A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2024 Week 7

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 7:23 PM

Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for the A-K Valley in Week 7 of the 2024 season:

Class 5A Big East Conference

Kiski Area (2-5, 1-3) at Armstrong (2-5, 0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, David “Red” Ullum Field, Kittanning

Last week’s results: Kiski Area 36, Latrobe 13; Woodland Hills 36, Armstrong 6

Last year’s meeting: Kiski Area 42, Armstrong 34

Kiski Area helped shake up the Big East standings with a win over Latrobe last week, snapping a five-game losing streak. Landon Kucic ran for 131 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries, and Carson Heinle ran for 104 yards and threw for 137 yards, including two TD passes to Aven Shirley. … After starting the season 2-0, Armstrong has dropped five straight decisions. They have struggled to score against Big East opponents and have been outscored 98-26 in conference play. QB Jaydon Oliver connected with Chase Jablonski for a 51-yard TD strike in last week’s loss to Woodland Hills. … Armstrong holds a 4-2 lead in the series. The Cavaliers’ victories came last year and in 2019.

Class 5A Northeast Conference

Fox Chapel (1-5, 0-3) at Plum (1-6, 1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Mustangs Stadium, Plum

Last week’s results: Franklin Regional 51, Fox Chapel 14; North Hills 21, Plum 14

Last year’s meeting: Plum 34, Fox Chapel 10

Fox Chapel is seeking its first Northeast Conference win and looking to get more points on the board. The Foxes have been outscored 173-7 in three conference games but did score twice against Franklin Regional last week in a nonconference loss — a 71-yard TD reception by Cooper Hendren and an 80-yard run by Victor Nernberg. Plum is in need of a win to stay in the hunt for an automatic playoff berth by finishing in the top three of the conference. The Mustangs have lost three straight games. T.J. Futules and John Nonneberg each threw TD passes last week. … Plum leads the all-time series with Fox Chapel, 16-14-1, with the 3-3 tie coming in 1980. The schools first met in 1961, Fox Chapel’s inaugural season, with Plum taking home a 7-0 victory. That game was played at Aspinwall Stadium, located on the western side of the Highland Park Bridge, a facility now used for youth baseball.

Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

Hampton (3-4, 1-1) at Knoch (2-4, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Knights Stadium, Saxonburg

Last week’s results: Hampton 34, Indiana 7; Mars 42, Knoch 7

Last year’s meeting: Knoch 45, Hampton 38

Hampton moved to 1-1 in the GAC last week and could use a win to improve its playoff hopes with challenges ahead against Mars and at West Mifflin the next two weeks. In Class 4A, the top two teams in each conference get playoff bids and two at-large wild cards will be selected by the football committee. QB Porter Kelly threw for 201 yards and three scores last week, and Evan McAneny ran for 139 yards and two scores. … Knoch also is 1-1 in conference play and remains in the playoff hunt with games remaining against West Mifflin and McKeesport. Codi Mullen’s 63-yard run was Knoch’s lone touchdown last week. The Knights are averaging 21.6 ppg while allowing 33.3. … Knoch and Hampton have nearly been evenly matched with the Talbots holding a 28-27-1 advantage in the series that dates to 1966. The 7-7 tie came in 1987.

Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference

Burrell (2-5, 2-1) at Highlands (2-4, 1-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Golden Rams Stadium, Natrona Heights

Last week’s results: Burrell 15, Valley 6; Freeport 28, Highlands 7

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Both schools need a victory to remain in playoff consideration. The top three teams from each Class 3A conference will make the playoffs, with the football committee choosing the three remaining playoff spots in the 12-team field. … Burrell used a stellar effort from RB Trey Coury to scratch out a win over rival Valley last week. Coury ran for 266 yards and two scores on 53 carries. He had 252 yards and two scores on 54 carries the week before in a 22-14 win over East Allegheny. … Highlands has lost three in a row in the Allegheny 7 Conference, despite having the second-highest scoring offense in the conference at 32.8 ppg. Menage Lucas hooked up with Montrell Johnson for a 25-yard pass for the Golden Rams’ lone TD last week in the fourth quarter. Lucas also ran for 75 yards. The Golden Rams are allowing 32.1 ppg. … Highlands has a 5-2 lead in the all-time series against Burrell, with the last Bucs win coming in 1999.

No. 5 Deer Lakes (6-1, 3-0) at No. 1 Imani Christian (7-0, 3-0)

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

Last week’s results: Beaver 42, Deer Lakes 0; Imani Christian 71, East Allegheny 0

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Deer Lakes’ unbeaten run was thwarted by No. 4-ranked Beaver last week in a nonconference matchup. The Lancers still have hopes for an Allegheny 7 title but will have to knock off the top-ranked Saints. Deer Lakes, which has outscored conference foes 102-82, is led by RB Zier Williams, who has 878 yards and 14 TDs, and QB Jake Fleischer, who has thrown for 867 yards and nine scores. WR Zach Grant has caught 30 passes for 459 yards and eight TDs. … Imani Christian has outscored conference opponents 129-10, including shutouts over Valley and East Allegheny. Last week, QB Steve Vandiver threw for 132 yards and four scores, and Dajuan Craighead ran for 77 yards and two scores. Linebacker Dayshaun Burnett is a Penn State commit. … Deer Lakes and Imani Christian are meeting for the first time, and it’s Deer Lakes’ first trip to refurbished Graham Field, which has been hosting high school football since 1916.

East Allegheny (0-7, 0-4) at Valley (0-7, 0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, New Kensington

Last week’s results: Imani Christian 71, East Allegheny 0; Burrell 15, Valley 6

Last year’s meeting: East Allegheny 42, Valley 12

Valley and East Allegheny are looking for their first win and have struggled in conference play. … East Allegheny has been outscored 204-85 in the Allegheny 7. The Wildcats were held to 5 rushing yards against Imani last week. QB Cedric Mack threw for 72 yards and two interceptions. … Valley fell just short against rival Burrell. Patton Eason had a 70-yard kickoff return in the loss. The Vikings have been outscored 109-26 in three conference games. … The Wildcats own a 9-3 series lead, winning six straight games over the last six seasons. The last Valley victory over EA came in 2013, 47-12.

Class 2A Allegheny Conference

No. 4 South Allegheny (6-1, 3-1) at Apollo-Ridge (0-6, 0-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Owens Field, Apollo

Last week’s results: South Allegheny 56, Shady Side Academy 22; Steel Valley 55, Apollo-Ridge 10

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

South Allegheny has proven to be one of the top teams in Class 2A this season. The Gladiators average 40.1 points behind the running of Cameron Epps and Camden Lewis, who have combined for nearly 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, as well as QB Ryan Cortes (95-154, 1,499 yards, 17 TDs) and WR Drew Cook (48 catches, 951 yards, 10 TDs). Their lone loss was 48-38 against No. 3 South Park. … Apollo-Ridge is seeking to avoid its first 0-8 start since 2010. The Vikings average 17.6 ppg and have been outscored 121-49 in the Allegheny Conference. QB Alex Clawson ran for a score and threw for 89 yards last week. Taye Bradshaw booted a 27-yard field goal. … The Vikings are 2-4 vs. South Allegheny. The schools last met in 2017 with the Gladiators leaving Owens Field with a 29-26 victory.

Class A Eastern Conference

Frazier (1-6, 0-4) at Riverview (2-4, 1-3)

Noon Saturday, Riverside Park, Oakmont

Last week’s results: Leechburg 62, Frazier 16; Brentwood 42, Riverview 35

Last year’s meeting: Riverview 46, Frazier 30

Frazier is looking for its first win after four Eastern Conference losses. The Commodores are paced by QB Brady Secrest, who has thrown for 758 yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as RB Derek Diamond, who has run for 582 yards and five scores. … The Raiders will try to bounce back from two straight losses with Clairton and Jeannette lurking in the final two weeks. … QB Connor Kmetz threw for 282 yards and two scores, Landon Johnson ran for 92 yards and two TDs, and Johnny Bertucci ran for 93 yards in last week’s loss. Alex Schultheis also had four catches for 88 yards and a score. … Riverview is 6-0 against Frazier, including playoff victories in 1995 and ’98.

Greensburg Central Catholic (4-2, 3-1) at Springdale (0-6, 0-4)

7 p.m. Friday, Buccaneer Stadium, Lower Burrell

Last week’s results: Greensburg Central Catholic 44, Jeannette 27; Clairton 70, Springdale 0

Last year’s meeting: Greensburg Central Catholic 60, Springdale 14

Samir Crosby accounted for 301 yards and five touchdowns to lead GCC to a win over rival Jeannette. The Centurions moved into a tie for second with Brentwood. Jackson McMullen had two touchdown catches and Jerry Davis returned a kickoff 65 yards for a score. … Springdale, struggling with low roster numbers (18) under first-year coach Chad Walsh, has been outscored 311-6. … This will be GCC’s first trip to Burrell since 1993 when the Centurions lost to Burrell, 20-3. GCC leads the series vs. Springdale 14-5.

Nonconference

Freeport (5-2) at Hopewell (4-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Tony Dorsett Stadium, Hopewell

Last week’s results: Freeport 28, Highlands 7; Hopewell 56, McGuffey 24

Last year’s meeting: Did not play

Freeport steps out of conference play after three straight Allegheny 7 victories. The Yellowjackets are averaging 31.4 points while allowing just 13.5. Last week, QB Drew Ross threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 43 yards and a score. Amos Glenn, a week after rushing for 249 yards and six scores, ran for a TD as well against Highlands. … Hopewell has won two straight games in the Western Hills Conference and is averaging 29.7 ppg. The Vikings had several big plays last week, including a 24-yard punt return touchdown by Julian Baldwin. QB James Armstrong threw for 191 yards and a score, and Thomas Pipkins III, Josh Brunton, Armstrong and Brody Rock (2) all ran for touchdowns. … These two schools haven’t met since 1943, the midpoint of World War II. Freeport won that one 29-6 and won 20-6 in 1942.

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, Armstrong, Burrell, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Fox Chapel, Frazier, Freeport, Hampton, Highlands, Hopewell, Imani Christian, Kiski Area, Knoch, Plum, Riverview, South Allegheny, Springdale, Valley