Moon hosts Montour in early season matchup Friday

OLSH Linebacker Owen Tonery brings down a Rochester Runningback for a loss of yardage in the Chargers 12-6 win over the Rams in week 1 of WPIAL play.
*(Photo by Mike Longo Jr.)*

Although the Montour and Moon school districts share a common border, it’s not likely there’ll be any neighborly sentiments exchanged Friday night when the districts’ two high schools square off in an early season WPIAL football showdown at 7 p.m. at Moon High School Stadium.

The Montour-Moon matchup is one of six games involving West Hills area schools Friday night in the second week of action.

In other games, Bishop Canevin will open its season at Dormont Stadium against Seton LaSalle, Carlynton travels to Avella, Cornell hosts California, Our Lady of Sacred Heart visits Fort Cherry and Sto-Rox hosts Carmichaels.

All varsity games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Montour, playing in Class 4A, got two touchdown passes from first-year starter Trey Hopper to outlast Central Valley, 24-14, a week ago. The Spartans vaulted from No. 5 to No. 2 in the Pittsburgh Union Progress’ Class 4A rankings.

Moon, which is ranked No. 5 in Class 5A by the Union Progress, also opened with a win, blanking visiting Trinity 21-0. The Tigers will be looking to avenge a 35-21 loss at the hands of the Spartans a year ago.

Moon was undone by Montour quarterback Jake Wolfe, who tossed four touchdowns in that contest. Fortunately for the Tigers, Wolfe graduated, but Hopper showed he’s no slouch in last week’s victory over Central Valley, throwing for 212 yards and the two touchdowns.

Bishop Canevin, No. 3 in the Union Progress’ Class 1A rankings, will battle a Seton LaSalle team that posted a 23-13 season-opening victory over North Catholic last week. Seton LaSalle is ranked No. 3 in Class 2A by the Union Progress.

Carlynton is coming off a 33-18 victory over Carrick last week at Cupples Stadium. Avella, meanwhile, dropped a 20-6 decision to Mapletown last week in its opener.

Cornell, which crushed Brashear, 44-0, in last week’s opener, will meet a team that had an even easier time in its season-debut, as California – coming off a 9-1 season a year ago – thrashed Serra Catholic, 62-26, last week.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart opened its campaign with a 12-6 road victory over Rochester. Vann Kavals threw for two touchdowns to lead the Chargers to their season-opening win last week.

Fort Cherry had a much easier time of it in its opener, shutting out Northgate, 39-0. Fort Cherry came in at No. 1 in Class 1A in PA Football News’ preseason rankings.

Sto-Rox will play at home for the second straight Friday. The Vikings dropped a 44-8 decision to South Side while Carmichaels will be playing its season opener.