Through the years: Valley ended long Kiski Area winning streak in ’73

By: George Guido
Thursday, September 21, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that have shaped local scholastic history.

Before the largest home crowd in 27 years, Valley ended Kiski Area’s 45-game Foothills Conference winning streak with a 14-8 upset. Paul Collodi and John Martin scored the Vikings touchdowns, with Collodi recovering a Cavaliers fumble late in the game to halt a potential Kiski Area winning drive on Sept. 21, 1973.

75 years ago

• Har-Brack’s Dick Ward scored three TDs, and future NFL standout Dick Modzelewski tallied a safety against Ford City’s quarterback as the Tigers pounded the Glassers, 42-13.

• Apollo’s Bobby Frank scored two touchdowns to give the Striped Tigers a 21-7 victory over Bell Township in their home opener. Future Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenny Keller scored on a 21-yard run for Bell.

60 years ago

• West Deer substitute quarterback Dave Kashlak took over for the sidelined Joe Paskorz and threw a pair of scoring passes and ran for another as the Braves downed Hampton, 28-21.

• Paul Killian ran for two Tarentum TDs as the Redcats handed Springdale its first defeat of the season, 18-0.

50 years ago

• Jay McNamara’s 9-yard run with 27 seconds to go lifted Deer Lakes to a 10-6 victory at Ford City.

40 years ago

• Freeport’s Tom Kyler ran for 253 yards and five touchdowns as the Yellowjackets beat Deer Lakes, 43-27.

• Defending Greater Allegheny Conference champion Burrell used a 90-yard kickoff return by Alan Davis and 12 tackles from Allen Beattie to give the Bucs a 17-7 victory over Hampton.

25 years ago

• Valley’s Dom Girardi threw for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Jerry Jefferson as the Vikings blasted Hampton, 53-12.

• Alan Bauman raced 101 yards with an interception to turn the tide in favor of Freeport, giving the Yellowjackets a 34-8 victory over Ford City.

10 years ago

• Two weeks after setting a school record by scoring 56 points in a game, Apollo-Ridge bettered that with a 58-13 victory over Leechburg. Vikings quarterback Jesse Zelonka threw for three first-half TDs and scored another on the ground.

• Highlands tailback Elijah Jackson scored his third touchdown of the game with 46 seconds left, but the Golden Rams had to defend an Indiana pass in the end zone on the game’s final play to record a 21-14 victory.

Five years ago

• Bret Kardos and Jake Blumer ran for two touchdowns each as Leechburg turned back visiting Riverview, 41-12.

• Sam Brown ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns to lead Fox Chapel to a 27-6 win over Hampton.

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