McKeesport’s Kemon Spell began his season with a bang Saturday, racing up the middle past defenders on his way to a 98-yard touchdown on the game’s opening kickoff.
Oh, but the nation’s No. 1-ranked running back in the junior class wasn’t done there.
Far from it, actually.
In what was a dazzling debut, Spell finished with five total touchdowns after racking up 295 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just 13 carries while leading Class 4A No. 3 McKeesport to a 51-24 win against District 2’s Delaware Valley at the Wolvarena.
Spell, a Penn State recruit, scored touchdowns on his first three touches of the game. Following the opening kick return for a score, Spell added touchdown runs of 56 and 80 yards to propel McKeesport to a 21-3 first-quarter lead. He later tacked on scoring runs of 80 yards in the second quarter and 54 yards in the fourth. Spell chipped in a pair of 2-point runs following touchdowns, as well.
McKeesport quarterback Matt Miller Jr. completed 5 of 7 passes for 83 yards, which included a 34-yard touchdown hookup with Javien Robinson. Robinson also found the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run.
OTHER TOP GAMES
• Dameon Hill accounted for a pair of touchdowns to drive City League No. 1 Westinghouse to a 22-12 win against Class 2A No. 2 Steel Valley at the Wolvarena. Hill caught a 34-yard touchdown from Zahir Ismaeli for the game’s first points in the second quarter. After K-Shawn Hawkins scored on a 78-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 halftime lead, Hill added an 80-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Pitt recruit Da’Ron Barksdale had a hand in both Steel Valley touchdowns, connecting with Torian Barnett for a 29-yard touchdown before scoring on a 13-yard touchdown run as time expired.
• Ryan Messina ran for three touchdowns to propel Class 3A No. 5 Elizabeth Forward to a 28-14 win against West Mifflin at the Wolvarena. Messina, who a season ago passed for 22 touchdowns and rushed for 11, scored on runs of 15, 27 and 1 yard. The last of those scores helped give the Warriors a 21-14 lead in the third quarter after the score was tied, 14-14, at the half. Rocco Thompson added a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Warriors. West Mifflin was led by West Virginia recruit Armand Hill, who ran for a 56-yard touchdown.
SCOREBOARD
Elizabeth Forward 28, West Mifflin 14
McKeesport 51, Delaware Valley 24
Riverview 34, Beth-Center 19
Westinghouse 22, Steel Valley 12
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.