The high school football playoffs got off to a raucous start Friday night with a great slate of games.
During the action, four players shined bright as their teams advanced to the next rounds.
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 new additions to the KDKA Super 7 Watch List for Week 10:
Joey Bellinotti, Shady Side Academy
Playing without its starting quarterback, Max Wickland, Shady Side Academy got a little creative Friday night in its 35-14 win over South Park.
The Bulldogs used Bellinotti as a wild cat quarterback/direct snap running back, and the returns were a smashing success.
The senior rushed for 210 yards and four touchdowns, as Shady Side Academy advanced to the WPIAL 3A quarterfinals, where it will meet Elizabeth Forward next.
Bellinotti has offers from Grove City and Kenyon.
Shai Newby, West Mifflin
Coming off a loss to close the regular season, West Mifflin was hoping to make a statement in its first postseason game. Needless to say, they did.
Newby completed all nine passes he threw, racking up a WPIAL Week 10 best 353 yards and four touchdowns as the Titans pounded Southmoreland 54-28.
Newby, a senior, also ran for 39 yards in the win.
West Mifflin next plays Freeport in Friday's quarterfinals.
Haden Sierocky, Ligonier Valley
Ligonier Valley was able to run it's way to a 27-20 first round victory over Western Beaver Friday. And Sierocky led the charge.
Sierocky rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns, and also intercepted a pass on defense, as the Rams advanced to the WPIAL 2A quarterfinals.
This season, the senior has rushed for 1,231 yards, pulled in 383 receiving yards, and scored 25 total touchdowns.
Ligonier Valley will next play No. 2 Beaver Falls Friday.
Jamaal Brown, Upper St. Clair
In a thriller you heard on KDKA Radio, Brown put up a huge game on the ground to lift the Panthers to the WPIAL semifinals with a 24-21 win over Gateway Friday.
Brown rushed for 198 yards on 20 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown.
Originally from Florida, the senior has rushed for 1,336 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. He has also caught a pair of touchdowns this season.
He has received offers from New Hampshire, Georgetown, Fordham, Lehigh, Bryant, Army, Indiana State, Monmouth, Albany, Navy, Richmond, Stoney Brook, RMU, Maine, Saint Francis and YSU.
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 Woodland Hills vs Pine-Richland on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on Twitter for updates throughout the night.
