For many WPIAL teams and players, it all comes down to this. The final week of the regular season is upon us and, for hundreds of seniors in our region, it will be the last football games they'll ever play. We salute those who strapped up each Friday over the last four years and wish them the best going forward.
The four players on this week's KDKA Radio Super 7 Watch List don't have to worry about Friday being the end of the line though. They'll all be playing more football this season.
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 | Week 7
Eli Heidenreich, Mt. Lebanon
The Mt. Lebanon senior receiver and safety has had a terrific 2021 season, and that kept on going Friday against Seneca Valley.
Heidenreich touched the ball only seven times on offense, but racked up 187 yards of offense (126 rushing, 61 receiving) and scored a pair of touchdowns. He also intercepted a pass to set up Mt. Lebanon's first touchdown of the night, as the Blue Devils beat Seneca Valley, 38-7, in a game you heard on KDKA Radio.
So far this season, the Navy recruit has accumulated 1,001 yards of total offense, despite only having 56 touches on offense. He has scored 15 touchdowns.
Rodney Gallagher, Laurel Highlands
This is Gallagher's second appearance on the Super 7 Watch List, and for good reason.
The Laurel Highlands junior continues to have a remarkable 2021 season.
On Friday, he went off. Gallagher, who plays a variety of positions, ran 20 times for 285 yards and 5 touchdowns. He passed for 100 yards and another score and caught a 22-yard pass, as the Mustangs beat Trinity 39-34.
Gallagher is one off the best multi-sport recruits in the country. He is an exceptional basketball player with Power 5 offers in both football and basketball.
This season, he has passed for 1,079 yards and 12 touchdowns, rushed for 840 yards and 16 touchdowns, made 25 tackles, intercepted two passes and forced a fumble. He's also returned a punt for a score.
Bobbie Boyd Jr., McKeesport
Hello, McKeesport!
The Tigers pulled off perhaps the biggest win of Week 8, stunning Thomas Jefferson, 42-28, Friday night.
Boyd was instrumental in the upset, rushing 16 times for 227 yards and three touchdowns. McKesport's win sets up a huge showdown this Friday with Belle Vernon in a game that will decide Class 4A's Big Eight Conference, which you can hear on KDKA Radio.
So far this year, Boyd has run for 1,184 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He has pulled in an offer from Bluefield State, with more surely to come as his high school career progresses.
Joey Prentice, North Catholic
The North Catholic signal caller continues to heave a very steady year under center for the Trojans.
Prentice, a senior, has led his team to a 9-0 record and an Allegheny Seven Conference title.
On Friday, Prentice — also a strong defensive player at safety — tossed for 151 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans downed Freeport, 33-7, for the conference crown.
Prentice has passed for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has also run for six more scores.
Last season, Prentice passed for over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns, and ran for another 568, hitting the end zone 12 times.
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, Dan Zangrilli, Johnny Lee, Robert Mangino, Dorin Dickerson and Cale Berger bring you live coverage of McKeesport at Belle Vernon. You can hear the show, and the game, on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM News Radio KDKA.
