Just one final week of high school football remains in the 2024 season, and two teams from the WPIAL are left standing, as Central Catholic and Avonworth will compete for state gold this weekend.
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 14:
Luca and Nico Neal, Avonworth
Avonworth's 'Bash Brothers' continued to dominate this past week, helping the Antelopes advance to the PIAA Class 3A Championship Game.
Luca rushed for 254 yards on 26 carries — including 186 yards and two second half touchdowns — as the Antelops beat Penn Cambria 16-6 at Norwin High School.
Luca's brother, Nico, added 54 yards in the win and led the Antelopes defense, which limited an explosive Penn Cambria offense to just single digits.
Avonworth will next face Northwestern Lehigh on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the state title on the line.
Jy'Aire Walls, Central Catholic
Central Catholic is heading back to the state championships thanks, in part, to the performance of its quarterback, Walls.
The senior passed for a modest 89 yards, but did throw two touchdowns and ran for two more to help the Vikings to a 38-33 win over Harrisburg in the PIAA Class 6A semifinals.
The win advanced the Vikings to the Class 6A Championship, where it will meet eastern power St. Joseph's Prep on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cumberland Valley High School.
Walls has picked up an offer from Waynesburg, but is getting interest from higher level programs.
