Last week, the headline game was the offensive explosion between Beaver and Keystone Oaks that went down at Dormont Stadium. Beaver triumphed by a 77-49 margin, which was the most points scored in a WPIAL game since the 1920s. Keystone Oaks QB Alex Smith set a WPIAL record with 653 yards from scrimmage – throwing for 450 and rushing for 203 while Beaver QB Darius Wise rushed for 405 yards and 6 TDs while throwing for 93 yards and another touchdown. In other 3A news, Apollo-Ridge RB Duane Brown returned from an ACL tear he suffered earlier this year and scored 5 touchdowns to lead the Vikings past Burrell and put them right back in the playoff hunt. In the Interstate Conference, McGuffy was soundly defeated by Elizabeth Forward a week after they beat Mt Pleasant, which left 4-0 Derry atop the conference standings. In the 6A Game of the Week, Bethel Park gave Pine-Richland all they could handle and it wasn’t until a late touchdown run by Phil Jurkovec that the Rams took the lead and hung on to win. In last week’s 5A Game of the Week, Franklin Regional became the first team to stifle Armstrong’s Zane Dudek this season as the Panthers defense rose to the occasion and carried them to a 24-20 victory. As we enter the second half of the WPIAL season, the playoff picture will start to come together. Tonight, 8 teams are capable of clinching playoff spots.
If you’re going to be following along at home tonight, keep an eye on the following hashtags on Twitter where people post score updates from games: #WPIAL #MSAscores #Skylights
Also, if you’re not already, follow the @MSAsports twitter account which will post score updates and bookmark the MSA Scoreboard for quick reference at the end of the night. They get the final scores up faster than anyone. Also, MSA Sports broadcasts most games over the internet, here is their list of the games they will be broadcasting tonight.
I’ll update my WPIAL Standings Page at the end of the night. It’s the only one available that includes all playoff tiebreakers (Gardner Points, WPIAL Points Tiebreaker and Head-to-Head wins). Since Class 3A and 1A have special rules for their Wild Card tiebreakers that count games outside of conference play, I also added pages to track the 3A Wild Card Standings and 1A Wild Card Standings. Class 2A also uses a Wild Card system, but only conference games count in the Wild Card standings, so no additional trackers were necessary as all the information would be the same as what appears on the regular Standings Page.
6A Game of the Week
Pine-Richland (2-0, 4-0) at Central Catholic (3-0, 4-0)
(at Highmark Stadium)
Highmark Stadium is absolutely the place to be on Friday night. This may very well be a preview of the 6A Championship Game. Both teams enter the game undefeated in WPIAL play (though both lost Week 0 games to non-WPIAL opponents). Central Catholic already has a dominant win over North Allegheny, and a victory over Pine-Richland would put the Vikings in the drivers seat for the conference title and the top seed in the 6A playoffs. Central Catholic is driven by their offensive line, which may very well be the best line in WPIAL history, featuring 5 D1 recruits. Junior QB Troy Fisher has thrown for 462 yards and 7 TDs while rushing for 174 yards and 4 TDs. The line has cleared the way for JJ Younger (283 yards, 8 TDs) while Justice Evans has been a playmaker all over the field, leading the team with 340 receiving yards and adding 93 rushing yards on just 4 carries and finding the end zone 8 times. On defense, the Vikings are also loaded with Division 1 talent as defensive tackle Kurt Hinish and linebacker David Adams are both Notre Dame commits. Linebackers Shane Ferrick and Timothy Terry also have offers from D1 schools. This will be Central’s biggest test of the year as they face Pine-Richland dual-threat QB Phil Jurkovec (who has also committed to Notre Dame). Jurkovec has thrown for 1323 yards and 10 TDs this season while adding 370 yards and 6 TDs on the ground. Running back Jordan Crawford leads the team in rushing (402 yards) and is one of Jurkovec’s favorite targets with 283 receiving yards and has scored 9 times. Ray Falcone (406 yards, 5 TDs) is the Rams leading receiver while Jason Defrancisis (289 yards) and Tyler Kind (148 yards) are both averaging over 15 yards per reception. These are absolutely the top teams in 6A this season as they both have victories over the teams at the top of the Southeastern Conference. The next time they meet will likely be at Heinz Field.
Honorable Mentions: Mt Lebanon at North Allegheny, Penn Hills at Seneca Valley, Hempfield at Bethel Park
Playoff Scenarios
– Central Catholic clinches a playoff spot with a win over Pine-Richland AND a Seneca Valley loss
5A Game of the Week
Kiski (4-0, 4-0) at West Allegheny (4-0, 4-0)
Kiski and West Allegheny enter the midpoint of the season with unblemished records in WPIAL play. West Allegheny has reached this point thanks to a stout defense that has held opponents under a touchdown per game and is coming off two consecutive shutouts of Chartiers Valey and Baldwin. West A’s offense has not been overwhelming this season, averaging just 26 points per game. Senior QB Nick Ross has thrown for 741 yards and 4 TDs, spreading the ball around to Mateo Vandamia (205 yards), Joey Diven (142 yards, 2 TDs), and Brandon Lipford (119 yards, 3 TDs). Junior RB Kenny White has been the workhorse, rushing for 265 yards and 3 TDs. West Allegheny’s defense will be tested by Kiski’s offense, which is built around its strong running game. The Cavaliers have leaned on junior RB Ross Greece (697 yards, 13 TDs) this season while Jon Bracy (173 yards, 2 TDs) and Drew DiNunzio-Biss (130 yards, 3 TDs) have run well in supporting roles. Their strong running game has allowed Kiski to take some pressure off of freshman QB Bryson Venanzio, who has thrown for 409 yards and 1 TD.
Honorable Mentions: Upper St Clair at Chartiers Valley, Penn-Trafford at Gateway
Playoff Scenarios:
– Upper St Clair clinches a playoff spot with a win over Chartiers Valley AND losses by Moon and Hampton
4A Game of the Week
Thomas Jefferson (4-0, 4-0) at Ringgold (3-1, 3-1)
Last week’s slate of 4A games left a little to be desired, but this week features three high quality matchups. The top four teams in the Northwest Nine face off as Mars travels to New Castle while South Fayette takes on Blackhawk (whose 3 wins this season equal their total from the last two years combined). The Big Nine Conference, more than any other in the WPIAL, has segregated itself between the contenders and the rest. There is a definitive line between the top four teams and the other five. Thomas Jefferson, the defending AAA Champions, started their championship campaign last season by blowing a 20-7 fourth quarter lead to Ringgold. The Jaguars look like the team to beat in 4A this season with the top scoring offense at over 55 points per game and the top defense, allowing just 14 points in 4 outings. TJ has been dominant on the ground with Quinton Hill (336 yards, 8 TDs) and Justin Vigna (286 yards, 5 TDs) leading the way. Senior QB Bobby Kelly has attempted fewer than 7 passes per game, but has thrown for 448 yards and 11 TDs. The star for the Jaguars has been senior Zane Zandier who leads the team with 348 recieving yards and has added 41 rushing yards and scored 10 times. Ringgold features a balanced offensive attack with senior QB George Martin throwing for 599 yards and 7 TDs. Three of his receivers (Dalton Holt, Max Maciejewski, and Easton Fine) are all over 150 receiving yards on the season and are averaging more than 13 yards per catch. Junior RB Brenden Small has rushed for 495 yards and 6 TDs.
Honorable Mentions: Mars at New Castle, South Fayette at Blackhawk
Playoff Scenarios
– Thomas Jefferson clinches a playoff spot with a win over Ringgold AND a Trinity loss
3A Game of the Week
Beaver (2-0, 4-0) at Central Valley (2-0, 4-0)
Buckle up. The last five weeks of the season are going to be a wild ride in the Beaver Valley Conference. At the halfway point, Beaver and Central Valley are 2-0 while Hopewell is 1-0, Aliquippa is 2-1, and Beaver Falls is 1-1. The only head-to-head games between those five teams to date have been Aliquippa’s defeat of Beaver Falls and Beaver’s surprising upset of Aliquippa. Only the top two teams will be guaranteed a playoff spot with the third place team having to take their chances in the Wild Card. Beaver has been absolutely rolling behind QB Darius Wise who has rushed for 909 yards and 15 TDs while throwing for 326 yards and 3 TDs this season. Wise scored all 4 TDs in the Week 2 upset of Aliquippa then rushed for 403 yards and 6 TDs (and threw for one more) in last week’s shootout with Keystone Oaks. This will be a matchup of strength on strength as Beaver has the top scoring offense in 3A while Central Valley has the second-best defense. The Warriors also have a dual-threat QB in Nico Battisti who has thrown for 476 yards and 6 TDs and rushed for 228 yards and 4 TDs. Junior RB Danny Santia has been the focal point of the offense, rushing for 298 yards and 8 TDs. On the outside, Anthony Mendocino (191 yards, 1 TD) has been the most reliable target while Cameron Drake (287 yards, 3 TDs) has been a big play threat.
Honorable Mentions: Elizabeth Forward at Mount Pleasant, Burrell at Freeport, Apollo-Ridge at Seton-La Salle (Saturday)
2A Game of the Week
Avonworth (2-2, 2-2) at CWNC (2-1, 2-2)
(at Mars)
It’s Rivalry Week. Even though Avonworth and CWNC no longer play in the same conference, there is still a strong rivalry stretching back over a number of years of tight conference games in Single-A. Avonworth knocked North Catholic from the playoffs a number of times while North Catholic beat Avonworth en route to their State Title in 2013. Both teams enter with 2-2 records and a number of uncertainties. North Catholic was blown out in their two losses (to Neshannock and Central Valley) but smoked Mohawk and New Brighton in their two victories. On the other hand, outside of Avonworth’s 50-point loss to Steel Valley, the rest of their games have been close. The Lopes have a 1-point win over Carlynton, a 5-point win over Serra Catholic, and an 8-point loss to Brentwood. Even though this is a non-conference game, this will be a good measuring stick for both games and continue the rivalry between the schools. Senior RB Mario Latronica leads the Trojans this year with 380 yards and 6 TDs. Junior QB Ryan Maziarz has thrown for 238 yards and rushed for 146 and 3 TDs. The Trojan defense will have to focus on stopping junior QB Garrett Day who led the Lopes to Heinz Field in 2014, upsetting the Trojans in the semifinals. Day has thrown for 437 yards and rushed for 344 and 8 TDs. Last week, Day split time at QB with sophomore Derek Johncour who threw for 3 TDs. Matt Crilly (252 yards, 3 TDs) and Brennan Neihardt (150 yards) have been the primary playmakers on the outside for the Lopes.
Honorable Mentions: Carlynton at East Allegheny, Neshannock at Laurel
Playoff Scenarios
– Riverside clinches a playoff spot with a win over Freedom AND a South Side Beaver loss
– Laurel clinches a playoff spot with a win over Neshannock AND a South Side Beaver loss
1A Game of the Week
Rochester (4-0, 4-0) at Northgate (4-0, 4-0)
The last two weeks have built up to this. At the beginning of the season I had pegged Sto-Rox, Northgate, and Rochester as the top three teams in the Big 7 Conference. Two weeks ago, Rochester beat Sto-Rox 27-0 then Northgate toppled the Vikings 40-7 last week. This leaves the Rams and the Flames alone atop the conference with 4-0 records. The winner will take a stranglehold on the race for the conference title. After missing the playoffs the last three seasons, Rochester appears to be back to their old form and has pitched shutouts in their last two games. Dual-threat QB Ian Kouba has thrown for 450 yards and 5 TDs and rushed for 367 yards and 10 TDs on the season. Junior RB Caleb Collins has been Kouba’s primary complement, rushing for 222 yards and leading the team with 128 receiving yards and scoring 4 times. Chris Hayes (152 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Mahlik Strozier (121 receiving yards, 3 TDs) have also contributed for the Rams. For Northgate, their surge to the top has been fueled by twin brothers Surron and Stefon Adams. Stefon has thrown for 673 yards and 4 TDs while rushing for 104 yards and 3 TDs. Surron leads the team in rushing with 372 yards and has 50 receiving yards and 9 total TDs. Mike Allen (472 yards, 6 TDs) leads the Flames in receiving while Kenny Azzarello (160 yards, 1 TD) and Anthony Barbarino (126 yards, 1 TD) are both averaging over 7 yards per carry.
Honorable Mentions: Jeannette at Bishop Canevin, Monessen at California, Clairton at Imani Christian (Saturday)
Playoff Scenarios
– Clairton clinches a playoff spot with a win over Imani AND a Riverview loss
– Jeannette clinches a playoff spot with a win over Bishop Canevin AND an Imani loss
– Carmichaels clinches a playoff spot with a win over Mapletown AND a loss by either Jefferson-Morgan or Monessen
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
