PUP high school football game of the week: Elizabeth Forward vs. West Mifflin (Week 0)

Each Wednesday, the PUP high school sports staff will preview the game of the week.

Between the hash marks

Who: Elizabeth Forward (0-0) at West Mifflin (0-0)

Where: Titan Stadium, West Mifflin

When: 7 p.m. Friday

The coaches: John DeMarco (Elizabeth Forward); Rod Steele (West Mifflin)

When they last met: The last time West Mifflin took the field was for a 42-21 defeat against Elizabeth Forward in last year’s WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals. The Warriors would then go on to lose against Avonworth in the WPIAL semifinals the following week. Elizabeth Forward used a trio of defensive touchdowns to pull away from the Titans in the second half on their way to victory last November. There will be no playoff matchup between the two this season, though, with West Mifflin having moved up to Class 4A for the 2024-25 cycle.

On deck: Elizabeth Forward will travel to Highlands for another intriguing non-conference showdown on the road, while West Mifflin is set to visit back-to-back WPIAL Class 3A finalist Avonworth in Week 1.

This and that: Coming off its third trip to the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals in the past four seasons, Elizabeth Forward lost standout defensive lineman and 2023 PUP All-Star Charlie Meehleib to graduation, along with leading receiver Isaiah Turner (47 receptions for 827 yards in 2023). Still, the Warriors have plenty of reason for optimism in year two under coach John DeMarco, with Buffalo recruit Chris Climes back to anchor the offensive and defensive lines following a monster season last fall. Plus, all-purpose dynamo Charlie Nigut returns after totaling 23 touchdowns with more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage (859 rushing, 338 receiving) as a junior. … Much like Elizabeth Forward, West Mifflin has a tandem of headliners at the forefront of its roster in sophomore tailback Armand Hill and senior lineman Jaiden Brown-Demery. Hill burst onto the scene as a freshman during the second half of the 2023 season, becoming a household name with a 495-yard outburst against Hopewell — good for the second-most rushing yards in a single game in WPIAL history. Hill finished his debut season with 1,526 yards rushing and 20 TDs, earning more than a dozen FBS scholarship offers in the process. … As for Brown-Demery, the 6-foot-4, 315-pound behemoth will square off with the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Climes in a seismic showdown up front that could go a long way toward determining the outcome of the game. Brown-Demery is an Akron recruit who will play offensive line in college, while Climes’ future lies as a defensive tackle at the next level. … Along with the titanic battle in the trenches, the X-factor in this game could be Warriors junior quarterback Ryan Messina, who passed for 1,649 yards and 14 TDs as a sophomore. If Messina has made the necessary strides in the offseason to take his game to the next level, he should give Elizabeth Forward the edge needed to come out on top.

Expert picks

Steve Rotstein: Elizabeth Forward 31, West Mifflin 28

Brad Everett: West Mifflin 28, Elizabeth Forward 21

John Santa: Elizabeth Forward 27, West Mifflin 14

On the radar

Central Valley at Montour, 7 p.m. Friday

Another mouth-watering matchup on opening night features the No. 1-ranked team in Class 3A, Central Valley, taking a trip to Montour’s Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium. The former conference rivals split a pair of matchups over the previous two seasons, with Montour defeating the Warriors on the road in a 21-20 nail-biter last year. This time, the Class 4A No. 5 Spartans will be without star quarterback Jake Wolfe, who led them to a 10-win season and WPIAL semifinal berth in 2023 before graduating. But Montour still has a handful of key contributors returning, including running back Caden Halajcio, tight end Kaleb Platz and wide receivers A.J. Alston and Daniel Batch. As for Central Valley, explosive running back Jance Henry is primed for a huge sophomore season while running behind a stout offensive line led by junior Brendan Alexander (6-4, 270). Henry will need a big-time performance to help the Warriors secure the victory in enemy territory on Friday.

Clairton vs. Steel Valley at the Wolvarena, noon Saturday

Two of the area’s most tradition-rich programs collide at one of Western Pennsylvania’s most historic venues when Class 1A No. 2 Clairton meets Class 2A No. 1 Steel Valley at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek on Saturday afternoon. The contest will open the second day of the KDKA Kickoff Classic, a five-game showcase this Friday-Saturday featuring several perennial powerhouses from both in and out of state. The Bears are bringing back a boatload of talent from last year’s team, with all 11 of their all-conference selections from 2023 back in the fold. Meanwhile, the Ironmen are looking to make a third consecutive trip to the WPIAL title game after coming up just short in their bid for back-to-back championships last fall. Senior running back Donald Barksdale is coming off a spectacular campaign for Steel Valley after rushing for more than 2,000 yards with 37 total TDs.

Beaver vs. Westinghouse at the Wolvarena, 8 p.m. Saturday

In perhaps the most enticing matchup of all during Week 0, two-time defending City League champion and back-to-back PIAA Class 2A finalist Westinghouse takes on Class 3A No. 4 Beaver in the finale of the KDKA Kickoff Classic on Saturday night. Both teams are loaded with talented playmakers, and there will surely be plenty of bragging rights on the line in this WPIAL vs. City League affair. Senior quarterback Khalil Green will be counted on to make plays with both his arm and his legs for Westinghouse, while defensive linemen Josiah Collins, Byron Lewis and Nyxai Robinson will attempt to shut down the Bobcats’ potent offensive attack led by 1,000-yard rushers Qualan Cain and Drey Hall. Each team also features a top-notch tandem at wideout — seniors Brady Mayo and Amari Jackson for Beaver, and senior Lloyd Penn and sophomore K-Shawn Hawkins for Westinghouse.

PUP ‘underdog’ to watch

Seton LaSalle (hosts North Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday)

Both Seton LaSalle (Class 2A) and North Catholic (Class 3A) are ranked No. 5 in their respective classifications, but this would qualify as at least a minor upset if the Rebels can pull it off after missing out on the playoffs in 2023. The Trojans have long been considered one of the WPIAL’s most consistent programs, and they should be right in the thick of the championship chase once again when the postseason comes around. But don’t be surprised if they start off on the losing end of a shootout against Seton LaSalle, especially if Rebels sophomore receiver Khalil Taylor puts on a show for his home crowd.