WPIAL Week 2 Games of the Week

The High School football season kicked off last week with Albert Gallatin snapping the longest losing streak in the WPIAL in style by smoking Derry 52-0. Aside from the Colonials victory, Week 1 went mostly according to script. News came out this week that Geibel Catholic will be forfeiting against Beth-Center after losing 81-0 to Frazier last week. Geibel forfeited the first two games of last season due to lack of players, and the Gators are short-handed this week as well. Hopefully for the Gator faithful down in Connellsville, they are able to get back on the field soon. The Shaler teachers went on strike this week, but there is typically a waiver of the attendance requirement in these kind of situations that allow the players to play. In some strike situations, the waiver only applies to players so the band and cheerleaders may not be in attendance when Shaler hosts Butler. Without further ado, here’s the games of the week.

Two traditional powerhouses meet on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference showdown in McKeesport. Woodland Hills lost their opener 10-6 to Upper St Clair, but make no mistake, the Wolverines are loaded with talent. Some publications listed Woody High as their preseason #1 Quad-A team in the state. McKeesport won a revenge game in week 1, avenging their loss to Hempfield in last year’s season opener. These are two talented teams that could meet again in the postseason.

Honorable Mentions: Bethel Park (1-0) at Mt Lebanon (0-1), Central Catholic (1-0) at North Hills (1-0)

I almost selected one of the Big Nine Conference matchups as the AAA Game of the Week, but I said from the outset that every week would boast a Parkway Conference matchup at least as good as any other game on the AAA slate until the TJ-West Mifflin showdown. This is true once again this week as Central Valley and Montour continue their budding rivalry. Since the merger of Center and Monaca school districts into Central Valley, the Warriors have been one of the most successful programs in AAA. The home team has lost each of the three regular season meetings between these schools. Central Valley beat Montour in Heinz Field to win the 2010 AAA title and Montour returned the favor in 2011, beating Central Valley in the semi-finals on the way to winning the WPIAL crown.

Honorable Mentions: Elizabeth Forward (1-0) at Thomas Jefferson (1-0), Belle Vernon (1-0) at West Mifflin (1-0)

The Centurions got off to a slow start after Shai McKenzie ran over, around and through their defense for 234 yards and 3 TDs. If GCC has designs on finishing in the top two of the conference, they needed to win one of their first two games. With a loss to Washington, they now have a tough game at Mt. Pleasant where they will face a red hot Vikings offense coming off a 33-13 win over Waynesburg. Unless GCC finds a way to shore up their run defense, it could be a big night for Viking RB Tyler Mellors who ran for 157 yards and 3 scores against Waynesburg.

Honorable Mentions: Burrell (1-0) at Valley (1-0), McGuffey (0-1) at Seton-La Salle (1-0)

Both schools got off to an easy start in Black Hills Conference play last week, cruising to victory over two of the weaker teams in the conference. The two schools have a history of encounters stemming from a basketball game last year which resulted in the involvement of the NAACP, special student assemblies,  and even a special WPIAL investigation. This week, the two square off with the pecking order in the Black Hills Conference at stake. While Clairton remains the kings in the castle, the winner here will be the clear #2 and present the greatest challenge to Clairton’s reign.

Honorable Mentions: Laurel (1-0) at Neshannock (1-0), Springdale (0-1) at North Catholic (1-0), Carmichaels (1-0) at Frazier (1-0)