All local high school teams got into the swing of things this past weekend with Week 1 action in the WPIAL and City League. And with that came more massive statistical performances on the gridiron.
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 1:
James Armstrong, Hopewell
After bursting the scene as a freshman last year and picking up Division I interest, Armstrong appears more than ready for his encore.
The sophomore on Friday completed 16 of 19 passes for 229 yards, while also rushing 21 times for 120 yards and four touchdowns in an impressive 31-6 win over New Castle.
Through two weeks, Armstrong has accounted for over 650 total yards and seven touchdowns.
Armstrong has received Division I offers from Pitt, Akron and Sacramento State.
Javon Johnston, Shady Side Academy
It isn’t often that a player racks up eight touchdowns in a game. Most don’t accomplish that in a season.
Johnston, however, was involved in eight touchdowns Friday night in a dominant win over Burrell.
The sophomore passed for 357 yards and four touchdowns and ran for four more scores in the 56-26 triumph.
In addition to football, Johnston is a talented track athlete who won gold in the triple jump in the freshman division of the New Balance Outdoor Nationals this summer.
Tim Andrasy, Leechburg
While Adrasay didn’t quite account for eight touchdowns like Johnston, he didn’t do too shabby for himself — and for the Blue Devils — on Friday.
The speedy back ran through big holes all night, piling up 310 yards on 31 carries, hitting the end zone six times on the ground as Leechburg beat Beth-Center 58-6.
The senior is also wrestler and track athlete at Leechburg, which bounced back on the football field Friday following a tight loss in Week 0.
Ethan Hellmann, Upper St. Clair
Hellmann was remarkably efficient Friday as the high scoring Panthers went to 2-0 to begin the season.
The senior completed 16 of 18 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns as Upper St. Clair walloped Canon-McMillan 48-0.
Also a member of Upper St. Clair’s championship winning basketball team, Hellman has passed for seven touchdowns in the season’s first two weeks.
As a team, the Panthers have outscored their first two opponents 83-14.
The high school football season continues this weekend with Friday night coverage of Avonworth at Aliquippa. On Saturday, KDKA Radio will air a bonus game, as Central Catholic battles Woodland Hills at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.