The temperature is dropping, but the playoff races are beginning to heat up as we enter Week 7 of the high school football season.
On Friday, a number of teams took sold steps towards their postseason goals, and four individuals put up monster games to help their teams get there.
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 players from Week 6:
Brody Evans, Thomas Jefferson
It's been somewhat of un unfamiliar season for mighty Thomas Jefferson, which entered Week 6 with a .500 record at 3-3.
But Evans put the Jaguars over the hill in a major way by pounding Trinity, 45-10, Friday night.
In the win, Evans tossed for 340 yards — the second-most by a WPIAL passer this week — as well as two touchdowns.
The junior now has over 1,400 passing yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Ben Lane, Freeport
Freeport is in the midst of a tremendous season, sitting with a record of 6-1.
They got to the six-win mark by roughing up a strong East Allegheny team Friday, 35-13. And they did it by paving a lane… for Lane.
Ben Lane rushed for 263 yards — the second most in the region Friday — and scored three touchdowns (including a 71-yard run) in the victory.
Lane, a versatile athlete, entered the week with 383 rushing yards all season. He has now scored 14 touchdowns this year.
The senior has received offers from Seton Hill, Southeastern, Slippery Rock, Notre Dame College, Clarion and Fairmont State.
Mike Evans, Canon-McMillan
Evans passed for 172 yards and tossed a trio of touchdowns as Canon-McMillan smashed Baldwin 49-7.
The Big Macs are currently in a three-way tie for third place in Class 6A.
This season, Evans — the son of Canon-McMillan's head coach by the same name — has passed for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Big Macs have a pair of tough non-conference games ahead before finishing at Canon-McMillan in a game that could decide the final playoff spot the classification.
Jason Cross, Bishop Canevin
Bishop Canevin's strong season just keeps on going. And Cross is leading the Crusaders.
On Saturday, Cross passed for 133 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and returned an interception 79 yards for another, as the Crusaders beat Cornell 63-0.
This season, Cross has split time at the quarterback position, but has thrown for over 600 yards and nine touchdowns, while also rushing for four more scores.
The junior has received an offer from Akron.
The high school football season continues Friday, as KDKA Radio will once again provide award-winning broadcast coverage of the region's biggest game of the week. This week, you can hear Plum at Penn-Trafford on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on Twitter for updates throughout the night.
