Conference play began for a handful of teams throughout the WPIAL, as the games took more meaning and brought out some mammoth statistical performances.
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 performance from Week 3:
Junior Marino, Beaver
In one of the better regular season shootouts in recent memory, Beaver found a way to slip past Hopewell Friday night.
Marino was the primary target for quarterback Travis Clear, who found Marino nine times for 216 yards and a touchdowns in the 51-50 win.
Clear led the passing attack with 391 yards, as Beaver survived Hopewell quarterback James Armstrong’s 600-plus yards of total offense on the other side.
Marino has a collegiate offer from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and interest from several local schools.
Da’Ron Barksdale, Steel Valley
Barksdale continued his impressive high school career Friday, toting the rock for three scores, but also finding two other ways to reach the end zone.
The senior rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns, caught a scoring pass and returned a fumble for another touchdown in a surprising 56-7 blowout win over South Park.
The win pushed the Ironman to 2-2 on the year, as they bounced back from a loss to Bishop Canevin in Week 2.
Barksdale, a 3-star cornerback recruit, committed to Pitt in June. He also had Power 4 offers from Syracuse and West Virginia.
Jeff Thompson III, Clairton
After a week in which they weren’t able to play due to a forfeit by Shady Side Academy, Clairton got right back to their winning ways.
Thompson III paced the Bears, completing 18 of 23 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns in the 43-0 win over Greensburg Central Catholic.
The senior has now passed for over 700 yards through Clarion’s first three games.
Doryan Peay, Penn Hills
Following a tough 0-3 start to the season for Penn Hills, some felt that upstart Fox Chapel may be able to knock off the Indians in their conference opener.
Peay made sure that didn’t become the case, rushing for a season high 180 yards and two touchdowns as the Indians cruised over the Foxes 49-14.
The Indians will need all hands on deck this Friday, as they travel to Aliquippa for a matchup with the Quips.
The high school football season continues this Friday on KDKA Radio with coverage of Mars at Montour. Pregame coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. on 100.1 FM and AM-1020 KDKA.