Plum, Kiski Area to work out the kinks in Week Zero rivalry matchup

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 | 6:41 PM

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Plum and Kiski Area passed each other last year when the WPIAL realigned its football conferences and classifications.

The Mustangs moved up to Class 5A and into the Big East Conference with the likes of Penn-Trafford, Franklin Regional and Gateway, while the Cavaliers moved down to the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference to match up with a group that included Armstrong, Highlands, Mars and North Catholic.

But the local rivals made sure they shared the field in a nonconference matchup.

They will do so again Friday to begin the 2023 season. Plum and Kiski Area kick off at 7 p.m. at the Cavaliers’ Richard Dilts Stadium.

“Kiski always has been a rivalry from junior high all the way on up,” Plum coach Matt Morgan said.

“These kids play against each other in every sport. They know each other very well. Even though we weren’t going to be in the same conference, we made sure that this game was on the schedule. We have to keep these type rivalries going. It’s going to be a really fun atmosphere Friday night.”

Cavaliers assistant coach Aaron Albert, the son of head coach Sam Albert, agrees it is right to have this game on the schedule.

“This game is a lot of fun for both schools,” Albert said. “It is a good early-season test to see where you stand after all of the preseason work. We have a ton of respect for Plum. Matt Morgan has been there for a long time, and that program is solid every year. We’re really looking forward to Friday.”

The game also is the 800th for Plum in its football history, which began in 1940. The Mustangs enter the season with an all-time record of 343-429-27.

“That is a cool moment to be a part of, and it gets you looking back at all the great games, players and moments in Plum football history, but our focus when we kick off Friday will be to win a football game and start the season off the right way,” Morgan said.

“Right now, we’re trying to right our ship and find ways to be successful.”

Kiski Area celebrated its 60th anniversary season last year and is 311-299-7 all-time.

The Cavaliers, led by junior quarterback and second-year starter Carson Heinle and senior wide receiver and all-conference defensive back Isaiah Gonzalez, hope for better fortunes this season after winning just once in 2022 and finishing winless in conference play.

“With Kiski, we would beat them one year, and the next year, they are a whole different ball club,” Morgan said.

“I know they do a great job of working in the offseason, and those kids come back bigger, faster and stronger. They look bigger on film. They have a really talented quarterback out there. I expect a very good, tough, physical, all-the-way-to-the-end type game. They have been pointing to this game and wanting to get started with a nice win just like us. I expect their best.”

Plum finished last season 5-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big East Conference. It missed the playoffs by one game behind Penn-Trafford.

The Mustangs’ three conference losses — Gateway, 28-26; Franklin Regional, 31-28; and Penn-Trafford, 35-21 — came by a combined 19 points.

“You have band-aids, so to speak, and you rip them off when it comes to Week Zero,” Morgan said.

“I personally love Week Zero games because it helps you get the kinks and the bugs worked out before you get fully into the season. You would always have that second scrimmage, and while beneficial in a way, you didn’t get a chance to work out those jitters with the Friday night lights and seeing the true conditioning of playing a full game. Late August is usually a lot hotter than late September or into October. Friday definitely will be a good test for the guys.”

The series between the Mustangs and Cavaliers is close. Kiski Area has a 17-16-1 advantage in 34 all-time meetings.

Last year’s Week Zero game was the first time the teams shared a field since 2017.

Kiski Area scored first and led 7-0 after one quarter. It was tied at halftime.

Plum got the winning TD in the third quarter and put the win on ice with two scores in the fourth to knot the last 10 games between the teams at five victories apiece.

Junior Nick Odom hopes to have another productive game this Friday to match his output in last year’s meeting with the Cavaliers. He carried the ball nine times and collected 205 yards and three touchdowns.

Mustangs senior quarterback Sean Franzi added a touchdown in the win.

“Plum brings most of its offense back and a lot of its defense back, too,” Albert said. “Their quarterback (Franzi) is very seasoned, and he runs the offense very well. He is a dual threat. We’re pretty familiar with them, getting to see them last year and preparing for them this week.”

Morgan and Albert said good things were achieved at last Saturday’s scrimmages — Plum at North Hills and Kiski Area at Connellsville — but also items of concern cropped up that both coaches said were addressed at practice this week.

“It was good to get out there and get reps,” Albert said. “We were pretty happy with how we moved the ball. We have a lot of returning starters, but they’re young. It was important to get them out there and reacclimated to some situations. It was a good test, but now the Friday night lights are turned on, and it will be a different thing. We need to be ready for a great challenge.”

Cavaliers vs. Mustangs

Kiski Area has a 17-16-1 lead against Plum in the all-time series between the two schools. Here are results of the last 10 games:

2022, Plum 35, Kiski Area 14

2017, Plum 9, Kiski Area 6

2016, Kiski Area 28, Plum 7

2015, Kiski Area 23, Plum 14

2014, Plum 65, Kiski Area 0

2011, Kiski Area 20, Plum 0

2010, Plum 23, Kiski Area 14

2009, Plum 28, Kiski Area 21

2008, Kiski Area 35, Plum 0

2007, Kiski Area 28, Plum 17

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Kiski Area, Plum