Watch Live: Steel Valley vs. South Park football live stream
SOUTH PARK TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) -- It's time for Friday night lights in western Pennsylvania!
Steel Valley and South Park are squaring off in tonight's Steelers High School Showcase Game of the Week as they're both kicking off conference play in the WPIAL's Class 2A Allegheny Conference.
There are multiple ways to watch the Steelers High School Showcase Game of the Week this season, including by watching the live player above and by tuning into KDKA+!
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight at Eagles Stadium in South Park.
South Park's 2-1 start to the season
Second year head coach Brian Abbey had the Eagles flying high a week ago, winning 42-6 against Keystone Oaks and heading into conference play with a 2-1 record.
It's been a ground and pound game for South Park to open the season. Through three games, running back Eric Doerue has rushed for 247 yards on 45 carries. Quarterback Robert Lenzi hasn't thrown the ball much, but has gained 165 yards on the ground on 23 carries.
During a live interview with the KDKA-TV Morning News, Abbey said his team is looking to grow from each week and getting back of track with a win last week was huge.
"They're a very talented team," Abbey said of South Park's opponent tonight. "They're very well coached. Our focus right now is kind of on ourselves and keeping on our areas of growth. We just want to win the game up front and try to control the ball. I think that's our formula for success, for sure."
Senior lineman Parker Cunningham says the team has been trying to prepare for this week like it's just another game, but added that he does feel the team is taking a little bit more seriously now that it's conference play.
The Barksdale brothers helping lead Steel Valley
Last year's runner-up in Class 2A comes into this week's game with a 1-2 record, but those two losses came against tough opponents.
Clairton gave the Ironmen a loss to open the season and last week, Steel Valley fell short in a 42-6 loss to a talented Bishop Canevin team.
Senior running back Donald Barksdale, who has numerous Division I offers including from Duquesne and Robert Morris, has rushed for 362 yards on 44 carries so far this year. He was a workhorse for Steel Valley last year when he ran for more than 2,000 yards.
Donald's not the only talented Barksdale for Steel Valley, though. Younger brother Da'Ron, a junior defensive back, has numerous Division I offers of his own. Pitt, West Virginia, and Temple are among the schools hoping to woo him.
The Steelers High School Showcase Game of the Week schedule
- 8/26 – Montour's defense leads Spartans to 24-14 win over Central Valley
- 8/30 -- Latrobe's top talent leads team to 32-18 win against Plum
- 9/6 -- Central Catholic gets first win of the season with mercy rule victory over Woodland Hills
- 9/13 -- Steel Valley vs. South Park
- 9/20 -- Aliquippa vs. Penn Hills
- 9/27 -- Peters Township vs. Upper St. Clair
- 10/4 -- Trinity vs. Thomas Jefferson
- 10/11 -- Fort Cherry vs. Bishop Canevin
- 10/18 -- North Catholic vs. Avonworth
- 10/25 -- South Fayette vs. Moon
