MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights – Week Two

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 11, 2010 | 12:00 AM

Sadly, injuries to key players around the WPIAL continue to steal headlines. Mike Caputo of West Allegheny last week, now Lafayette Pitts of Woodland Hills and Wayne Capers of Chartiers Valley each sitting out Week Two with injuries. But while the stars may have trouble shining early here in 2010, there are other players who had no trouble shining bright on the center stage of Week Two on Friday night.

Alex Papson – North Allegheny

On a night when North Allegheny honored stars from the past and recognized the 1990 WPIAL and PIAA championship team, the current star running back showed off his talents. Alex Papson rushed for 240 yards and scored three touchdowns in leading the Tigers to a 48-0 whitewash of the Butler Golden Tornado while spoiling the NA return of former coach and current Butler coach Jim Rankin.

Perry Hills – Pittsburgh Central Catholic

Don't look now, but Pittsburgh Central Catholic may be adding an impressive passing attack to go along with its solid ground game, tenacious defense and strong special teams. Junior quarterback Perry Hills was 13 of 18 passing for 183 yards and a touchdown run as the Vikings went to Bethel Park and beat the Black Hawks 24-3 in a Class AAAA non-conference early season showdown.

J.P. Holtz – Shaler

Usually the starting tight end, J.P. Holtz was more than happy to fill the void at running back due to injuries in a BIG way. The 6-4, 233-pound junior rushed for 100 yards on 19 carries, scored two touchdown on runs of 39-yards and 1-yard, caught a 72-yard touchdown pass and for good measure, picked off a pass and returned it to the house 35-yards to lead the Titans to a 35-28 victory over the Hempfield Spartans.

Dillon Buechel to Devin Wilson – Montour

On a night when Montour needed their junior quarterback to be almost perfect…he darn near was. Dillon Buechel was 9 of 10 passing for 175 yards and four touchdowns, while receiver Devin Wilson caught 7 passes for 129 yards with three touchdowns, including the game winner with 51 seconds left in the game to lead the Spartans to a thrilling 36-29 triumph over the Hopewell Vikings. Hopewell was once again led by Rushel Shell and his 318 yards and four touchdowns.

Dylan Bongiorni – West Allegheny

Playing in their first full game without star running back Mike Caputo, West Allegheny found themselves trailing 27-23 after a Central Valley 96-yard touchdown pass with only 1:33 left in the game. But Bongiorni promptly marched the defending champs down the field by completing 7 of 8 passes, setting up Alex Sinclair's 2-yard run with seven seconds left in the game to give the Indians a 30-27 win over the Warriors. Bongiorni finished 11 of 13 for the night for 178 yards a scoring toss.

Dylan Jones – Laurel

After getting whipped by Aliquippa in the opening week, some felt the 2009 magic was now gone from Laurel, a Semifinalist in the Class A playoffs a year ago. Don't count Dylan Jones among them. Jones exploded for 235 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came in the fourth quarter on runs of 42 and 40 yards as the Spartans rallied to upset the Jeannette Jayhawks 38-26 in a Class AA non-conference tilt.

Rico Canello – Keystone Oaks

By now, everybody in Class AA knows about the one-two punch at Keystone Oaks in running backs Jordan Maddox and Matt McCann. Ladies and gentlemen, we now give your wide receiver Rico Canello. In a non-conference battle of Top Ten teams, Canello had a touchdown run of 10-yards, two scoring receptions, including a 60-yard strike 27 seconds into the game…and a 79-punt return for a touchdown as the Golden Eagles pounded the Burrell Buccaneers 55-14.

T.D. Conway – California

The California quarterback lived up to his name in leading his team to a come from behind victory in an early season Class A Tri-County South Conference showdown with Carmichaels. Conway finished 20 of 36 passing for 249 yards and three TD's, including a pair of fourth quarter scoring passes of 21 and 8 yards as the Trojans beat the Mighty Mikes 26-21.

Drew Robinson – Union

There aren't to many fat-and-happy games for Union in recent years, so they will savor this one in large part to the running of the 'head chef', Drew Robinson. Robinson rushed for 209 yards and scored on a pair of touchdown runs as the Scotties rushed for 356 yards in a 46-13 triumph over the Avella Eagles.

Ricky Lawnniczak – Avonworth

After losing last week in a Class A Eastern Conference game to Bishop Canevin, Avonworth could not afford to lose again and dig themselves and early hole when they host Springdale Friday night. Running back Ricky Lawniczak helped make sure that would not happen as he rushed for 183 yards and scored a touchdown to help the Antelopes to a 26-10 upset of the third-ranked Dynamos.

Tags: Avonworth, California, Keystone Oaks, Laurel, Montour, North Allegheny, Shaler, Union, West Allegheny