Two WPIAL Champions were crowned Saturday as Peters Township and North Allegheny took home the 5A and 6A titles. A day earlier, eight teams punched their ticket to Acrisure Stadium for this Friday’s 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A title games.
There was also a victory for the City League champions in the PIAA postseason to go along with several exceptional individual showings on gridirons throughout Western Pennsylvania.
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 12:
Keith Spell, McKeesport
The bruising fullback powered the Tigers to Acrisure Stadium with a sensational performance on both sides of the ball in McKeesport’s 28-14 semifinal win over Montour.
Offensively, Spell rushed for 190 on 28 carries, scoring three touchdowns. On defense, he racked up five sacks and helped limit one of the area’s hottest offenses to its lowest scoring output of the season.
Spell, who has offers from Clarion and W&J, will next lead the Tigers against Aliquippa in Friday’s WPIAL Class 4A Championship Game.
Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley
All season, Barksdale has compiled astonishing single-game numbers, and that was no different in Friday’s WPIAL Class 2A semifinals.
The junior rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He also passed for a touchdown and, on defense, returned an interception for a score in the Ironmen’s 34-21 win over Mohawk.
Barksdale has now rushed for 1,965 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.
He and the Ironmen next face Beaver Falls in Friday’s Class 2A Championship at Acrisure Stadium.
Logan Kushner, North Allegheny
In one of the wildest WPIAL Championship Games in history, North Allegheny stunned top-seeded Central Catholic, 44-41, at Norwin Saturday night.
Kushner was the star, accumulating six total touchdowns, including a late 76-yard run to give the Tigers a second-straight title.
The senior quarterback rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns, and passed for 107 yards and two more scores.
The top player in the WPIAL’s highest-scoring championship game ever played, Kushner picked up an offer from Mercyhurst after the game. He also has offers from Notre Dame College and Wheeling.
North Allegheny next faces McDowell in Friday’s PIAA 6A quarterfinals.
Ty Abram, Westinghouse
City League Champion Westinghouse was able to keep its unbeaten season alive in the PIAA first round with a 46-30 win over Central Clarion Friday night.
It was Abram who carried the load, rushing for 158 yard and three touchdowns in the win.
Abram, who also plays linebacker and safety in addition to tailback, has picked up offers from Clarion and Waynesburg.
The Bulldogs next face District 10 champion Farrell Friday night in the PIAA 2A quarterfinals.
The high school football season continues Friday, as KDKA Radio will once again provide award-winning broadcast coverage of the region’s biggest games of the week. This week, you can hear all four of Friday’s WPIAL Championship Games at Acrisure Stadium on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the night.