We started October with a bang Friday, with a number of terrific high school football games and strong individual performances.
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 from Week 6:
Jermaine Walker, New Castle
Walker delivered one of the most explosive performances in the WPIAL on Friday.
The junior tailback rushed for a career-high 207 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries in New Castle’s 50-34 victory over previously unbeaten Blackhawk.
Walker scored on runs of 35, 52, 30 and 28 yards, helping the Red Hurricanes pile up 427 rushing yards in the game.
After a rocky start, New Castle has picked up consecutive impressive wins, including a victory over Aliquippa, and sits 4-2 on the year
Jaydon Oliver, Armstrong
Oliver continued to establish himself as one of the WPIAL’s most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in Armstrong’s wild 38-35 victory over Plum.
The senior completed 12 of 16 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 149 yards and three scores.
His biggest run came late in the fourth quarter, when he broke loose for a 71-yard touchdown that gave the River Hawks a 31-22 advantage, helping Armstrong dish Plum its first loss.
Oliver has picked up an offer from Bethany College.
Braeden Plasko, South Fayette
After missing South Fayette’s previous game with an upper-body injury, Braeden Plasko returned in spectacular fashion Friday night.
The senior quarterback got it done on the ground, as well.
He rushed 14 times for 201 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring runs of 38 and 8 yards, as the Lions topped Chartiers Valley, 35-7.
The victory moved South Fayette to 5-1 on the year.
Armand Hill, West Mifflin
Armand Hill continued his dominant season with another huge rushing performance in West Mifflin’s 35-0 shutout of South Park.
Hill ran for 174 yards and four touchdowns, ranking among the WPIAL’s top individual rushing performances of the night.
A senior, Hill has picked up 13 Division I offers, including Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia.
He went over the 5,000-yard rushing mark in September.
KDKA’s coverage of high school football continues Friday as North Allegheny visits Central Catholic. Tune in at 6 p.m. for pregame coverage, with kickoff at 7 p.m.
