M:7 Sports Scouting Report
Tradition. The dictionary defines it as “the handing down of information, beliefs, or customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another.” For many, it might look like cherished holidays with loved ones around the table, top secret recipes passed on from grandparents, or the same getaway beach towns visited year after year.
But here in Western Pennsylvania, when the calendar turns to fall, tradition means brisk Friday nights at packed stadiums straight out of a Hollywood script — with bright lights dotting the landscape like constellations, convoys of cars crammed with eager fans lining the streets, and marching bands and cheer squads rallying crowds for second-half comebacks. It means little kids sleeping with footballs next to their pillows, mimicking their town’s quarterback on the playground, and growing up to one day take the field themselves.
Tradition also means witnessing the first steps on many roads to football immortality, with names like Namath, Montana, Marino, Martin, Cowher, Law, and Revis all having roamed these storied sidelines before taking their place in the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio. With a pipeline of talent that’s never been more full, it’s only a matter of time before this current generation of WPIAL playmakers gets a few gold jackets of their own.
That’s why M:7 Sports — a full-service athlete marketing and management agency based in the Greater Pittsburgh area — is proud to be the official sports complex and recruitment agency of KDKA Radio’s High School Football Game of the Week for the 2024 season.
Through five weeks, this year’s slate has been action-packed, and so you don’t miss a single snap going forward, be sure to tune your dials to AM 1020 or 100.1 FM at 7:00 p.m. each Friday through October 25. Also, before the teams even take the field, check out our new M:7 Sports Scouting Report feature to take you inside the huddle and get you ready for gametime each week.
Week 5 — North Allegheny Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings
Friday 9/27/24, 7:00pm Kickoff – Baldwin High School Stadium — Pittsburgh, PA
What to Watch For:
When it comes to regular-season matchups, it doesn’t get much better than this — a rematch of the high-octane 2023 WPIAL 6A Championship game which saw eventual PIAA 6A runner-up NA prevail 44-41 in an instant classic. In what’s sure to be a postseason preview, this 2024 edition could best be described as the “new kids on the block,” as both rosters will be squaring off without many of the familiar faces that have been key contributors the last few seasons. For PCC, this means replacing all-state honorees on both sides of the football in LB Anthony Speca and WR Peter Gonzalez, both now Penn State Nittany Lions, as well as LB/TE Cole Sullivan (Michigan) and QB Payton Wehner (St. Francis). For the Tigers, it’s meant replacing field general QB Logan Kushner (Duquesne) — who lit up the box score in the WPIAL title game with 6 total TDs and 347 all-purpose yards — as well as all-state WR/DB Khyrin Boyd (Duquesne) and RB/LB Tyree Alualu (Temple). While this might lead to down years at other schools, it doesn’t here with a new crop of D1 talent ready to announce their presence with authority. This one should be a real battle, especially in the trenches. We can’t wait to see who comes out on top!
Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (Record 3-2; Head Coach Ryan Lehmeier):
Don’t judge a book by its cover when it comes to these Vikings. Despite a couple of early stumbles, this is still one of the most dynamic teams in the WPIAL, capable of making impact plays and running up the scoreboard in all 3 phases. Look no further than their 54-14 victory at Woodland Hills in week 3 which saw PCC’s special teams unit contribute 18 points, and last week’s 42-0 shutout at Hempfield where Coach Lehmeier’s offense racked up touchdowns on each of their first 4 possessions. With a roster full of Saturday players, these guys are more than capable of going toe to toe with anyone. Don’t count them out.
Who to Watch For:
- Bradley Gompers #11 (℅ 2025; WR/LB; 6’5” 215 lb.): Watch his highlights and see for yourself: Bradley is straight out of a video game. With speed (4.48 40-yard dash), hands, size, and agility, he’s a big play threat every time QBs look his way in the pass game and a nightmare for opposing ball-carriers as a game-wrecking LB who’s relentless in pursuit and aggressive at the point of contact. An early commit to Manny Diaz’s Duke Blue Devils, this 4-star’s recruitment is still taking off, with both James Franklin (Penn State) and Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss) extending offers this fall.
- Xxavier Thomas #2 (℅ 2025; WR/DB; 5’10” 165 lb.): When it comes to playing football at the highest levels, the Thomas family knows what they’re doing, as older brother Rodney establishes himself in the Colts’ secondary and Xxavier looks to forge his own path as a Penn State commit. He was a one-man army at Hempfield last week, running back a punt return 83 yards for a score and hauling in 2 more TDs to go along with an INT on defense. His hands, vision, and instincts enable him to excel at DB, whether it’s in coverage, making plays on the ball, or coming up to make a tackle. On offense and special teams, he’s got the wheels to take it the distance at a moment’s notice. Keep your eye on him at the next level.
- Jimmy Kalis #65 (℅ 2027; OT; 6’6” 280 lb.):If you’re lining up against Jimmy, all we can say is good luck. With an imposing combination of size, strength, and athleticism that would be welcome on any Power 4 sideline, it can be easy to forget he’s just a high school sophomore. Pick your favorite O-line superlative (“mauler,” “road grader,” etc.), he fits the bill and then some, and whether it’s run-blocking or pass pro, he’s rock solid — keeping his QB out of harm’s way and his opponents on the turf and off the box score. He’s already at double-digit offers, including Pitt and WVU, and making the rounds on the recruiting trail this fall. Buy his stock now because it’s only going up.
North Allegheny Tigers (Record 5-0; Head Coach Art Walker Jr.):
Coaching legend Mike Kryzyzewski once said, “One of us can’t do all of the things that all of us can do together.” In WPIAL football, no squad epitomizes this collective, team-first mindset like the NA Tigers. The two-time defending WPIAL 6A champs and 2023 PIAA runners-up Tigers are once again off to a hot start under the reigning Coach of the Year Art Walker. Despite turnover from last year’s roster, NA’s offense shows no signs of slowing down, besting their last two opponents by a combined score of 78-28 and posting a +91 point differential overall through 5 games. Even with this potent offense, games are often still won and lost upfront, and NA has got some definite talent on both the offensive and defensive lines. With a two-QB platoon that’s proving effective so far, the Tigers are sending a clear message that they don’t plan on surrendering the top spot in 6A any time soon.
Who to Watch For:
- Jack Yatchenko #51 (℅ 2025; OL/DL; 6’3” 290 lb.): Some players play a tough brand of football, but then there’s Jack Yatchenko. A two-way wrecking ball on both OL and DL, don’t waste your time checking the program because you’ll know him when you see him. Jack’s got a reputation for putting up prolific numbers in the weight room and it’s self-evident in his strength, physicality, and ability to manhandle virtually all opponents he goes up against. The true definition of playing to the whistle, he takes his man out of the play until the job is done. He boasts more than a dozen offers from the likes of Army, Harvard, and Penn but has committed to the Princeton Tigers where he’s sure to be a force on the field and in the classroom.
- Lincoln Hoke #76 (℅ 2026; OL/DL; 6’2” 215 lb.): Stop us if you’ve heard this one before…a Hoke wearing #76 in black and gold wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. Well, Steeler alum Chris’s son shows that the apple clearly doesn’t fall far from the tree and might be the WPIAL’s most underrated prospect. His highlights show a scrappy, disruptive playmaker with sound technique who’s eager for action on each snap. His strong nose for the football helps him sniff out and consistently blow up plays in the backfield. With an older brother already suiting up for the BYU Cougars, Lincoln is sure to be taking another step forward this season and should be turning more heads in the recruiting game in no time.