touchdown passes.

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