The 2024 regular season came to a close this weekend with a handful of fantastic football games. On this week’s watch list, we look at a quartet of passers who got it done with their arms and legs.
This season, KDKA Radio will again nominate players each week to join the KDKA Radio Super 7 Awards watch list. Every Monday, a new crop of players will be unveiled based on their efforts that previous Friday night. At the end of the year, KDKA Radio will announce the winners of the award for each WPIAL classification, as well as the Pittsburgh City League.
Here are the top performances for Week 9:
Menage Lucas, Highlands
Following a mid-season three-game losing streak, Highlands needed a strong finish to reach the WPIAL postseason.
The Golden Rams responded with three straight victories to lock up a spot.
On Friday, Lucas ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns. He also passed for 148 yards and three more scores in a 56-0 win over Valley.
Highlands will next face Southmoreland in Friday’s Class 3A first round.
Lucas broke the Highlands record for total combined yardage in a season with over 2,500 yards this season.
Joey Felitsky, North Catholic
North Catholic stumbled down the stretch, putting their playoff hopes into serious jeopardy entering the season’s final week.
But Felitsky and the Trojans’ offense came up big when they needed it most.
This past week, Felitsky racked up 370 passing yards and three touchdowns to help North Catholic beat Hopewell 55-43, clinching a spot in the Class 3A playoffs.
The Trojans will visit Deer Lakes Friday.
Felitsky finished the regular season second in the WPIAL in passing yards.
Pat Smith, Mt. Lebanon
Also needing a victory to wrap up a playoff spot in the Class 6A field, Smith delivered.
The junior slung a trio of touchdown passes and picked up 183 rushing yards and two more scores in a 42-20 win over Norwin.
With the win, the Blue Devils get to play another week. Following a bye this weekend, Mt. Lebanon will battle North Allegheny in the Class 6A Semifinals.
Smith has nearly passed for 1,500 yards and rushed for almost 1,000 yards this year.
Kole Olszewski, Bishop Canevin
Bishop Canevin finished the regular season strong with a pair of convincing wins.
On Friday, Olszewski continued his strong season, as through for 247 yards and four touchdowns to beat Burgettstown, 42-6.
The win moved the Crusaders to 7-2 on the year. They’ll next face Bentworth in Friday’s Class 1A first round.
Olszewski will go down as one of the more accomplished passers in WPIAL history with over 6,000 career yards.
The 2024 high school football season continues Friday, as KDKA Radio will bring you broadcast coverage of Moon vs Penn Hills.