The high school football season kicked off this past weekend with some exciting games and massive individual performances across the region.
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 performance from Week 0:
David Dennison, Bethel Park
Bethel Park broke a school record with 660 yards of offense in a 43-26 win over Seneca Valley Friday night to kickstart their season.
Dennison, the team’s primary backup running back last year, carried the rushing load for a group that racked up over 300 yards on the ground in Week 0.
The senior led all WPIAL players Friday night with 238 rushing yards, scoring four times in the win.
His quarterback, Evan Devine, passed for 359 yards and two more scores, as well.
Dennison has an offer from Wheeling University.
Gabe Jenkins, Imani
In one of the most anticipated games of Week 0, Imani Christian handed Clairton a loss as the Bears opened up newly renovated Tyler Boyd Stadium.
Jenkins paced the Saints’ effort rushing for 211 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing another touchdown pass as the team’s quarterback in the 19-12 victory.
A junior, Jenkins is a 4-star cornerback recruit and is ranked the 60th overall prospect in the class of 2027.
He committed to Penn State earlier this month.
Kemon Spell, McKeesport
Another Penn State commit couldn’t seem to stay out of the end zone Saturday in the KDKA Radio High School Football Kickoff Classic.
Spell, one of the WPIAL’s top recruits over the last several years, powered McKeesport to a 1-0 start with a commanding 51-24 victory over Delaware Valley at the Wolvarena.
The junior rushed for 292 yards and four touchdowns, while returning a kickoff 98 yards for a score. He scored three touchdowns on his first three touches of the football Saturday.
Spell is ranked as the nation’s top running back recruit in the class of 2027 and committed to the Nittany Lions in early August.
Dominic Detruf, Hempfield
No performance Friday night was as special as the one orchestrated by Detruf.
The Hempfield quarterback completed 14 of 17 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans beat North Hills 28-23 Friday night. He also rushed 12 times for 56 yards in the win.
Detruf’s strong night came in his first game since the unexpected passing of his father, TJ, a former Jeannette player and a junior high coach at Penn-Trafford.
To honor his father, Dominic Detruf changed his number to 18 this offseason.
The high school football season continues this Friday, as KDKA Radio will broadcast Pine-Richland at Pittsburgh Central Catholic on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.