Each week Mr. PA Football brings you a preview of the top high school football action in Pennsylvania. Here’s what you need to know about the biggest games this weekend, including Nazareth Area at Wilson West Lawn and #9 Woodland Hills at #5 Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Nazareth Area (2-0) @ Wilson West Lawn (2-0) 07:00 PM
An exciting cross-regional match-up, Nazareth Area out of District-11, and Wilson West Lawn out of District-1.
Nazareth area won last year’s game 35-31 over Wilson in a nail-biter.
Wilson has looked impressive the first two weeks and defeated Plymouth Whitemarsh 27-7 last week. The Bulldogs are hungry and are looking to avenge last year’s heartbreaking loss.
Nazareth Area has looked equally impressive through the early season and upended Whitehall 62-33.
- John Gurski Stadium on Friday
- Two seasoned Coaches in this match-up, Wilson West Lawn’s Doug Dahms and Nazareth Area’s Tom Falzone
Key Players to watch:
Wilson West Lawn:
- Junior TE/DE Michael Glover, a top tight end prospect in the 2027 class
- Senior QB Mason Young
- Senior RB/DB Correll Akings
- Junior LB/RB E.J. Brownback
- Senior WR/DB Jaiden Carpenter
Nazareth Area:
- 4-Star senior QB Peyton Falzone, an Auburn commit
- 3-Star senior RB/CB Marquez Wimberly, a Sacramento State recruit
- Senior RB/S Jayden Wolf
- Senior TE/DB Tanner Zelachowski
- Senior OL/DL Jake Bendekovits
- Sophomore WR/DB Luke DePietro
Keys to the game:
Can the Bulldog offensive line open some holes to establish a powerful running game on Friday night? Wilson West Lawn will need to control the time of possession to keep the dynamic Nazareth Area offense on the sidelines. They will need to target junior TE/DE Michael Glover to sustain drives and score points.
The Bulldogs will need to find ways to create constant pressure on Blue Eagle QB Peyton Falzone and contain him on the defensive side of the ball. Falzone is a tremendous athlete and very dangerous in the open field along with senior RB Marquez Wimberly.
We think this will be another fabulous game this year and it will come down to the wire again. Falzone and company will be too much down the stretch and the Blue Eagles prevail 31-27!
#9 Woodland Hills (1-1) @ #5 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (1-1) 03:30 PM Saturday District-7
A magnificent match-up on Saturday afternoon in the WPIAL! We are looking forward to this gigantic game this weekend. Both teams rebounded last week with impressive wins after suffering losses in each team’s opener.
Woodland Hills crushed Penn Hills 41-7 last week and Central Catholic had the rousing victory over Pine-Richland 34-20. Therefore, both teams have confidence and momentum heading into Saturday’s contest.
Central Catholic dominated last year’s game and capitalized on Woodland Hills mistakes to earn a rousing 54-14 victory. The Wolverines will be looking for revenge this time around on the road!
- Tom Benson HOF Stadium on Saturday
- Both of these head coaches are in their third season in 2025, Central Catholic’s Ryan Lehmeier and Brian Tarrant Woodland Hill’s
Key Players to watch:
Central Catholic:
- 3-Star senior DE Ashton Blatt, a North Carolina recruit
- 3-Star senior LB/TE Colsen Gatten, a Duke commit
- Senior C Matt Bowers, a Princeton commit
- Sophomore QB Owen Herrick
- Junior LB/RB Roman Thompson
- 4-Star junior OT Jimmy Kalis, Kalis has a ton of offers
- Junior OT James Halter
- Junior OG Jon Sassic
- Junior CB/WR Zach Gleason
Woodland Hills:
- 3-Star senior LB Zykir Moore, a N.C. State recruit
- Senior WR/CB Scoop Smith, a Miami (OH) commit
- Senior QB Cameron Walter
- Senior OL/DL Maleek Anderson
- Junior OT Matthew Jenkins
- Senior DB Prince Tarrant
Keys to the game:
As you can see there is a ton of talent on both rosters in this game. Central Catholic junior RB Roman Thompson rushed for three touchdowns last week against Pine-Richland. Woodland Hills will have to slow down the Vikings vaunted rushing attack and arguably the best and biggest offensive line in the state. The Wolverines defensive line will need to be disruptive and get consistent penetration throughout the game to achieve their goal of containing Central Catholics running game.
Woodland Hills needs to eliminate the turnovers and unforced errors this year and find creative ways to get the ball into the hands of senior athlete, Scoop Smith, who is an electric playmaker. The Vikings might decide to have a spy on Smith and that could be senior LB Colsen Gatten’s assignment.
New Central Catholic QB Owen Herrick needs to manage the game well and play mistake free and trust his running game and massive offensive line to get the victory Saturday afternoon.
This is going to be a very competitive game through three quarters. We believe the Vikings offensive line will wear down the Wolverines and pull away in the fourth quarter of this game. Central Catholic will be victorious 35-20 on Saturday!
Quick Hitters Preview
Big School Class 4A-6A
#2 Harrisburg (2-0) @ #6 State College Area (2-0) 07:00 PM
Both teams come in on a roll and with a lot of momentum early in the season. The Little Lions hammered Altoona 37-7 last week and Harrisburg defeated rival Bishop McDevitt 29-21. This could be the game of the year in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth and decide the conference title. State College Head Coach Matt Lintal is looking for revenge this year as the Cougars held on to win last year thanks to a blocked FG attempt by Harrisburg WR/S Elias Coke.
#9 Imhotep Charter School (1-1) @ DeMatha Catholic (MD) 07:00 PM
Imhotep Charter got back on track last week with a victory over Eagle Academy II (NY) 43-18. The Panthers are feeling confident, but will the momentum continue against nation power DeMatha Catholic who romped over St. Joseph’s Prep 45-17 last week? The Stags are coming into this match-up clicking.
Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, NY) @ Easton Area (2-0) 07:00 PM
Easton Area trounced Spring-Ford last week 36-3. Rovers Head Coach Matt Senneca has his team firing on all cylinders early this season, but they face a stiff test this Friday against New York power Erasmus Hall. The Dutchman always have a talented roster each season. Easton Area is #19 in our Power 20 Rankings.
#3 Pope John Paul II (2-0) @ West Chester Rustin (2-0) 07:00 PM District-1
Pope John Paul II squeaked out a 20-19 victory over Shawnee (NJ) last week. West Chester Rustin defeated Interboro 35-7 last week. This should be a really good game and Golden Knights Head Coach Mike St. Clair anticipates another big home victory on Friday.
Mifflin County (2-0) @ Mechanicsburg (2-0) 07:00 PM
The Huskies enter this match-up after shutting out Northern York 14-0 last Friday. Mechanicsburg smacked Palmyra 35-7 last week. The Wildcats have a strong offensive line led by seniors Collin Stare and Jimmy Dewire.
Northampton (2-0) @ #4 Parkland (2-0) 07:00 PM District-11
Northampton throttled East Stroudsburg South last Friday and Parkland beat Bethlehem Freedom 18-7 last week. Parkland is #7 in our Power 20 Rankings and aims to ride senior RB/LB T.J. Lawrence to victory Friday night.
#6 Shamokin (2-0) @ Shikellamy (2-0) 07:00 PM District-4
Wow, a big-time match-up Friday between teams that we feel have some of the best names in the great state of Pennsylvania. Shamokin clobbered Lake-Lehman 49-7 last week and Shikellamy outlasted Lewisburg 29-27 last Friday. Indians Head Coach Marc Persing had the Indians smoking last season and it has carried over to this early season thus far.
#5 Thomas Jefferson (2-0) @ McKeesport Area (1-1) 07:00 PM District-7
Thomas Jefferson defeated Central Valley 37-14 last week in a big early season victory. McKeesport was disappointing in a 35-0 loss to Peters Township without 5-star RB Kemon Spell. It looks like Spell is still on the mend for this week’s showdown. If Spell is available Friday, it obviously makes a huge difference for the Tigers.
Big School/Small School Crossover
Archbishop Carroll (2-0) @ Wissahickon (2-0) 07:00 PM
Archbishop Carroll enters this contest after thrashing Delaware County Christian 54-8 last week and Wissahickon routed Upper Merion 52-28. Patriots new Head Coach Steve Honick hopes Archbishop Carroll’s offense continues to cruise on the road Friday night.
#2 Avonworth (2-0) @ #8 Aliquippa (1-0) 07:00 PM District-7
Aliquippa thumped Belle Vernon 42-7 last week in their opener. Avonworth blitzed West Mifflin 37-7 last Friday night. The Quips are expecting another home victory like they did last year pulling away late in 46-20 victory at Avonworth.
Small School Class 1A-3A
#2 Lackawanna Trail (2-0) @ Berwick Area (2-0) 07:00 PM District-2
Lackawanna Trail was victorious over Western Wayne 35-3 last week and Berwick crushed Mid Valley 42-0 last week. This should be a good game Friday night. The Lions will have to slow down Bulldog senior RB Ty’Meere Wilkerson who is a Player of the Week nominee.
#3 Hickory (2-0) @ Conneaut (2-0) 07:00 PM District-10
Hickory defeated University Prep/Obama Academy 41-24 last week and the Eagles beat Iroquois 23-13 last Friday. Keep an eye on Hickory junior RB Kelvin Morrison who has 7 offers from Power 4 colleges at this stage of his career.
Homer-Center (2-0) @ Marion Center (2-0) 07:00 PM District-6
Wildcat Head Coach Greg Page expects to notch another road win on Friday night. Homer-Center was victorious over United Valley 23-15 last Friday and Marion Center smashed Portage 42-20.
Penn Cambria (2-0) @ Forest Hills (2-0) 07:00 PM District-6
Penn Cambria routed Bald Eagle Area 47-24 last Friday and Forest Hills blanked Bellefonte 35-0 last week. Penn Cambria senior WR Blake Lilly, a Player of the Week nominee, looks for another enormous game Friday night!
Everett (2-0) @ Berlin-Brothersvalley (2-0) 07:00 PM District-5
Everett defeated Moshannon Valley 26-20 last week and Berlin-Brothersvalley was victorious against Mount Union 28-14 last week. Watch out for Mountaineer senior RB Seth Kimmel on Friday night!
Lakeland (2-0) @ #2 Riverside (2) (2-0) 07:00 PM District-2
Riverside Head Coach Harry Armstrong is craving another gigantic home victory on Friday night. The Vikings edged Hanover Area 34-31 last week and Lakeland demolished Holy Cross 53-6 last Friday.
Nativity BVM (2-0) @ #5 Williams Valley (2-0) 07:00 PM District-11
Williams Valley looks to keep the momentum going behind senior QB Brady Shomper. Williams Valley crushed Mahanoy Area 42-0 and Nativity defeated Pine Grove 12-6 last week.
#6 North Schuylkill (2-0) @ #4 Notre Dame GP (2-0) 07:00 PM District-11
The big game of the week for the Small Schools and a top ten match-up! North Schuylkill veteran Head Coach Wally Hall is anticipating a street fight on the road at Notre Dame-Green Pond. The Crusaders trounced Salisbury Township 63-0 and North Schuylkill hammered Tamaqua 50-7 last week.
