Hittin’ The Road With Travelin’ Matt – Week Zero (Five Games To Kickoff The 2025 Season)

Tagged under: District 12, District 2, District 7, District 8, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, The STATE of PA Football

Matt Herring | August 26, 2025

Each week Travelin’ Matt traverses Pennsylvania attending the hottest high school football games and best matchups in the Commonwealth. Follow his exploits each week as he documents his journey from Week Zero to the Pennsylvania State Football Finals!

Thursday, August 21

The STATE of PA Football: 2025 Season Preview Show

Friday, August 22

5A HM Woodland Hills (0-0) vs. 6A #9 North Allegheny (0-0)

6A #3 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (0-0) vs. 6A #2 LaSalle College (0-0)

Saturday, August 23

4A #4 McKeesport (0-0) vs. 5A Delaware Valley (0-0)

2A #10 Steel Valley (0-0) vs. 1A #9 Westinghouse (0-0)

3A HM Elizabeth Forward (0-0) vs. 4A West Mifflin (0-0)

ROUNDTRIP – 430 MILES

Thursday, August 21

My week began in State College, PA as a guest on The State of PA Football show to preview the 2025 season and get the schedule kicked off for PA Football News. Our staff broke down all six classes across the state and it was tremendous to finally be in game week after waiting all year for High School Football Season to begin!

If you missed the PFN Preview Show click the video below to get caught up on The State of PA Football and view one of the most unique backdrops for a show ever…in the middle of a dozen dinosaurs!

Friday, August 22

Week Zero and the 2025 season kicked off for me near Pittsburgh for an action-packed five-game slate taking place over two days at the historic Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, PA.

The Wolverena is the official home of Woodland Hills football and is built into the area’s many hills with houses perched at its summit. This classic throwback gridiron has been host to some of the most talented players and teams Western PA has produced since 1942. Originally named Turtle Creek Stadium it was renamed to its modern moniker in 1987 a handful of years after the creation of the Woodland Hills School District (formed by combining the Edgewood, General Braddock, Swissvale, Churchill and Turtle Creek school districts).

First up was weekend host 5A Woodland Hills battling Western PA foe and 6A powerhouse state-ranked #9 North Allegheny in game one of two on Friday. The opening contest featured one of the most dangerous and speediest players in the state in Woody High running back/defensive back Scoop Smith and the dynamic footballer wasted no time making his mark in this Week Zero WPIAL battle.

In the first series, the Miami of Ohio commit Smith intercepted an NA pass over the middle with a diving effort and then on offense burned down the sidelines for a 60 yard touchdown. Check out Scoop’s highlights in the first quarter…

Its all @SmithScoop in the 1st Q for @WoodyHigh as he gets the pick on defense and then dashes 60 yards for the tally on offense. 6-0 Woody over @nafootball_tfl 1Q 9:41@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/q2PdhoDwYg

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 22, 2025

After an NA touchdown, Woody High jumped back in front in this back-and-forth battle to take a 14-10 halftime advantage…

35 yard TD pass @Cam_Walter3 to @MooreZykir and just before half @WoodyHigh takes the 14-10 lead over @nafootball_tfl 2Q 0:41@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/yABTUtFnw1

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 22, 2025

In the second half, the teams would continue to trade blows with North Allegheny striking with a pick-six INT in the third quarter…

After the @nafootball_tfl TD on offense their defense puts one on the board as @korry_pittsjr scampers across the field and into the endzone for a 22-14 Tigers lead over @WoodyHigh 3Q 8:12 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/ESAHMHj7vg

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 22, 2025

After Woody High responded to take a 22-20 advantage late in the 3rd quarter North Allegheny scored a dramatic game-winning touchdown on 4th down with just 55 seconds remaining in the game to escape with a victory…

4th and 6 @nafootball_tfl on the @WoodyHigh 6 yard line with 55 seconds left in the game and @BradyBrink1 dumps it off to @lukerohan22 for the tuddy. NA up 28-26 4Q 0:44 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/V4ta8LtOGL

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 22, 2025

The second contest in the twin-bill was the marquee matchup in the state of PA featuring 6A stalwart #3 state-ranked Pittsburgh Central Catholic of District 7 vs. talent-laden state-ranked #2 LaSalle of District 12. It was East vs. West and Philly vs. Pittsburgh for two of the top teams in the Commonwealth and the contest didn’t disappoint for the fans jammed into The Wolverena.

Electric atmosphere at The Wolvarena for #2 LaSalle vs #3 PCC! Let’s gooooooooooo!@PaFootballNews @PCC_FOOTBALL @LaSalleFball pic.twitter.com/3L2CbauXa1

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

LaSalle built a 10-0 lead and took the advantage into halftime in this #2 vs. #3 matchup…

5 yards to paydirt for @XAhzir makes it 10-0 @LaSalleFball leading @PCC_FOOTBALL 2Q 7:01@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/HYjb2vg9Vq

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

After the break, LaSalle extended their lead to 16-0 on a dandy TD toss from Missouri-commit QB Gavin Sidwar…

TD toss @Gavin7Sidwar to @JP27Oates and @LaSalleFball is in control vs @PCC_FOOTBALL 16-0 3Q 6:12@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/MXZGxTq7qX

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

Another TD pass from Sidwar late 4th quarter put LaSalle up 23-6 which stood as the final tally…

TD toss @Gavin7Sidwar to @1kowenj to put @LaSalleFball up 23-6 over @PCC_FOOTBALL 4Q 5:06@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/J2acimXt0C

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

Here’s some dandy images from the first day of games at the Wolvarena…

Saturday, August 23

Day Two of The Wolvarena event featured a triple-header of season-opening matchups. First up on the docket was 4A state-ranked #4 McKeesport of District 7 squaring off against Delaware Valley of District 2 from the Eastern side of the state.

The Tigers of McKeesport feature running back Kemon Spell (ranked #1 in the country for Junior players) and the Penn State commit did not disappoint from the opening kickoff. Spell would score touchdowns on each of his first three touches of the football including a kickoff return and two runs for tallies. On the day, Spell would score five times to lead McKeesport to a 51-24 victory.

Watch Spell show why he’s the #1 recruit in the county…

Welcome to the 2025 season @KemonJones9 To. The. House. First touch of the season 97 yards for the tuddy.@PaFootballNews @AnnabelleA_PT pic.twitter.com/YsmIE53OVW

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

Kemon Spell 2nd touch of the season…2nd tuddy of the season 56 yards to paydirt@KemonJones9 @PaFootballNews @PennStateFball @AnnabelleA_PT @tyler_calvaruso @AJWPIAL pic.twitter.com/T3OaTdD8j8

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

And #3 runs for his #3 TD on the day @KemonJones9 80 yards for 6 and it’s 3 touches and 3 TDs for the @PennStateFball commit.@PaFootballNews @tyler_calvaruso @AnnabelleA_PT pic.twitter.com/KOXyTJAvGR

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

And one more highlight for Spell…an unreal dash out of trouble and into the end zone that brought fans to their feet…

Early entry for Play of the Year (and Player of the Year) as dynamite @5 🌟 @KemonJones9 goes nuclear for his 5th TD of the day!@PaFootballNews @AnnabelleA_PT @tyler_calvaruso @PaFootballNews @AJWPIAL pic.twitter.com/v4N2eLrX9s

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

Read all about the big McKeesport win over Delaware Valley and in the PA Football News article below…

The sandwich game on the day saw 2A Steel Valley battle 1A Westinghouse in a matchup of Pittsburgh schools. Westinghouse broke a scoreless first quarter with two tallies in the second stanza on a well-designed screen pass and a 78 yard dash to take a 14-0 lead.

Westinghouse on the board with this 34 yard TD pass. Two point try is no good. Westinghouse leads Steel Valley, 6-0 in the 2nd quarter. @PaFootballNews @WHCoachGreen pic.twitter.com/jkhJeW1uXa

— Sykotyk (@Sykotyk) August 23, 2025

TD by Westinghouse’s K’shawn Hawkins + a two point conversion puts the Bulldogs up 14-0 with 2:06 left in the second quarter @SteelValleyHSFB @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard @AnnabelleA_PT @CCHastings1863 @KAR120C6 @Sykotyk pic.twitter.com/svbgsciUdz

— Mia Williams (@Mia_WilliamsPT) August 23, 2025

Another long run by Westinghouse put them up 22-0 and sealed the win for the Bulldogs for an eventual 22-12 final score…

80 yard TD by @Dshiftyyy_ + a 2 point conversion by @ZaZa412PA puts Westinghouse up 22-0 with 7:16 remaining in the 4th quarter @SteelValleyHSFB @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard @AnnabelleA_PT @CCHastings1863 @KAR120C6 pic.twitter.com/p10stlY1oh

— Mia Williams (@Mia_WilliamsPT) August 23, 2025

Read about the SV vs. House game here…

Western PA institutes West Mifflin vs. Elizabeth Forward put a bow on the five-game, two-day event at the Wolvarena. Elizabeth Forward was bolstered from an outstanding three rushing touchdown performance by Senior signal-caller Ryan Messina while West Mifflin rode the back of West Virginia commit Armand Hill who accounted for one thrilling score.

Here’s some video highlights from the West Mifflin vs. EF contest that resulted in a solid 28-14 victory for Elizabeth Forward…

15 yards to paydirt for @RyanMessina20 and @warrior_ef for a 7-0 advantage over @WMAHSTitans_FB 1Q 7:59 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/baZoyATB6m

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

And just like that’s it’s 4 🌟 WVU commit @ArmandHill_2 56 yards for the tuddy and we’re knotted at 7-7 1Q 0:24@PaFootballNews @WVUfootball pic.twitter.com/7qxzCr239T

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

QB @RyanMessina20 dances in from 27 yards out to give @warrior_ef a 14-7 advantage over @WMAHSTitans_FB 2Q 8:08@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/kOBR4hhYKv

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 23, 2025

With just 5 seconds left before half @WMAHSTitans_FB hits the sideline pass for 21 yards and evens the tally with @warrior_ef at 14-14 2Q 0:05@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/GxEbLUEKwg

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 24, 2025

QB @RyanMessina20 calls his own number from 1 yard out and tallies his 3rd score of the night to give @warrior_ef a 21-14 advantage over @WMAHSTitans_FB 3Q 5:46@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/2MC8oC5d3J

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 24, 2025

Rocco Thompson battles for 11 yards to the 3 yard line and then pushes it across on the following play to give @warrior_ef a 28-14 lead over @WMAHSTitans_FB 4Q 7:19@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/hPKFK1AWrw

— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) August 24, 2025

A full weekend of PA high school football games complete and more than 400 miles driven I wrapped up my first of 16 weeks and headed home to plan for next weeks schedule of contests.

Follow along next week as Travelin’ Matt takes you across the state on another PA High School Football journey.