VND Through the Years: Chodkowski's big game sent Highlands past North Hills

George Guido Through The Years
Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 12:24 a.m. | Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 12:24 a.m.

Highlands tailback Craig Chodkowski carries against North Hills on Sept. 28, 1990. Chodkowski rushed for 203 yards, and Highlands won, 18-0.

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The top 10

Here is a list of the 10 former WPIAL players who had the longest NFL careers:

Name H.S. Games Years Teams

George Blanda Youngwood 340 1945-75 Chi.-Balt.-Houston-Oakland

Jason Taylor Woodland Hills 233 1997-2011 Miami-N.Y. Jets-Wash

Dan Marino Central Catholic 231 1983-98 Miami

Jim Sweeney Seton-La Salle 222 1984-2001 N.Y. Jets-Seattle-Steelers

Fred Cox Monongahela 210 1963-77 Minnesota

Ty Law Aliquippa 203 1995-2009 N.Eng.-N.Y. Jets-Kansas City

Joe Montana Ringgold 192 1979-94 San Francisco-Kansas City

Babe Parilli Rochester 189 1952-69 G Bay-Cleve.-Oak.-N Eng.-N.Y. Jets Doug Buffone Shannock Valley 186 1966-79 Chicago

Jonathan Hayes South Fayette 184 1985-96 Kansas City-Steelers

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Editor's note: Each Friday throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the players, coaches and events that are part of local scholastic history.

Craig Chodkowski rushed for 203 yards and scored on runs of 80 and 36 yards on Sept. 28, 1990 as Highlands went to 4-1 with an 18-0 shutout over North Hills at Staresinic Stadium.

Five years ago

• Plum won the 300th game in school history by downing Highlands, 35-7. Demetrius Wellington, a former Highlands School District resident, carried the ball 11 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

• Ford City used a 62-yard scoring pass to Devan Willyard and Kent Commodore's 63-yard run en route to a 20-0 victory over Freeport.

10 years ago

â¢ A blocked punt by Riverview's Nathan Lohr with 1:02 left in the first half helped turn the tide as the Raiders defeated Clairton, 24-14. Greg Scampone contributed a 52-yard TD run in the second half.

• The Valley backfield duo of Dwight Shannon and Tyler Santucci combined for 144 yards and four touchdowns as the Vikings hammered Kittanning, 39-15.

20 years ago

• Seth Hornack scored four first-half touchdowns as Burrell belted Richland, 47-0. At the time, it was the Bucs' largest shutout margin in history.

• K.J Reese threw for four TD passes — three to Jeremy Horvat — as Apollo-Ridge blanked Ford City, 35-0.

25 years ago

• Valley rolled past Yough, 35-6, behind an 80-yard pass from Billy Coury to Kenyon Manley and a Chris Martin fumble recovery in the end zone to go 4-0-1 on the season.

30 years ago

• Kittanning handed Apollo-Ridge its first loss of the season 28-7. Brent Dudek returned an interception 25 yards to tie the game then blocked a punt that led to the go-ahead score.

• Knoch's Tom Karebauer returned an interception 32 yards and caught a 5-yard pass from John Ivory as the Knights rolled past Valley, 28-0.

40 years ago

• A packed house at Davis Field watched Kiski Area hold on to defeat Hempfield, 14-9. A stop near the Cavaliers goal line by Frank Groholski on a late fourth down preserved the victory.

• An 8-yard keeper by Frank Rocco with 4:43 left in the game lifted Fox Chapel to a 10-7 win over Highlands.

50 years ago

• A fumble recovery by Ken High's Pat Carney led to a touchdown by Tom Rakoczy. The extra point by Eric Honick with 2:12 left sealed a 14-13 Red Raiders win over Chartiers Valley.

• Apollo remained undefeated with a 21-14 victory over East Deer. A third-quarter fumble recovery by Len Bielek led to a Wally Aungst 27-yard run that proved decisive.

75 years ago

• Tarentum remained undefeated with a 33-0 victory over Freeport behind two John Kish touchdowns.

George Guido is a freelance writer.