We’re off and running with the 2022 high school football season!
Despite some heat — and some lightning delays — the first week of the year was a success, with huge statistical performances across the region.
Throughout the season, KDKA Radio will put together a watch list of some of the best players in the region. At the end of the year, the top performer from each WPIAL classification, and one member of the Pittsburgh City League, will receive the prestigious KDKA Super 7 Award.
Here are the players who shined brightest this week:
Nehemiah Azeem, OLSH
Azeem had a really nice season a year, ago, passing for over 1,700 yards as the Chargers reached the WPIAL Class 1A title game.
On Saturday, however, he showed that he and OLSH may be in for a monster year.
Azeem passed for a 437 yards -- the most in the WPIAL this week -- and five touchdowns as OLSH beat Shenango, 32-14. Along the way, he hit Dereon Green eight times for 201 yards and three scores.
The senior has picked up offers from Waynesburg and Westminster.
Conlan Greene, Penn-Trafford
Remember that 1990’s soccer comedy? The Big Green? Well, with all due respect to the Disney film, the real Big Green(e) is a feature show in Westmoreland County.
Conlan Green, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end, has also taken hold of the quarterback position at Penn-Trafford.
Friday, the Temple commit got off a blazing start, passing 23-of-30 for 335 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 win over Canon-McMillan. Greene also rushed 13 times for 38 yards and another score in the win.
Greene committed to the Owls in June, choosing Temple over offers from Central Michigan, Duquesne, Maine and others.
Luke Hilyard, Avonworth
Hilyard, a senior, burst onto the scene Friday by running for 240 yards and four touchdowns as the Antelopes smoked Grove City, 27-7, to open their 2022 season.
The performance, in one game, eclipsed Hilyard’s rushing total from a year ago, when he ran for just 220 yards.
Last season, the Antelopes finished 9-3 and reached the WPIAL semifinals, losing to North Catholic 7-0. This week, the 'Lopes will face a much bigger test, two-time defending PIAA champion Central Valley.
Dallas Harper, Gateway
Well, what do ya know? Another season, another dominant wide receiver coming out of Gateway.
On Friday night, Harper caught eight passes for 108 yards, including two key touchdowns, in the Gators’ 21-6 win over Mt. Lebanon.
The senior also came down with a clutch interception, as the Gateway defense held down the defending Class 6A WPIAL and PIAA champions in a game you heard on KDKA Radio.
Harper has received some Division I interest and has an offer from Bluefield State.
The high school football season continues Friday, as KDKA Radio will once again provide award-winning broadcast coverage of the region’s biggest game of the week. This week, you can hear Laurel Highlands vs Belle Vernon on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on Twitter for updates throughout the night.