M:7 Sports Scouting Report
Week 8 — Pine-Richland Rams vs. North Allegheny Tigers
Friday 10/18/24, 7:00 p.m. Kickoff — Newman Stadium — Wexford, PA
What to Watch For:
We’ve reached the penultimate matchup in our KDKA Radio High School Football Game of the Week regular season slate, but don’t let that get you down because we have a good one in store — a late-season non-conference tilt between two heavyweights of the northern suburbs that’s sure to have traffic tied in knots up and down Rt. 19, 910, and every which way in between. High school football fans are no doubt stoked to see the former 6A rivals Rams and Tigers square off once again in a rematch of last year’s resounding 45-10 NA victory, which we expect to be much more evenly matched.
This time the step up in classification shouldn’t be an issue for undefeated Pine-Richland, one of the top-ranked 5A teams in the state, as Coach LeDonne has a fast and explosive group of playmakers that can run circles around their opponents on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, in Wexford, NA is showing that the road to a WPIAL 6A title still runs through Newman Stadium. Coming off back-to-back wins, including a 38-6 victory last week, it’s clear that they’re gearing up for another playoff run. Expect this one to come down to whether the Tigers can assert themselves on defense and contain PR’s playmakers at the skill positions.
North Allegheny Tigers (Record 7-1; Head Coach Art Walker Jr.):
When we last left North Allegheny football, they were gearing up for a much-hyped GOTW matchup vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic in Week 5. And while the Vikings may have just got the better of them on the road, Coach Walker’s Tigers have demonstrated resilience and then some, bouncing back to beat Mt. Lebanon 28-20 in Walker’s historic 250th career coaching victory. After their 32-point win last week, NA is once again showing what makes them a formidable opponent, with consistent 3-phase football that can quickly leave their competition wondering what hit them. NA’s ability to play shutdown defense continues to impress, holding the other side to 14 points or less in 5 of 8 games so far. Likewise, the Tigers special teams unit has been a reliable weapon that few teams in the state can match, thanks to the kicking prowess of SR Peter Notaro and impact plays from contributors like JR Kory Pitts Jr. and SRs Nick Humphries and James Donaldson in recent weeks. Offensively, they’re a true collective with a multitude of playmakers capable of scoring on the ground or through the air.
Who to Watch For:
- Peter Notaro #9 (℅ 2025; K; 5’11” 175 lb.): In the words of Nick Saban, “Process guarantees success…a good process produces good results.” All it takes is one look at Peter’s social media to see his process is producing results. In workouts, at practice, or under the Friday night lights, Peter is a true gamechanger for his team, with both accuracy and power that enable him to consistently drill 50+ yarders without hesitation and pin opponents deep on kickoffs to help win the field position battle. Just look at his performance at Penn Hills in Week 3 where he hit from 52 and 53 yards, added on a 30-yarder for good measure, and was a perfect 5/5 on touchbacks. While that might be the ceiling for most kickers, it’s just the mezzanine for Peter as he’s shown he can easily make from 65 yards or more, even with the wind in his face. It’s easy to see why he’s been ranked as one of the top 5 senior kickers in the nation and why he’s been offered by the likes of Ohio State, Pitt, and WVU. While he might not be donning the headset anymore, Coach Saban will be pumped to have Peter as a member of the Crimson Tide, as he’ll be taking his talents to Tuscaloosa starting next year.
- Kory Pitts Jr. #21 (℅ 2026; WR/DB; 6’0” 175 lb.): Throughout the WPIAL this year, the level of play among DBs has definitely been elite and with Navy SEAL-level stealth and precision, Kory is definitely the special forces of the Tigers’ secondary. One of the squad’s breakout players of the season, he’s what coaches want at CB, with technique that’s about as solid as you’ll find and great quickness and anticipation off the snap that keeps him in the receiver’s pocket from whistle to whistle. Like a big cat on the prowl, when Kory’s roaming the defensive backfield, you might not even know he’s there until it’s too late, flashing great hands for his position as evidenced by clutch INTs vs. St. Frances Academy and Mt. Lebanon. Against the Blue Devils, he also continued to build his reputation as a special teams gunner — blocking a punt to set up his offense inside Lebo’s 10-yard line. Kory picked up his first D1 offer this summer, courtesy of the Arizona State Sun Devils, and his hype train has picked up steam rapidly. We expect more offers to come before it leaves the station.
Pine-Richland Rams (Record 7-0; Head Coach Jon LeDonne):
If you like some fun in your football, we might suggest being a Rams fan for the foreseeable future. No question about it, Coach LeDonne’s group is a wagon on offense, with the kind of production that seems more at home in the Big 12 instead of the WPIAL. Averaging nearly 47 points per game over their last four, including two shutout victories of 71-0 over Fox Chapel and 42-0 against Greater Latrobe, the Rams offensive unit can really move the football, thanks to a three-headed monster of underclassmen Oobi Strader (QB), Mac Miller (RB/LB), and Jay Timmons (WR/DB) as well as stout offensive line play. Those results also reflect Pine Richland’s ability on the defensive side, where they’ve demonstrated they can put the clamps on just about anybody. This included holding 6A power Central Catholic to just 17 points in Week 1 — a game that saw the Rams score 22 straight second-half points for the comeback win. If they keep playing at this level, they should have the inside track for a return trip to the WPIAL 5A championship at their old North Shore stomping grounds.
Who to Watch For:
- Aaron “Oobi” Strader Jr. #1 (℅ 2027; QB; 5’10” 160 lb.): We’ll cut to the chase with Oobi: there isn’t a whole lot you can do to slow down PR’s offense when he takes the field. The “dual-threat QB” label can sometimes get twisted to mean a QB who’s not fully-capable as a passer, but that’s definitely not the case here. He’s a true dual threat who’s equally as dangerous showing off his power and accuracy in the pass game or dicing up defenses with his feet. As a passer, Oobi’s whippy arm delivery gets a strong, forceful ball into his receivers hands at all three levels (short, intermediate, and deep) and makes it look easy. Tight coverage? No problem. He’s more than comfortable fitting the ball into tight windows or throwing his wideouts open and hitting them in stride for quick strikes that can rack up yardage in a hurry. With the ball in his hands as a runner, Oobi’s an electric factory, with the quick feet and athleticism to cut on a dime. An ankle-breaker, he has the agility and vision to juke would-be tacklers into next week and utilize as much of the field as possible to run wild and embarrass defenses. After coming on midway through his freshman season to contribute 900 total yards and 7 TDs, Oobi is putting up numbers this season — with 1,213 passing yards, 14 TDs, and a 131.7 QBR to go along with 212 rushing yards and 3 TDs through 7 games as a sophomore.
- Lawrence “Jay” Timmons #4 (℅ 2026; WR/DB; 5’11” 175 lb.): Living up to the hard-hitting reputation his dad built at Florida State and as a Steelers Pro Bowler, Jay Timmons is just as fast and physical reeling in passes on offense as he is breaking them up on defense. It’s been said that the measure of a great football player is how quickly they get up to top speed, and Jay gets there as fast as anyone. At DB, he’s a QB’s accident waiting to happen, with the burst and instincts to get the ball before the intended target does to force INTs or PBUs. His nearly 60-yard pick 6 against North Hills in Week 3 is a prime example. If you’re a ball-carrier in open space, you better keep running, because Jay sticks with the play to the very end, chasing down opposing backs 50 yards downfield with ease. At receiver, he’s a certified deep-ball threat, capable of blowing by DBs and taking the roof off the defense at a moment’s notice, as evidenced by his 3 catches for 76 yards and 1 TD to go along with an INT and a sack vs. Penn Hills and a 65-yard fumble recovery TD vs. Greater Latrobe. With offers already from Eastern Michigan and Akron, his journey to the next level is just getting started.