Week 3 Alle-Kiski football preview
Class AAAA
Quad East Conference
Altoona (0-2, 0-0) at Fox Chapel (0-2, 0-0)
7 p.m. Friday
About Altoona: The Mountain Lions joined the WPIAL in football only this season. Altoona competes in District 6 in all other sports. The Mountain Lions have lost their first two games, including a 60-0 loss against McKeesport last week.
About Fox Chapel: The Foxes will try to snap a seven-game losing streak this week. In its season-opening, non-conference games, Fox Chapel was outscored by Baldwin and Seneca Valley by a combined result of 70-21. Fox Chapel senior running back Montay Green rushed for more than 100 yards in both losses.
Central Catholic (2-0, 0-0) at Kiski Area (0-2, 0-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
About Central Catholic: The Vikings are on the rise after impressive wins over Akron Butchel, 35-6, and Bethel Park, 24-3, to start the season. Central Catholic can call upon one of the top running backs in the WPIAL in Damian Jones-Moore. The elusive 5-foot-7, 175-pound junior rushed for 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win over Bethel Park.
About Kiski Area: The Cavaliers have lost seven in a row, dating to last season, and face perhaps their greatest challenge so far this season against Central Catholic. Last season in Week 8, Kiski Area lost to Central Catholic, 28-7.
Plum (2-0, 0-0) at Woodland Hills (0-2, 0-0)
7 p.m. Friday
About Plum: The Mustangs are off to a strong start and need just one more win to match their total from last season. Plum is seeking its first win against Woodland Hills since 1995. The Mustangs won that matchup, 28-13, and finished with an 8-3 record.
About Woodland Hills: The Wolverines are the defending WPIAL Class AAAA champions but have lost to Manatee, Fla., 39-16, and North Hills, 7-0. Woodland Hills running back/cornerback Lafayette Pitts, a Pitt recruit, missed last week’s game against North Hills with a knee injury.
Class AAA
Greater Allegheny Conference
Highlands (2-0, 0-0) at Indiana (2-0, 0-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
About Highlands: Highlands already has surpassed its victory total from last year’s 1-9 campaign. Last week, the Golden Rams blanked Derry, 35-0. Highlands senior linebacker Terrell Leonard recorded a sack, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in the dominating win.
About Indiana: The Little Indians beat Highlands, 21-7, last year. This season, Indiana has defeated Class AA Apollo-Ridge, 40-6, and Class AAA Uniontown, 41-21. Indiana is led by senior quarterback/defensive back Kyle Edgar and senior running back/defensive back Kwaku Asamoah.
Valley (0-2, 0-0) at Knoch (2-0, 0-0)
at 7:30 p.m. Friday
About Valley: The Vikings have lost seven games in a row, dating to last season. Last week, Valley dropped a 37-0 decision to visiting Hollidaysburg. This is Valley’s first conference game since being realigned from Class AA to AAA.
About Knoch: The Knights lead the all-time series, 13-11. These teams last met in 2003, when Knoch won, 22-13. Knoch leads all 126 WPIAL teams in scoring with 108 points after blasting Brashear, 56-7, and Albert Gallatin, 52-0.
Class AA
Allegheny Conference
Apollo-Ridge (0-2, 0-0) at Summit Academy (1-1, 0-0)
12:30 p.m. Saturday
About Apollo-Ridge: The Vikings will open conference play after a pair of tough losses to Class AAA Indiana, 40-6, and Class AA Washington, 41-25. Apollo-Ridge junior quarterback Josh Zelonka completed 14 of 24 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s loss to Washington. Last season, Apollo-Ridge defeated Summit Academy, 23-13.
About Summit Academy: The Knights won their season opener against the City League’s Schenley, 34-8, but lost to South Fayette, 50-22, last week. Summit Academy is a private, residential school for delinquent boys.
West Shamokin (0-2, 0-0) at Burrell (1-1, 0-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
About West Shamokin: The Wolves are winless but appear to be improved from last season. In 2009, West Shamokin finished 0-9 and scored only 17 points. The Wolves have surpassed that total, although they have lost to Neshannock, 42-14, and Steel Valley, 50-7.
About Burrell: Burrell looks to rebound after surrendering a school-record 55 points in a non-conference loss to Keystone Oaks last week. Since West Shamokin joined the WPIAL in 2004, Burrell is 6-0 against the Wolves. That record includes shutouts in the last three meetings.
Class A
Eastern Conference
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (0-2, 0-2) at Springdale (1-1, 1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
About OLSH: The Chargers joined the WPIAL this season and are seeking the first win in team history. OLSH lost its first games to Northgate and Bishop Canevin by a combined score of 98-6. Although the Chargers are a new team, a handful of their players suited up for Cornell via a co-operative last season.
About Springdale: The Dynamos will try to rebound from a 26-10 loss to Avonworth last week. Springdale sophomore running back/linebacker Sean Dugan rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown and blocked an extra-point attempt. The Dynamos played OLSH in basketball in late January and lost, 60-53.
North Catholic (1-1, 1-1) at Leechburg (0-2, 0-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
About North Catholic: The Trojans are coming off a 43-20 win over Wilkinsburg. North Catholic features dual-threat quarterback Martin Long, who led the Trojans to the WPIAL Class A semifinals last year. North Catholic rolled over Leechburg, 43-6, in 2009.
About Leechburg: The Blue Devils, with 14 seniors on their roster, had high hopes entering this season but still are seeking their first win. Leechburg will try to get things turned around in their first home game of the season. Senior Garrett Miller (OG/LB) must sit out this week after being ejected from last week’s 32-14 loss at Riverview.
Nonconference
California (2-0) at Riverview (2-0)
Noon Saturday
About California: The Trojans opened the season by defeating Mapletown, 48-6, and Carmichaels, 26-21, in Tri-County South Conference play. California last played Riverview in the 2007 opener and won, 16-9. The all-time series is tied, 3-3.
About Riverview: The Raiders will play their lone non-conference game after opening the season with two wins in Eastern Conference play. There are nine teams in the conference. Riverview has used a stable of running backs, including seniors Terrel Craighead and Brandon Seachrist, to carry it to a 2-0 start.
Kittanning (0-2) at Peters Township (1-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
About Kittanning: The Class AAA Wildcats played well in a 14-7 loss to Class AAAA Plum last week. Kittanning will continue its sojourn into Class AAAA at Peters Township. The Wildcats last played Peters Township in 1999 and won, 21-14.
Peters Township: The Indians, members of the Quad South Conference, are coming off a 35-7 win over Laurel Highlands. Senior quarterback Austin Hancock passed for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Junior running back Andrew Erenberg rushed for 121 yards and a score and had a touchdown reception.