High school football Friday night: week zero

High school football is a big deal in Western Pennsylvania, which is why this year we’re going to as many games as we can. This week, we went to three games to document the action of opening week. Here are some of our photographers’ favorite scenes from the first week of Friday night football.

South Fayette cheerleaders rehearse backflips as players stretch and warm up before the season opener game between Upper St. Clair and South Fayette at South Fayette High School, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, in South Fayette. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Players from Mt. Lebanon head to the locker room before the start of the Mt. Lebanon at Gateway football game, Friday, August 23, 2019, at Gateway Senior High School in Monroeville. (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)
Upper St. Clair’s Nicolas Chimento and Brandon Coe respond to cheers from the student section after their team’s 27-13 victory over South Fayette in the season opener at South Fayette High School, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, in South Fayette. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)
Jaquan Thomas, running back on Gateway, raises the football after scoring a touchdown during the Mt. Lebanon at Gateway football game, Friday, August 23, 2019, at Gateway Senior High School in Monroeville. (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)
The Gateway marching band watches the game on the big screen during the Mt. Lebanon at Gateway football game, Friday, August 23, 2019, at Gateway Senior High School in Monroeville. (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)
Mt. Lebanon play versus Gateway as the sun begins to set during the first football game of the year, Friday, August 23, 2019, at Gateway Senior High School in Monroeville. (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)
Pine-Richland senior Ty Jenkins pumps up “The Mob” student section on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at Pine-Richland High School. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Penn Hills’ Jamie Tigner gets fired up before a game on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at Pine-Richland High School. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Pine-Richland prays in the locker room before playing against Penn Hills on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at Pine-Richland High School. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Upper St. Clair’s new head coach Mike Junko celebrates with his team after their 27-13 victory over South Fayette in the season opener at South Fayette High School, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, in South Fayette. (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette)