Four more WPIAL champions were crowned this past weekend, while two more local teams moved into the semifinals of the PIAA playoffs with victories. Congratulations to Peters Township, Avonworth, Seton LaSalle and Clairton on bringing home gold Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.
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 performances from Week 13:
James Spratt, Peters Township
It may go down as one of the all-time individual statistical showings in WPIAL Championship history.
James Spratt made a remarkable 22 tackles, including 0.5 sacks and had a key fumble recovery as Peters Township rallied from down 19 points to beat Pine-Richland 20-19 in the WPIAL Class 5A title game Saturday night.
Spratt made double the amount of tackles as any other player in Saturday’s four championship games.
The senior, who is also a certified pilot, will join the high-flying Indians in the PIAA Semifinals, where they will meet defending state champ Bishop McDevitt on Saturday in Altoona.
Luca Neal, Avonworth
Luca Neal did a bit of everything in Avonwroth’s runaway championship victory over Imani Christian.
The senior wideout ran 12 times for 105 yards and a touchdown, caught three passes for 63 yards, and made five tackles on defense in the 30-6 win.
A senior, Neal is getting FCS interest.
He and the Antelopes will take on District 6 champion Penn-Cambria on Friday at Indiana High School.
Will Martin, Seton LaSalle
In helping Seton LaSalle win a thriller of a WPIAL 2A title game, Martin shined on both sides of the ball Saturday.
The senior rushed ten times for 43 yards and three touchdowns, caught a pass for seven yards, made four tackles and intercepted a pass on defense.
His touchdown run with under a minute to play proved to be the deciding score in the 21-14 Rebels win over Steel Valley.
The decision to run the ball with Martin — who had just three touchdowns all season — was implemented during the week of practice.
Thanks to it, Martin — a Duquesne recruit — and the Rebels move to the PIAA semifinals and will meet District 10 champion Farrell Saturday afternoon.
Chrys Black Jr., Central Catholic
Central Catholic has rolled out a bruising two-headed monster of a rushing attack most of the season with Roman Thompson and Jayden Alexander. But Chrys Black has entered the chat in recent weeks.
Black used his blazing speed Friday night, rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown and hauling in a 20-yard touchdown pass in Central Catholic’s 42-21 win over State College.
After dealing with an injury during the middle of the season, Black has rushed for 347 yards and scored three touchdowns over the last three games.
He has Division I offers from Florida State and Syracuse among several others.
The Vikings will meet Harrisburg Friday night in the PIAA semifinals.