Montour and Moon will face off in a non-section football matchup Friday at 7 p.m. after both secured close wins in their season openers. Other games include Carlynton, Cornell, Sto-Rox and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, all starting simultaneously. Bishop Canevin plays Saturday.
In a thrilling WPIAL opener, Montour defeated Central Valley 27-20, with Caden Halajcio scoring the winning touchdown. Zander Stern shone with a touchdown catch and a pick-six. Other notable season openers included Moon's narrow 14-13 win, Carlynton's 20-12 victory over Carrick and OLSH's dominant 27-0 victory over Rochester.
Head coach Brendan Blair aims to improve the Sto-Rox Vikings football team in his second season at the helm after a winless first year. With an emphasis on preparation and leadership, he anticipates growth, especially from freshmen like quarterback Dalaun Harris.
Donnie Militzer, in his ninth season, looks forward to leading Our Lady of the Sacred Heart football team with a record roster of 52, strong co-captains, and promising young talent, aiming for greater success after last season's playoff experience.
Ryan Linn, in his ninth season as Moon Area's head football coach, feels optimistic about his veteran squad with 26 seniors, including key returners. With improved speed and athleticism, they aim for a successful start against Trinity in their season opener.
The Montour Spartans experienced a rough end to the 2024 season, marked by an overtime loss in the final regular season game and a playoff upset. Although several key players graduated, coach Lou Cerro is optimistic about returning talent and newcomers contributing to the team's success this fall.
Cornell football coach Ed Dawson embraces the challenge of facing defending WPIAL champion Fort Cherry, asserting that competition improves athletes. Despite losing key seniors, he believes this year's experienced roster, led by standout Khylil Johnson, can surpass last season's success.