Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mailPicking Week 10 of H.S. football season
LAST WEEK: 35-7
SEASON: 289-69, .807
You've seen this act many times in the past, but that doesn't make it any less exciting.
The WPIAL will begin its four-week football tournament Friday night with 32 games � eight in each of the AAAA, AAA, AA and A classifications.
It's interesting to note that 45 of the 64 teams in the field also qualified last year. Of the 19, which have spent at least one season out of the playoffs, 15 are seeded 10th or lower.
In Class A, 13 of the 16 teams are making repeat trips; it's 12 of 16 in AAAA. It will be interesting to see how long the top newcomers � Class AA No. 2 Mt. Pleasant and Class A No. 2 Laurel, Class AA No. 1 South Fayette and Class AAA No. 4 West Allegheny � remain alive.
There is little parity in the WPIAL, even with more than half of the teams (64 of 123) qualifying for the playoffs.
It would be no shock to see more than half of the teams that played in Heinz Field last year return for the championship games Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Gateway, Bethel Park, Thomas Jefferson, Beaver Falls, Aliquippa and Clairton are the strongest candidates to make a repeat trip.
THURSDAY
No. 4 Perry (7-2) vs. vs. No. 1 Oliver (7-1): The City League has playoffs this week, too, and these North Side rivals kick off the three-game tournament at Cupples Stadium. Oliver defeated Perry, 12-6, on Oct. 2 to start a four-game winning streak that brought it a No. 1 playoff seed. No. 4 Perry, though, led the City League in fewest points allowed (50 in eight games). Look for an overtime or two. Oliver, 14-13
FRIDAY
No. 3. Brashear (7-2) vs. No. 2 Schenley (7-1): Brashear and Perry are the only City teams with more than 200 points scored. Brashear totaled 253. These teams played Sept. 18, and Brashear won, 36-6. Have things changed that much in the City League in nearly two months? Doubtful. Brashear, 22-14
No. 9 Penn Hills (4-5) at No. 8 Upper St. Clair (6-3): The 8/9 games usually are the most intriguing in a 16-team tournament, and this looks like a tough game to pick. Penn Hills has great talent, but it is 1-5 against the playoff teams on its schedule. Upper St. Clair had 3-0, 1-3 and 2-0 stretches. The winner gets Class AAAA No. 1 Gateway, so it's a short visit to paradise. Upper St. Clair, 28-21
No. 11 Mt. Lebanon (5-4) at No. 6 Shaler (8-1): It's a bit of a disappointment that the WPIAL football committee put coach Neil Gordon's current team (Shaler) on the opposite side of the AAAA bracket from his former team (Penn Hills). But coaching against a school, community and kids that he still respects would have been difficult for Gordon. Trying to beat Mt. Lebanon twice in the same season is tough enough. Shaler, 21-20
No. 9 Montour (5-4) at No. 8 Franklin Regional (7-2): This game features two of the best Class AAA running backs not named Shell or Caputo. Phil Peckich of Montour and Chad Bowman of Franklin Regional are tough and shifty. It's difficult to pick a survivor here, so the lean is to the home team. Franklin Regional, 14-12
No. 12 Sto-Rox (7-2) at No. 5 Shady Side Academy (8-1): Before Sto-Rox quarterback Paul Jones broke his ankle in the summer, no one would have envisioned his team as a No. 12 seed in Class AA. Jones has returned and is playing well, but there are a lot of good teams in AA. Even if Jones never got hurt, the Vikings may have been a 12. Shady Side running back Brian Nickel will be the difference. Shady Side Academy, 21-14
No. 11 Monaca (5-4) at No. 6 Avonworth (7-2): Every game that Monaca plays could be its last. Its proud run ends next year when it merges with Center. Still, pride and tradition aren't always enough. Avonworth is a feisty team that is enjoying its rebirth as a football power. Avonworth, 35-28
No. 15 Kittanning (6-3) at No. 2 Mt. Pleasant (9-0): These teams run a similar offense, the Wing-T, so both should know how to defend it. Kittanning defeated Ford City, 23-22, in the season finale to earn a trip to the playoffs. It is averaging 27 points per game. Mt. Pleasant is averaging 31.6 and is favored at home. Mt. Pleasant, 27-14
No. 12 New Castle (7-2) at No. 5 Greensburg Salem (8-1): These programs are rich with tradition. They are the winningest programs in the WPIAL, with New Castle leading the way. But this game will be determined by which defense plays better. The Keystone Conference hasn't won a playoff game since 2000. Will that streak end? New Castle 20-14
No. 11 Greensburg Central Catholic (7-2)< at No. 6 Freeport (8-1): Freeport may have shared the Allegheny Interscholastic Conference title, but it hasn't played a team as good as Greensburg Central Catholic. To Picks' way of thinking, Greensburg Central Catholic is the best third-place team in the Class AA playoffs, and Freeport will be no match for GCC running back David Miller and quarterback Trent Hurley. Greensburg Central Catholic 40-7
No. 11 Belle Vernon (5-4) at No. 6 Uniontown (6-3): These former rivals square off at Bill Powers Stadium in Uniontown. Both teams have a lot of speed, but it will be Belle Vernon's ability in that area will determine this winner. Belle Vernon 24-14
PICKS ALSO LIKES ...
Class AAAA: Gateway 48, Plum 6; North Allegheny 30, Latrobe 14; McKeesport 36, North Hills 14; Woodland Hills 33, Baldwin 14; Central Catholic 24, Seneca Valley 13; Bethel Park 33, Penn-Trafford 21.
Class AAA: Thomas Jefferson 49, Laurel Highlands 6; West Allegheny 33, Knoch 14; Hopewell 35, Derry 7; Mars 10, Trinity 7; Chartiers Valley 15, Hampton 13.
Class AA: Beaver 22, South Fayette 14; Aliquippa 18, McGuffey 14; Beaver Falls 24, Steel Valley 7; Keystone Oaks 20, Burrell 13; Center 27, Washington 20.
Class A: Rochester 38, Carmichaels 14; Fort Cherry 20, Brentwood 14; North Catholic 27, Jefferson-Morgan 13; Monessen 20, Springdale 14; Laurel 27, Burgettstown 14; Beth-Center 14, Serra 13; Clairton 27, South Side Beaver 15; Monaca 21, Avonworth 20.
Nonconference: Ambridge 21, Ringgold 14; Norwin 22, Kiski Area 14; Charleroi 27, Bentworth 7; Chartiers-Houston 14, Waynesburg 10; Yough 24, South Allegheny 10; Ligonier Valley 24, Berlin-Brothersvalley 14.
District 6, Class A: United 20, Bishop Guilfoyle 14; Penns Manor 26, Homer-Center 14; Marion Center 33, Juniata Valley 18.
