Each week, we are seeing increasingly incredible passing performances from quarterbacks throughout Western Pennsylvania. But the Week 7 KDKA Radio Watch List is all about the ground game, with several area running backs racking up massive games as their teams picked up key victories.
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 showings from Week 7:
Armand Hill, West Mifflin
Putting up 300 rushing yards in one game is a tremendous accomplishment for any running back. But Hill did it in just one half Friday. And he did it in just the eighth game of his high school career.
The Titans’ freshman tailback ran for 313 yards and five touchdowns before halftime in West Mifflin’s 57-13 win over Quaker Valley.
How impactful was the 9th grader’s performance? Well, the next day he received his first Division I offer, from UNLV.
The win was the fourth in five games for the Titans, pulling them to 4-4 overall and 3-1 in the Western Hills Conference.
Keith Spell, McKeesport
Look out for McKeesport. And while you’re at it, you better look out for Keith Spell.
The bruising, 6-foot-2, 235-pounder muscled the Tigers to a huge win over rival Gateway, 38-28, Friday night in a non-conference game.
Spell ran for 201 yards and four scores in the win – a fifth-straight for McKeesport, and a fifth consecutive game scoring at least 35 points.
Spell, who also plays tight end and defensive end, has a local offer from Clarion. The Tigers, now 4-0 in the Big Seven Conference of Class 4A, can claim at least a share of the conference title Friday against Latrobe.
Josh Bladel, Moon
While Bladel’s not a freshman (he’s a senior) or a massive power back, he was able to produce all the same.
Following his team's setback against Peters Township a week earlier, Bladel – whose older brother Ben starred at Moon two years ago – led the Tigers to a massive bounce-back win Friday over Bethel Park, 42-34.
The tailback rushed for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the shootout win, the fourth victory in the last five games for Moon.
Up next for Moon? A massive showdown with Upper St. Clair Friday.
Brixx Rawl, Beaver Falls
One last running back rounds out this week’s watch list. And we perhaps saved the best name for last.
Rawl brawled with Ellwood City’s defense Friday, but found plenty of openings in the 42-28 win.
The senior rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns in the key victory for Beaver Falls in the Midwestern Conference.
Beaver Falls finishes the season with games against Freedom and Western Beaver, and could be a team to watch in the coming weeks. The Tigers have lost four games, but by a combined 17 points.
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 Pine-Richland vs Woodland Hills on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the night.
Audacy Pittsburgh will also carry the broadcast coverage of two City League football semifinals this week, with University Prep vs Perry on Thursday and Westinghouse vs Allderdice Friday. Those games can be heard on 107.3 FM WAMO at 7 p.m. each night.