Mike Vukovcan Bridgeville- For the first time since receiving the No. 1 ranking in Class 3A, the Hopewell Vikings took the field last night as they traveled to take on Chartiers Valley (Class 4A).
For the second straight game, the main story line was Hopewell’s 3-Headed Monster of quarterback James Armstrong, running back Nasir Wade and wide receiver Avery Bokor.
Attempting to contain just one of them is difficult itself but to contain and slow down all 3 of them along with the other offensive weapons Hopewell possesses will be very challenging for anyone.
That played out last night as Armstrong passed for 280 yards and 4 touchdown passes, while also rushing for 95 yards. Bokor is one of the top early stories in the WPIAL as he finished the night with 7 catches for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2 games, Bokor has 11 receptions for 266 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Wade once again had a very productive night as he rushed 11 times for 84 yards and a TD, while also catching 3 passes for 53 yards and a TD.
Defensively, linebacker Brody Rock was very difficult for Chartiers Valley to block as he finished the game with 3 sacks along with a couple of tackles for loss, and senior defensive end Aris Haniotes did his job by pressuring the quarterback and collecting a sack.
It wasn’t the cleanest game for Hopewell, and they’ll be a number of things for the coaches to go over with the players but in the end, Hopewell is 2-0 to start the 2026 season.
HOPEWELL/CHARTIERS VALLEY GAME SUMMARY:
1ST QUARTER:
*Chartiers Valley received the opening kick and after a couple of first downs, the Vikings defensive line came up with a big stop on 3rd and 1, which forced a CV punt, which only went for 6 yards.
*On Hopewell’s first drive, they faced a 4th and 6 from inside Chartiers Valley territory and went for it and converted it as Armstrong sprinted 7 yards for a 1st down. A couple plays later, Armstrong hooked up with Bokor for the first of their 3 TDs on the evening. Bokor went up and over the defender to pull in an incredible catch. Hopewell led 7-0.
*Chartiers Valley responded on the very next drive as they scored on an 18-yard TD run. The Hopewell coaches won’t be happy with this drive in general as there were a number of missed tackles. Game was now tied at 7.
*Hopewell’s 2nd Drive: Hopewell took over on like they did on drive one, the Vikings found the endzone again. The drive started with a 9-yard run by Wade. Following an 11-yard pass to Bokor and a 17-yard pass to junior wide receiver Tre Cameron, Hopewell scored TD No. 2. Following a sack on 3rd down, Hopewell faced 4th and Goal from the 18-yard line. Instead of attempting a field goal, HC Matt Mottes decided to go for it, and it worked as Armstrong fired an 18-yard slant pass to Bokor for TD No. 2. The pass was an absolute dart across the middle of the endzone. Hopewell led 14-7.
*Chartiers Valley’s 3rd drive was a 3-and-out as the Viking defenders got after the quarterback. Rock finished with 2 sacks on the drive.
*Hopewell’s 3rd Drive: On the first play of the drive, Hopewell appeared to have scored a TD on a 60-yard screen pass to Wade but the play was called back with a holding penalty. However, that call just delayed the inevitable. Key plays of the drive, on 3rd and 16, Armstrong ran for 15 yards and then on 4th and 1, Boo muscled his way for 3 yards to pick up the Hopewell first down. A couple plays later; Wade found the endzone as he zigzagged his way for a 40-yard TD run. Hopewell led 21-7.
2ND QUARTER:
*Chartiers Valley responded as they drove the field and scored on a 17-yard TD. A big play on this drive was CV converting a 4th and 8.  Hopewell led 21-14.
*On the ensuing kickoff, junior Brian Olden returned the kickoff to midfield to give Hopewell excellent starting position. Following a 15-yard run by Wade, the drive ended with Armstrong firing a slant pass to Wade, who was split out as a wide receiver. Hopewell led 28-14.
*The Hopewell defense once again forced a punt with the big play being a sack by Rock and Haniotes.
*Hopewell got the ball back with a 1:05 left in the half and looked as though they were going to score points, but time ran out as Armstrong was tackled at the Chartiers Valley 2-yard line.
HALFTIME: HOPEWELL 28 CHARTIERS VALLEY 14
3RD QUARTER:
*No scoring took place in the 3rd quarter although both teams had opportunities and were ultimately stopped on downs or penalties.
4TH QUARTER:
*Huge moment in the game, midway through the 4th quarter, Chartiers Valley was driving inside Hopewell’s 20-yard line and appeared to be cutting this to a one-score game, however the Hopewell defensive forced a fumble and recovered it. Huge moment.
*Right after that play, the Hopewell offense put the game on ice. On 3rd and 6, Armstrong ran for 7 yards. Then on 3rd and 11, Armstrong connected with Bokor on a slant pattern. Rock was the dominant ball carrier in this drive as he had runs of 17+yards and 10+ yards. Then on 3rd and 11, Armstrong connected with Bokor for their 3rd touchdown of the game as he found him all alone in the corner of the endzone. Hopewell led 35-14.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 35 CHARTIERS VALLEY 20
NEXT UP: Road game at Imani Christian.
