The WPIAL football season comes to a close for Class 6A this Saturday, as Mt. Lebanon and Central Catholic look to win a district crown and advance to the PIAA playoffs. In Classes 1A-5A, 20 teams will battle for a shot at reaching title games.
But before we get to those important clashes, let's see who had the best performances in Week 11.
At the end of the high school football season, we will honor seven local players who stood out the most during 2021.
The awards will go to the top player in each WPIAL classification, as well as the best performer in the Pittsburgh City League.
Leading up to that, each week, we will highlight players who are in the running for the prestigious postseason award.
Previous Watch Lists: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10
Ian Syam, Avonworth
Talk about a half of football.
Syam, a senior tailback for the Antelopes, rushed for 244 yards and scored six (yes, SIX) touchdowns — all before halftime — as Avonworth crushed Mount Pleasant, 49-7.
Over the last three weeks, Syam has eclipsed the 200-yard mark on the ground in all three games, scoring ten touchdowns.
This year, he has accumulated 1,487 yards and 23 touchdowns, as the Antelopes will play North Catholic in Friday's Class 3A semifinals.
Raequan Troutman, Cornell
One of the great stories in the WPIAL this season has happened at Cornell.
The Raiders were 1-6 in 2020, but have turned things around in a major way this season. Cornell is 9-2 and beat Leechburg, 46-18, on Friday night to advance to the WPIAL 1A semifinals.
Troutman, a junior, led the WPIAL is rushing yards Friday with 255 on 15 carries, scoring twice in the blowout win.
Over the course of the season, Troutman has rushed for 825 yards. He has also racked up 103 receiving yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
Cornell next faces Bishop Canevin Friday.
Zay Davis, Sto-Rox
Earlier this season, 93.7 The Fan's Shelby Cassesse and Josh Rowntree detailed the great story of Davis, a junior wide receiver at Sto-Rox.
In addition to his exploits off the field, he's also pretty darn good on the gridiron.
Davis caught six passes for 181 yards, leading the WPIAL in receiving yards Friday. Three of his six catches went for scores, as quarterback Josh Jenkins (who made the Watch List last week) passed for over 400 yards in the game.
In the first two playoff games of 2021, Davis has caught 11 passes for 305 yards and four scores.
Davis has an offer from Wheeling University.
Da'Vontay Brownfield, Elizabeth Forward
Brownfield, a senior running back and safety, put on a show on both sides of the ball in the Warriors' 14-6 win over Freeport on Friday.
On offense, Brownfield ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
On defense, he made seven tackles (three for loss), had a sack and broke up a pass.
Brownfield, who also wrestles and runs track, has an offer from Whittier College.
The Warriors will meet No. 1 Central Valley Friday night.
KDKA Radio's coverage of WPIAL football continues this week with the Quest for the Best Show at 6 p.m. on Thursday night. On Friday, Dan Zangrilli, Johnny Lee, Robert Mangino, Dorin Dickerson and Cale Berger bring you live coverage of Thomas Jefferson vs Belle Vernon in the 4A semifinals. On Saturday, KDKA Radio will bring you coverage of the 6A championship, as Central Catholic meet Mt. Levanon. You can hear the show, and the games, on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM News Radio KDKA.
