We’ve passed the midway point of the 2025 high school football regular season and conference play is in full swing with big matchups and dazzling individual 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 performances from Week 5:
Marino Graham, New Castle
New Castle partied like it was 1987 Friday night and did so thanks to the effort of a freshman.
The Red Hurricanes toppled Aliquippa for the first time in 38 years Friday night with freshman quarterback Marino Graham being the focal point.
The 9th grader passed for 179 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 105 yards and two more scores in the 18-12 victory.
Graham, who is expected to be a top basketball player at New Castle this coming winter, has helped the Canes to a 5-1 record so far this season.
Jonah Williamson, Trinity
Trinity entered Friday night on a three-game losing streak and sitting at a tough 1-4 record, having played a brutal non-conference schedule.
But in their Big Six Conference opener, Williamson made sure that the Hillers got off to a perfect start.
The senior passed for 201 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 158 yards and two more scores in a 48-14 win over Ringgold.
Williamson connected with Braden Berdar seven times for 161 yards and three touchdowns, as the Hillers picked up their second win of the year.
Also a standout baseball player, Williamson is committed to Harvard for football.
Wyatt Sparbanie, Western Beaver
One of the best stories of the first half of the high school football season has been at Western Beaver.
The Golden Beavers entered Friday’s game against a perennially tough Riverside team unbeaten. They walked out with that mark intact.
Sparbanie led the attack with 265 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the 48-19 blowout. Five of his scores came after halftime.
A top track athlete, Sparbanie placed tenth at the PIAA state championships last year in the 100 meter dash.
Jaydon Oliver, Armstrong
Following a rocky start to the season, Armstrong has found its football in conference play.
That showed Friday, as the River Hawks scored an impressive road win at Gateway.
In the win, Oliver passed for 234 yards and a score, while rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns, including a 31-yarder to win the game late.
Armstrong is now 3-3 on the year, but 2-0 in Big East Conference play, having scored a tight win over Latrobe a week earlier.
The high school football season continues Friday with broadcast coverage of Fort Cherry at Cornell. Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. with kickoff at 7 p.m. on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.