We’re down to just two weeks left in the WPIAL football regular season. As the playoff races intensify, so do the individual battles for a spot on the KDKA Radio Super 7 Watch List.
This week, we acknowledge the performances of a pair of repeat Watch List members. We also welcome three new, exceptional players to the mix.
At the end of the high school football season, we will honor seven local players who stood out the most during 2021.
The awards will go to the top player in each WPIAL classification, as well as the best performer in the Pittsburgh City League.
Leading up to that, each week, we will highlight players who are in the running for the prestigious postseason award.
Previous Watch Lists: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6
Max Rocco, Serra Catholic
The gunslinger from the Mon Valley! Max Rocco is putting up absolutely massive numbers this season, and has played a vital role in Serra Catholic’s 9-0 record.
That strong play continued Friday, when Rocco passed for 233 yards and six touchdowns in a 62-20 win over Apollo-Ridge.
For the season, Rocco has passed for 1,375 yards, the fifth-best mark in the WPIAL. He’s found receivers in the end zone 21 times, good for second-best in the district.
Rocco, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior, has received interest from some FCS schools, taking trips to Millersville University and Youngstown State.
Tim Henderson, Cornell
One look at Tim Henderson’s Twitter handle, and you get an idea of what his game is all about. Speed.
That handle is @Tim_Speedy7, and it's fitting.
A blisteringly quick wideout and defensive back for Cornell, Henderson is a big reason why the Raiders havd bounced back with a terrific 2021 season.
Cornell is now 6-1, with a 5-0 record in Class 1A’s Big Seven Conference, following a 14-7 win over perennial powerhouse Rochester Friday night.
Henderson, a senior, returned the game’s opening kickoff for a 80-yard touchdown, and added a 53-yard touchdown run.
Brad Birch, Gateway
You’ve seen Birch on the list before. And for good reason.
The Gateway sophomore leads the WPIAL in passing yards with 1,843. He has slung 19 touchdowns and has added 200 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.
On Friday, the Jeannette transfer put together what was maybe his best game of the year, completing 21 of 26 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns, as the Gators dismissed of rival Woodland Hills, 40-21.
The win moved Gateway to 5-3, and 2-1 in the Big East Conference of Class 5A.
Birch is one of the most promising underclassmen in the region, already picking up an offer from Oregon.
Robert Dickerson, North Hills
In a game you heard on KDKA Radio, Robert Dickerson came up with one of the biggest plays of the night.
The senior, who is committed to Bucknell for football and baseball, caught a 34-yard touchdown on a tipped pass, as the Indians scored a big 13-7 win over Pine-Richland.
NewsRadio KDKA’s Robert Mangino talked with Dickerson after the win.
This is Dickerson’s second appearance on the KDKA Radio Watch List, as North Hills is now 5-3 this season, with a 2-1 record in Class 5A’s Northeast Conference.
Wyatt Ringer, Beaver
He’s so good, he might be a Ringer.
Wyatt Ringer, a senior from Beaver Area High School, has led a nice turnaround year for the Bobcats and first-year head coach Cort Rowse.
Ringer, who plays a running back, wide receiver and quarterback, ran for four touchdowns, including a 1-yard run in overtime to beat Chartiers Valley, 35-28. He accounted for 164 yards, running the ball a remarkable 48 times in the win. He also completed three passes for 94 yards and another touchdown.
The Bobcats, with the victory, went to 5-2 and 2-1 in Class 4A’s Parkway Conference, taking over the No. 2 spot in the standings.
So far this season, Ringer has rushed for 854 yards and passed for 294 more, accounting for 18 total touchdowns.
He has an offer from Clarion.
KDKA Radio’s coverage of WPIAL football continues this week with the Quest for the Best Show at 6 p.m. on Thursday night. On Friday, Josh Rowntree, Johnny Lee, Robert Mangino, Dorin Dickerson and Cale Berger bring you live coverage of Pine-Richland at North Hills. You can hear the show, and the game, on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM News Radio KDKA.