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Gateway’s Justin King
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review
Kevin Gorman is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-320-7812 or via e-mail.
They haven't shared the same field, however, since they were midget-football teammates on the Kingsley Knights. That will change on Friday, where Jarvis leads top-ranked Central Catholic at King and the No. 2 Gateway in a highly anticipated season opener.
"There's going to be a lot of hype for this game," Jarvis said. "It's going to showcase a lot of talent."
Aside from their tantalizing tailbacks, the teams go tit-for-tat with players and young, ebullient head coaches who have revitalized programs that were mired in misery when they last met in November 1998.
All eyes, though, will be on Jarvis and King.
They are arguably the best running backs in the WPIAL and unquestionably the most exciting. Despite their differences, they share the common trait of finding the end zone with an alarming frequency.
The 6-foot, 185-pound King is regarded as one of the nation's top 10 players. He was the WPIAL's second-leading rusher, going for 1,763 yards and 29 touchdowns on 213 carries (8.2 yards per) in leading Gateway to the Class AAAA quarterfinals.
With sub-4.3-second speed in the 40-yard dash and the vision to find the tiniest crease, King can turn any play into a sprint for the end zone.
"It's a combination of speed and the ability to make full-speed cuts," Central coach Art Walker Jr. said. "If you give him the edge and he gets his shoulder square, good luck finding an angle because it seems like the angle disappears. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball."
The 5-6, 165-pound Jarvis finished fifth in the WPIAL with 1,681 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on 223 carries (7.5 yards per) while guiding Central to its first WPIAL Quad-A title and the PIAA final.
Jarvis uses his size not as an excuse but an advantage. He hides behind blockers, bounces into the open and flashes fancy footwork on his way to pay dirt.
"We're not trying to stop him with one guy," Gateway senior linebacker Mike Barlak said. "He's so shifty that he can make one person miss. If we can get one person to make him cut, we should have another be there to make the play on the cutback."
It's not that simple. Jarvis has made even the best defenders look foolish with his ability to stop on a dime, change direction and take off at full speed.
"He can make anyone miss in a phone booth," Gateway coach Terry Smith said. "You have to account for him on every play. When you've got a team doing that, you know that kid is special."
What makes this game special?
The teams start the season atop the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review WPIAL Class AAAA rankings, and Central has cracked several national polls.
"They're definitely up," Smith said of his Gators. "They understand this is the No. 1 team in the state, the defending WPIAL champion. We have nothing to lose. They're the champs. They have all the rankings. The pressure is on them."
Both play in the inaugural Pennsylvania Kickoff Classic at Gateway next weekend. Central plays St. Joseph's Prep of Philadelphia, which has a 35-game winning streak. Gateway follows by facing rival Woodland Hills.
After winning the first WPIAL title in school history, the Vikings are looking forward to the challenge. They return a talented cast, with Jarvis joined in the backfield by senior quarterback Shane Murray, who completed 86 of 184 passes for 1,308 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Under Murray, Central expects to diversify its offense.
"Shane Murray is probably one of the top two quarterbacks in the WPIAL," Smith said. "He's their leader. He has a nice, strong arm and he can run."
Gateway returns nine starters on defense, including the nation's top-rated defensive back in King and hard-hitting linebackers Barlak and Dan Loheyde.
"We're going to rely on our defense," Smith said. "Our defense has to keep us close in order for us to win. Hopefully, we can contain Jarvis or minimize his big plays. We want to make them earn their points. If they hit the big one, we're going to be in for a long night."
Although Gateway is ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL, the Gators are relishing their chance to play the spoiler.
"We do like the underdog role," King said. "We're going out there like we have nothing to lose. We'll play our hearts out and try to win."
Not only does it promise to settle which is the better team but, perhaps, which has the better back.
"We'll find out," Jarvis said, "after the game."
| Central Catholic at Gateway |
Key matchups
Skill players: The top RBs in the WPIAL are on display, with Central scat back Eugene Jarvis and Gateway's speedy Justin King. Central's Shane Murray (1,308 yards, 11 TDs) gets the edge over unproven Gateway junior Aaron Smith at QB. The Vikings feature WRs Charlie Totten and Antonio Colaizzi, but star TE John Pelusi (hip) is out indefinitely. The Gators will surprise with their passing to WRs Justin Colbaugh and John Ditto and TE Loran Sekely.
Advantage: Even
Offensive line: Central has a Division I prospect in C Jon Herrman (6-31/2, 270), but its effectiveness could depend upon the play of undersized LT Graham Rihn, a converted TE. Gateway lost several mammoth starters and features a smaller, quicker line led by RT Matt Houy (6-2, 272) and LT Chris Hanna (6-4, 295).
Advantage: Central
Defense: The strength of both teams is at LB. Central is sparked by Bobby Helt, who missed last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and has a rising star in junior Nate Williams. Gateway is led by D-I prospects Mike Barlak (6-2, 221) and Dan Loheyde (6-2, 220). The Gators return nine starters, including the nation's top CB in King. The Vikings return stellar players in Colaizzi at CB and Murray at FS. The play of Central sophomore Stefan Wisniewski (6-3, 235), the son of former Penn State and NFL lineman Leo and a South Fayette transfer, could be pivotal up front.
Advantage: Gateway
| Game of the Week breakdown |
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Gateway High School
Last meeting: Central 28, Gateway 6 (Nov. 6, 1998)
Keys to the game: With game-breaking RBs in Central's Jarvis and Gateway's King, neither team can afford to allow big plays, whether it's by run, pass or kick return. The Gators must find a way to contain both Jarvis and Murray, who is a threat to run or pass. Aaron Smith must complete some passes early to prevent the Vikings from loading up to stop King. With a young offense, Gateway's defense needs to keep the game close to have a chance.
Notable: Gateway will have a ceremony to honor legendary coach Walter "Pete" Antimarino -- who led the Gators to WPIAL titles in 1969, '72, '74, '85 and '86 -- by renaming its football stadium in his honor.
Prediction: Central 28, Gateway 20
