PA district champs headline Saturday’s Game of the Week

FARRELL, Pa . (WKBN) – A pair of defending district champions – Farrell (2A) and Hickory (3A) – will square on Saturday’s edition of WKBN’s High School Football Game of the Week.

The Steelers and Hornets are both seeking to start the season with success as the bright lights will be focusing in on Anthony J. Paulekas Stadium.

High School Football Game of the Week
August 24, 2024, at 7 pm (Live on MyYTV and WKBN.com)
Hickory at Farrell

Last 5 Meetings
Sept. 22, 2023 – Farrell, 26-7
Sept. 24, 2022 – Farrell, 35-0
Oct. 11, 2013 – Hickory, 60-14
Oct. 12, 2012 – Hickory, 50-0
Sept. 23, 2011 – Hickory, 28-6

Last Meeting
…Juelz Johnson ran for 166 yards in Farrell’s 26-7 victory over Hickory last September. The Steeler defense held the Hornets’ offense to just 206 yards of total offense on 54 plays from scrimmage.

2023 Team Statistics
Scoring Offense: Hickory, 31.2; Farrell, 29.7
Scoring Defense : Farrell, 13.2; Hickory, 15.3

Game Notes
-Farrell has posted an overall record of 43-5 over the past three seasons (2021-23); while registering double-digit wins in each year. Outside of the COVID year of 2020, the Steelers have compiled eight straight seasons of 10 wins or more (2015-19, 2021-23).

-Juelz Johnson, as a sophomore last year, gained 6.9 yards per carry (152 attempts, 1042 yards) while scoring 9 times.

-In the Steelers’ two losses last fall to Westinghouse (36-20) and Cathedral Prep (44-18), Farrell allowed an average of 40-points per game. In its 11 wins, the defense permitted just 8.4 points per outing.

-Hickory won its first District 10 championship since 2020, a year ago. The Hornets got redemption against Sharon in the title tilt – winning 14-6 – after falling 70 days prior to the Tigers (12-0).

-The Hornets posted its first 10-win season, last year (11-3) since 2016 (11-1).

-Hickory’s defense, a year ago, held the opposition to less than 20-points in 11 of their fourteen games.

-Hickory’s senior quarterback Zander Telesz completed 55% of his passes for 1482 yards and 18 scores in 2023. He also ran for 649 yards and scored 10 times.

Upcoming Schedule
Hickory
Aug. 30 – University Prep
Sept. 5 – Conneaut
Sept. 13 – Sharon

Farrell
Aug. 30 – at Fort LeBoeuf
Sept. 6 – Ursuline
Sept. 13 – Mercer

Get updated high school football scores throughout the season on the WKBN s cores page .

Track the latest conference battles on the WKBN high school football standings page .

You can also watch interviews and get player profiles from some of the best players in the Valley by visiting the WKBN Big 22 page .

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