P-TO-THE-POWER-OF-2's W.P.I.A.L. High School Football Predictions- SEMI-FINALS

Each week from the start of the season until the P.I.A.A. State Finals, Pittsburgh SportsNation will bring you uncensored, no holds barred predictions by our local high school football guru who goes by the moniker “P To The Power of 2”. He is one of our underground writers who covers the hard hitting action in W.P.I.A.L. High School Football in Western Pennsylvania. Or is it she...? Either way, we'll never tell!

By P-to-The-Power of 2

One more exit remains on the road to Heinz, for possibly the final time ever for the WPIAL as the expansion will commence in 2016….we move along to the Semifinals…4 teams remain in each classification and only 2 will emerge victorious to continue onto the awful grass of Heinz Field….Last week PToThePowerOf2 became a little more human than normal as we posted a record of 11 victories and had 5 defeats….thus taking the 2015 postseason total to a record of 42 victories and only 6 defeats….95% winning efficiency….and we’ll continue to raise that season total to 117 victories and only 21 defeats….84% winning efficiency…but folks still continue to question the mastery, experience and also in-depth knowledge of PToThePowerOf2….
 
A follower of PToThePowerOf2 met with thee in a local tavern last Saturday to ask the simple question of “Why did you select McKeesport over Penn Trafford?”….Very happy that a follower asked a question, in person, about a great ballgame….Simply put that those two teams were evenly matched….PToThePowerOf2 predicted overtime…which, did occur, just the result went against PToThePowerOf2….if it went the other way, would you ask the question?....
 
Great games await us Friday night….Let’s get to work….preferably not on a stolen bus from Plum Area School District….
 
CLASS ‘AAAA’
 
#2 Penn Trafford Warriors (11-0) vs #3 Pine-Richland Rams (10-1)
 
Friday from Penn Hills. Pine Richland last week defeated Penn Hill, 42-7 and Penn Trafford squeaked past McKeesport, in overtime, 39-32.  Pine Richland continues to lean on the passing ability of Sophomore QB Phil Jurkovec who has thrown for 2,368 yards, rushed for 1,172 yards and has 31 touchdowns. Jurkovec will look for his favorite target in WR Brandon Humphrey who has 7 touchdowns this season. The Rams are putting up an average of 47 points per game. Meanwhile, the Warriors of Penn Trafford enter this contest led by their Senior QB Brett Laffoon who has 2,011 yards passing and has 28 touchdowns. Laffoon will look for WR Tim Vecchio who has 18 touchdown receptions this season, has 904 yards and has 6 of those touchdowns were in the first two weeks of the playoffs. This could be one for the record books….The Warriors and The Rams dialed in for another potential overtime game….a toss of the coin….Penn Trafford hasn’t made the D7 finals since 1997…. A drought that has lasted 18 long years….It will end…..

 
Penn Trafford over Pine Richland
 

#1 Woodland Hills Wolverines (11-0) vs #5 Central Catholic Vikings (10-1)
 
Friday from Fox Chapel. The #1 seed Wolverines of Woodland Hills enter by dismantling Bethel Park, 40-20. The Vikings continued their quest to Heinz by getting revenge at the perfect time, defeating North Allegheny 31-17 at North Hills, where Anthony Morrelli is taking out the trash. This matchup will be fabulous as two fabulous tailbacks will be on display with Central Catholics Ronnie Jones and Woodland Hills’ Miles Sanders. Ronnie Jones has rushed for 1,231 yards and has 15 touchdowns. Miles Sanders has rushed for 1,415 yards and 15 touchdowns and missed 2 weeks this season. A shame that one of these teams must take the early exit from 376, the last time these two teams locked it up was in the 2014 quarterfinals where the Vikings embarrassed the Wolverines, 28-0….another classic….PToThePowerOf2 must stick with his preseason prediction….
 


Central Catholic over Woodland Hills
 

CLASS ‘AAA’
 
#1 Central Valley Warriors (10-1) vs # 4 Mars Planets (10-1)
 
Friday from Ambridge, don’t forget your glock. The defending WPIAL class ‘AAA’ champion Warriors enter into another semifinal appearance by upending Hampton, 42-9. Mars will makes their semifinal appearance by upsetting Ringgold, 35-0. The Planets will be led by QB Sam Morrissey who has 1,129 yards via flight, 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. RB Isaiah Johnson has an impressive 1,654 yards rushing with 18 touchdowns. WR Eli Brooks leads the Planets with 493 yards receiving and has 7 touchdowns. Central Valley will continue to ride their 10 game winning streak in attempts to reach another D7 final with QB Chris Callaghan who has 1,985 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. RB Kyle Vreen has 1,146 yards on the ground with 14 touchdowns and the leading WR of Kurt Reinstadtler has 864 yards and 9 touchdowns. Mars will look to keep the ball out of the hands of the Warrior offense and lean on the clock with long, sustained drives that eat the clock….Mars has never made an appearance in the District final…. PToThePowerOf2 will make another call that will piss off some folks….Ground control to major Tom…..

 Mars over Central Valley
 

# 6 Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (9-2) vs # 7 Franklin Regional Panthers (9-2)
 
Friday from Hempfield. The Panthers of Franklin Regional enter the semifinals by upsetting # 2 Belle Vernon, 28-7. The Jaguars of Thomas Jefferson yet again, enter another semifinal contest by defeating # 3 West Allegheny, 14-0.  The Panthers are led by do-it-all QB Santino Birty who has 795 yards passing, 1,104 yards rushing and has 27 touchdowns. Thomas Jefferson is led by the RB duo of Quinton Hill and Branden Pahanish. Hill has rushed for 1,250 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, averaging 10.5 yards per carry. Well, well, well….all of those who said PToThePowerOf2 was crazy and foolish for still saying that Thomas Jefferson is a contender are all now awake after last week and will be even more awakend after this week….Cherpak & company make their return to Heinz….
 

Thomas Jefferson over Franklin Regional
 

CLASS ‘AA’
 
#1 South Fayette Lions (11-0) vs # 5 Steel Valley Ironmen (10-1)
 
Friday from Peters Township. South Fayette continued their 43 game win streak by crushing Beaver, 54-7. Steel Valley sent Beaver Falls home, 24-18 . South Fayette is led by RB Hunter Hayes who has 1,220 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns. QB Drew Saxton has tossed for 1,393 yards for 26 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions. Steel Valley will lean on RB DeWayne Murray who has 1,427 yards rushing and has 24 touchdowns. These two teams met earlier in the season in a Century Conference matchup that witnessed the Lions winning and winning large, by the final of 37-0 on October 9th.  Steel Valley has not made a district championship appereance in 21 years….you can make that 22 now….
 

South Fayette over Steel Valley
 

#6 Freeport Yellowjackets (10-1) vs #2 Aliquippa Quips (11-0)
 
Friday from Seneca Valley. Freeport enters by upsetting Washington, 24-14. Aliquippa continued their dominance of the WPIAL playoffs by crushing Seton-LaSalle, 46-6. Freeport will look to QB Ryan Weigold who has 2,171 yards passing with 28 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. RB Ian Miller who has 1,050 yards with 12 touchdowns. Aliquippa will continue to run the football with powerhouse TB Kaezon Pugh ho has 1,521 yards and 21 touchdowns. Nothing will phase these Quips…they seek revenge….a 3rdmatchup with South Fayette is on cue….
 

Aliquippa over Freeport
 
We must cut this edition short as PToThePowerOf2 must attend a family gathering….We’ll go with our selections for Class ‘A’
 
Clairton over Frazier
North Catholic over Jeanette 

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