This week on the WPIAL Blitz Show, we recapped the action of Week 9 and went through all of the playoff qualifiers and matchups. This show is packed with information so enjoy! Below the video are timestamp links for when we talked about each classification, if you’d like to fast forward to see your class. If you’re into the history and storylines of the WPIAL playoffs, make sure to check out our “Playoff Primer” articles that will be posting this week.
6A Playoff Preview – 15:00 mark
5A Playoff Preview – 24:02 mark
4A Playoff Preview – 41:20 mark
3A Playoff Preview – 53:54 mark
2A Playoff Preview – 1:04:14 mark
1A Playoff Preview – 1:16:16 mark
Brute Athletic Player of the Week – Davoun Fuse (QB-Washington)
This week’s Brute Athletic Player of the Week is Davoun Fuse of Washington. In a back-and-forth game against McGuffey, with the conference title on the line, Fuse accounted for over 300 yards of total offense, threw 4 touchdown passes and ran for 2 more scores. In thrilling fashion, McGuffey scored what looked like the go-ahead TD and 2-point conversion with 20 seconds left to take a 34-33 lead. Not to be outdone, Fuse took matters into his own hands, engineering a 2-play 52-yard game-winning drive in the final 20 seconds. Check it out, it’s incredible:
Game winning Drive with 20 seconds left @CoachMakrinos @Cover3_ATH @vkehres @RickyCicconeUT @MaxPreps pic.twitter.com/ntrwjlSdP7
— Davoun Fuse🦋✨ (@davoun_fuse) November 1, 2021
Honorable Mentions
Other top performers this week included Sam Miller of Peters Twp who threw for 289 yards and 4 TDs and added a rushing score in a win-and-get-in game for the Indians. In the battle for the Big Eight Conference Title, Devin Whitlock was once again the shining star, returning a punt for a touchdown to get the scoring started, then throwing 2 TD passes and running for 2 more to finish the night with 5 scores in a dominant victory over McKeesport. North Catholic QB Joey Prentice tore up Derry’s defense with 6 total touchdowns – 5 through the air and 1 on the ground. Upper St Clair’s Mateo Cepullio accounted for all 3 of the Panthers scores with a rushing touchdown, throwing a touchdown pass, then scooping up a field goal blocked by Ethan Hiester (for the second week in a row!) and returning it for a game-winning touchdown.
Career Accomplishments
Last week we mentioned Carmichaels QB Trenton Carter became the 12th player in WPIAL history to pass for 1000 yards and rush for 1000 yards in the same regular season. This week, Laurel Highlands’ Rodney Gallagher became the 13th member of the 1000/1000 club. Gallagher came into the night needing 163 rushing yards and surpassed that mark in the first half against Uniontown.
A night of milestones!
Tonight, @Rodney_G3 became the 13th player in #WPIAL history to join the 1000/1000 Club (1000 passing yds/1000 rushing yards) and also broke the single season touchdown record at Laurel Highlands with 33 total touchdowns this season! pic.twitter.com/F3RIo5bvNn
— LH Mustang Football (@LHMustangFB) October 30, 2021
Streaks Are Broken
All season we’ve been talking about Leechburg‘s quest to end the longest active playoff drought in the WPIAL (32 years). Last week the Blue Devils clinched their spot in the postseason and ended the drought. This week, both Burrell and South Allegheny qualified for the playoffs in 3A, ending 8-year playoff droughts and making the postseason for the first time since 2012. On the flip side, two long playoff appearance streaks came to an end. Mars had made the playoffs every year since 2005 but saw their 16-year playoff streak come to an end with a loss to Hampton. South Fayette‘s run of 12 straight playoff appearances came to an end as well.
Where to Find Us
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