The WPIAL football playoffs are underway, and Friday's opening night action brought a few upsets, some great games and a number of strong individual performances to help teams advance.
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 top showings from Week 10:
Braylon Thomas, Union
After leading his team to a WPIAL title last season, Thomas again has hopes of a run to a championship.
On Friday, the senior passed for 161 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 109 yards and four more scores in 51-37 win over Burgettstown in Class A first round matchup.
This season, he has nearly 1,900 passing yards and 27 touchdowns through the air, and has run for over 1,00 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The Scotties next face No. 4 Clairton in Friday's quarterfinals.
Drey Hall, Beaver
Some feel that the WPIAL Class 3A Championship Game will inevitably come down to Avonworth vs Belle Vernon. But the Beaver Bobcats are hoping to throw a wrinkle in those plans.
Beaver took a strong step in that direction Friday, pounding Shady Side Academy 42-7 behind 183 yards and four touchdowns from Hall.
Up next for the Bobcats is No. 2 Avonworth, which had a bye in the opening round.
John Wetzel, Latrobe
In one of the more surprising wins of the night, Wetzel looked like an absolute star Friday.
The junior quarterback racked up 247 rushing yards and scored four times in a runaway 39-7 win over West Allegheny in the WPIAL Class 4A first round. He also added 60 passing yards.
As a team, the Wildcats rushed for 356 yards, advancing to face No. 1 Aliquippa this week.
Wetzel has passed for 1,175 yards and 14 touchdowns, and rushed for 793 yards and 11 more scores this season.
Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township
WPIAL Class 5A's top-seeded team did what you'd expect Friday. They won, convincingly. And Dilucia was the catalyst.
The sophomore quarterback passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns, and added a pair of rushing touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Franklin Regional.
DiLucia has accumulated 2,175 passing yards and 22 touchdowns through the air, and has added seven rushing touchdowns to Peters Township's unbeaten season.
Also a talented baseball player, DiLucia and the Indians battle No. 5 Moon Friday night in the WPIAL 5A semifinals.
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 the Penn Hills vs Pine-RIchland playoff game on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the night.
