The weather once again impacted several games across Western Pennsylvania last week. Some games were outright suspended while others postponed until Saturday morning. West Allegheny had their game suspended for the second week in a row, meaning the Indians have yet to complete a game this season. The WPIAL did provide clarification on the “suspended” games – schools can choose to reschedule or restart them at a later point in the season, prior to the conclusion of Week 9, if they choose. Additionally, schools can decide whether stats from those partial games will count towards a player’s season and career totals. A week after Fox Chapel ended their 22-game losing streak, Ringgold ended their victory drought at 27 games with a 21-19 win over Yough. This week kicks off conference play for conferences with 7 or 8 teams. The only classification with all 6-team conferences is 4A, which won’t start conference play until Week 5. From here on out, the race for the playoffs is on.
On this week’s edition of the WPIAL Blitz Show, we debuted our WPIAL and PIAA Power Rankings as well as discussing all of the big games around Western Pennsylvania. Our Week 2 Player of the Week award was shared between three players who all put up SIX touchdowns. I wasn’t going to try to decide which 6 TD performance was better, so we recognized West Mifflin RB Armand Hill, Jefferson-Morgan QB Houston Guseman, and Monessen RB TyVaughn Kershaw. Hill ran for 171 yards and 6 TDs in the Titans win over Baldwin. Guseman had 185 passing yards and 4 TDs along with 95 rushing yards and 2 more scores. Kershaw scored three different ways – 149 rushing yards and 3 TDs, 88 receiving yards and 2 TDs, and a pick-six on defense.
6A Game of the Week
Seneca Valley (0-2) at Norwin (2-1)
North Allegheny and Central Catholic are once again the presumed favorites in 6A. However, with the top four teams getting into the playoffs, the race for the other two spots is wide open. Seneca Valley narrowly missed the playoffs the last two years. Norwin moved up from 5A to 6A this cycle and enters conference play as the only team other than North Allegheny with a winning record. Seneca Valley has stumbled a bit out of the gate, getting blown out by Bethel Park and losing in a tight defensive struggle with North Hills. The Raiders have relied heavily on dual-threat QB Andrew Loebig who has accounted for all 3 of their TDs. Loebig has over 100 rushing and passing yards, with 2 rushing TDs and a passing TD to Jayden Price. Chase Mazanek and Cayden Parker have both averaged over 4 yards per carry on the ground for Seneca Valley. Price and Parker both have offers from MAC schools while TE/DE Adam Gehm has offers from several Big Ten and ACC schools. Norwin also has a dual-threat QB in Tristyn Tavares who has thrown for 589 yards and 3 TD and run for 182 yards and 5 TDs. Joining Tavares in the backfield is Jake Sincak who has put up 173 rushing yards and 2 scores and added 75 receiving yards. On the outside, Norwin’s big playmaker has been Jake Knight (220 yards, 2 TDs).
5A Game of the Week
North Hills (3-0) at Pine-Richland (2-0)
Two undefeated teams square off for the right to take an early lead in the conference title race. North Hills has done it with defense so far this season, holding opponents to just over 7 points per game. Last week, the Indians stormed back from a 17-7 deficit to beat Mars 21-17. North Hills’ balanced offensive attack has been led by the duo of QB Kelly McCarthy (282 yards, 3 TDs) and RB Jack Martin (200 yards, 1 TD). The Indians also have complementary playmakers in WR Josiah Mathis (165 yards, 2 TDs) and RB Julius Green (77 yards, 2 TDs) who each have a pair of touchdowns. Pine-Richland’s game against Seneca Valley was cancelled last week due to weather. The Rams have played two tough opponents so far – Hilliard Davidson from Ohio and Central Catholic who they defeated in a 22-17 battle. The Rams have found their next feature back in Maclane Miller who has rumbled for 299 yards and 4 TDs. Miller has complemented sophomore QB Aaron “Oobi” Strader who has thrown for 276 yards and 1 TD and run for 76 yards and another score. The X factor in this game could be the two-way matchup for WR/CB Jay Timmons (son of Lawrence Timmons) who leads the Rams with 117 receiving yards and 1 TD and is also a lockdown corner.
4A Games of the Week
Belle Vernon (1-0) at McKeesport (0-3)
Former Big Seven Conference foes square off in a non-conference game in 4A. The WPIAL schedule makers did not do McKeesport any favors this season. The Tigers are 0-3 with two losses coming in overtime (to Lake (OH) and Thomas Jefferson). After this game against the two-time defending 3A State Champs, McKeesport has to face Upper St Clair before conference play kicks off in Week 5. For Belle Vernon, they finally got their first game in after their highly-anticipated showdown with Aliquippa was suspended due to rain. Belle Vernon topped Central Valley last week 23-17. Curtis Wade has stepped in at quarterback for Belle Vernon and had over 60 yards through the air and on the ground last week. Kole Doppelheuer also had over 60 yards on the ground while Anthony Crews did a little bit of everything – including scoring the decisive touchdown in the fourth quarter. McKeesport’s triple-option attack has enabled them to get out to leads twice this season but they need to find more consistency later in games to put teams away. Kemon Spell (5 TDs) and Anthony Boyd (2 TDs) lead the way in the Tigers backfield. Brady Eastman has used his arm as well as his legs this season, being forced to throw the ball more than is typical for a McKeesport team.
Mars (1-2) at Aliquippa (1-0)
A rematch of last year’s 4A Semifinal which Aliquippa won en route to claiming their 3rd straight WPIAL title. Mars’ only win this season came in Week 0 over Boone (FL). Aliquippa got off to a bit of a slow start against Avonworth but turned it on in a big way to run away with a 46-20 victory. Mars’ offensive attack has undergone a complete rebuild under Coach Kasperowicz in the last two years, installing a downfield passing attack. Luke Goodworth (687 yards, 8 TDs) is one of the top quarterbacks in the WPIAL and has a dangerous tandem on the outside in Gabe Hein (403 yards, 4 TDs) and Mason Childress (211 yards, 4 TDs). On the ground, Eric Kasperowicz Jr has run for 258 yards and 3 TDs. Mars’ offensive firepower is not in question, but they will need to tighten up a defense that is allowing 35 points per game. The Plantes defense will have a tall task against Penn State-commit Tikey Hayes who ran for 168 yards and 3 TDs in the Quips season opener. Sophomore Sa’Nir Brooks played the role of change-of-pace back, racking up 100 yards and a score. Marques Council didn’t have to throw much, but did hook up with Arison Walker for a touchdown. The Quips secondary with Walker, Brooks, and Larry Moon III (who has offers from every major D1 school) should be a great matchup against the Mars receiving corps.
3A Game of the Week
Freeport (2-1) at Deer Lakes (3-0)
Last year these two met in Week 9 last year with significant playoff implications – Freeport could have forced a 3-way tie for the final playoff spot. But Deer Lakes won handily (35-0), spring-boarding the Lancers into the postseason where they won their first playoff game in school history. Despite graduating their dual-threat quarterback, Deer Lakes has stormed out of the gate with decisive wins over Keystone Oaks, South Park, and Derry to the tune of 32 points per game. After missing the playoffs last year, Freeport is off to a decent start with wins over Indiana and Quaker Valley, but do have a loss to Derry. . Freeport has a balanced offensive attack between QB Drew Ross (304 yards, 1 TD, 3 rushing TDs) and leading rusher Amos Glenn (287 yards, 3 TDs). Deer Lakes has replaced record-setting QB Derek Burk with Jake Fleisher who has thrown for 411 yards and 4 TDs and run for 189 yards and 2 scores. Zier Williams (301 yards, 8 TDs) has been the workhorse back while WR Zach Grant (228 yards, 3 TDs) has been the primary target in the passing game. This game could have significant playoff implications as these teams are expected to be right in contention for the top three in the Allegheny Seven Conference
2A Game of the Week
Steel Valley (1-2) at South Park (2-1)
The two preseason favorites in the Allegheny Conference square off at the start of conference play. Steel Valley reached the 2A finals last season while South Park moved down from 3A to 2A. Steel Valley relies heavily on RB Donald Barksdale for their offense. He was one of the top rushers in the WPIAL last year and has put up 362 yards and 4 TDs this year, along with a pick-six against Clairton. South Park also relies heavily on their rushing attack. Eric Doerue (338 yards, 5 TDs) leads the way in the Eagles backfield. Dual-threat QB Robert Lenzi has thrown for 175 yards and 2 TDs and added 246 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. Change-of-pace back Kenyan Brown has averaged over 8 yards per carry and scored twice.
Waynesburg (2-1) at Washington (2-1)
A good old rivalry game between the County Seats of Washington and Greene counties. Washington reached the 2A semis last year while Waynesburg broke through to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in a decade. The winner of this game will set themselves up as the primary challenger to Seton LaSalle (the only unbeaten team in the Century Conference). Waynesburg’s offense runs through dual-threat QB Jacob Stevenson who has thrown for 546 yards and 3 TDs and run for 360 yards and 8 scores. Other than Stevenson, Waynesburg’s primary offensive contributors have been the receiving duo of Jack Ricciuti (214 yards, 2 TDs) and Zachery Jiblits (123 yards). Wash High also has a dual-threat QB In Tristan Reed who has thrown for 233 yards and 2 TDs and run for 121 yards and 2 TDs. The Prexies have used a committee approach at running back with Trenton Grooms (144 yards, 1 TD), Cayden Cook (98 yards, 1 TD), Jahvon Woods (87 yards, 1 TD), and last year’s star Eddie Lewis all getting carries. Caleb Patton has led Wash High’s receivers with 185 yards and 2 TDs.
1A Game of the Week
GCC (1-1) at Clairton (3-0)
Saturday
These teams split the Eastern Conference title the last two seasons. Last year they both advanced in the playoffs with Clairton making it to the semifinals. Both teams are off to impressive starts early in the season and averaging over 40 points per game. But the most impressive unit in 1A has been Clairton’s defense which has not allowed a score all season. The only points against Clairton were on a pick-six by Steel Valley. The Bears have shut out Serra Catholic and Shady Side Academy the last two weeks. Clairton will have a tall task this week in slowing down GCC QB Samir Crosby who has thrown for 508 yards and 7 TDs and run for 451 yards and 8 TDs. Crosby is the centerpiece of the Centurions offensive attack and has a strong connection with WR Landon Honick (270 yards, 4 TDs). In addition to their stifling defense, Clairton has a balanced offensive attack led by QB Jeffrey Thompson (562 yards, 7 TDs). The Bears have playmakers all over the offense, starting with RB Drahcir Jones (297 yards, 3 TDs) and Swiss Army Knife Donte Wright (182 receiving yards, 133 rushing yards, 5 total TDs). On the outside, Taris Wooding (151 yards, 1 TD) and ZaeMear Correll (108 yards, 2 TDs) might be the most formidable receiving tandem in 1A.
Inter-Classification Game of the Week
Avonworth (1-1) at Thomas Jefferson (3-0)
Week Three gives us an amazing non-conference game between title contenders in their respective classifications. Avonworth reached the last two WPIAL title games in 3A but fell to Belle Vernon both times. Thomas Jefferson is always a strong contender in 4A and is off to a blazing start this year. Both teams are centered around star quarterbacks and power rushing attacks. Avonworth’s offense is led by QB Carson Bellinger (345 yards, 2 TDs). Bellinger has spread the ball around, but his favorite target is Luca Neal (127 yards). Out of the backfield, the Lopes will split carries between Bryce Metz (108 yards, 5 TDs) and Nico Neal (102 yards, 1 TD) who both average over 7 yards per carry. Avonworth’s success on the ground is a feather in the cap of their strong offensive line play, led by D1 recruits Nikolas Engelmore and Peter Bonnet. This game should be an all-out war in the trenches as the Lopes line battles the Jaguars unit led by Pitt-commit Shep Turk. Under center for the Jaguars, Cincinnati baseball-commit Luke Kosko has thrown for 332 yards and 4 TDs and scored the game-winning TD in overtime against McKeesport last week. Kosko’s backfield counterpart Tyler Eber has shouldered the load for the Jaguars rushing attack, racking up 402 yards and 5 TDs.
