W.P.I.A.L. High School Football Forecast: Week 9

Each week, Pittsburgh SportsNation will bring you uncensored, no holds barred predictions by a guru who goes by the moniker “P To The Power of 2”. He is one of our underground writers who covers WPIAL High School Football in Western Pennsylvania. Or is it she? Either way, we'll never tell!

By P-to-The-Power of 2

The following is a presentation of P-TO-THE-POWER-OF-2.....

Every kid at one point or another gets asked the same question, "What do you wanna be when you grow up?" At a young age most people figure the answers don't mean much of anything. Particularly when they suggest the near impossible, but the danger there lies in what is being forgotten. If no one believed in the impossible, there'd be nothing left to dream about. A sport that is entrenched here in Western Pennsylvania. We love the game, the lights & the atmosphere. That's why we continue to come back season after season.  Good Luck to Seniors in your future endeavors. A world of opportunity awaits you!

Week 9, the regular season finally has arrived quickly this season. Last week, I racked up 8 wins and had 2 defeats. Continuing to raise the bar even higher for my critics. Through Eight weeks and Eighty games, A record of 64 Wins and only 16 defeats. 80%! A HUGE Friday night awaits us all.....As I've always said Let's Get To Work! 

CLASS 'AA'

Washington (8-0) vs McGuffey (7-1)

This game taking place at McGuffey High School. For those of you scratching your heads at this moment, It's located in Claysville, PA in Washington County.  The Interstate title is up for grabs in this contest.  McGuffey has an excellent ground and aerial attack that has rushed for over a thousand yards and has also passed over a thousand yards this season .  QB Nate Whipkey has 52 completions on 89 attempts for 1,041 yards with 9 touchdowns.  Mr. Whipkey also has rushed for 489 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dual Threat? I think so. Also the Highlanders of McGuffey have 2 wide-outs that have reached double digits in receiving with Adam Narigon and Shaun Sanders. These two young men have combined for 5 touchdowns.  RB James Duchi has carried the ball 123 times for 1,170 yards and 22 touchdowns.  Washington will counter with QB Jonathan Spina who has rushed for 138 yards with 6 touchdowns and also has passed for 932 yards and 15 touchdowns. RB Malik Wells has filled in nicely this season with 974 yards rushing on 92 touches and has 14 touchdowns. WR Dequay Isbell has 512 receiving yards, 127 rushing yards and 14 scores.  A massive tight-end, standing in at 6'5, 230 lbs Nate Swart is a match-up nightmare for most teams. He has 14 receptions on the season, but is used best for blowing up defensive lineman and getting to the second level faster than most.  McGuffey could surprise some folks in the playoffs starting next weekend, their only blemish was to Mount Pleasant in week 1, 45-39. 

Could it happen?....I like the upset....McGuffey over Washington

CLASS 'AA'

Beaver Falls (7-1) vs Aliquippa (8-0)

From Carl A. Aschman Stadium. Don't forget your glock! This game was selected as one of the top 100 must-see match ups for Great American Rivalry. The long time rivalry series all started back in 1920 and is led by Aliquippa, 45-29-5.  Aliquippa won last year 34-28.  Last week Beaver Falls defeated New Brighton 36-22 and Aliquippa defeated Mt. Pleasant 63-14.  Beaver Falls could finish first in the conference with a win. A loss will leave them in a 3-way tie for second with Beaver and New Brighton.  Aliquippa hasn't faced a real challenge all season long. The Quips closes contest was a 34 point destruction of Laurel back in Week 2.  In the previous 4 contests, the margin of victory was 41, 55, 38 and 49.  Aliquippa RB DiMantae Bronaugh leads the Quips with 20 touchdowns.  Beaver Falls will attempt to counter with RB Cordell Cummings who has 11 touchdowns.  Beaver Falls has lost 5 straight to the Quips.  The last time Beaver Falls defeated Aliquippa was in 2009, also the last time the Quips lost a conference game. Last week, I received a text message at 411am from a Beaver Falls fan saying I was foolish for selecting New Brighton over Beaver Falls. I'll return the favor this week....Lopsided! 

Heading for the exit ramp early.....Aliquippa over Beaver Falls

CLASS 'AAA'

West Mifflin (6-2) vs Thomas Jefferson (8-0)

From a horrid parking facility in Jefferson Hills, and not to mention, only one set of grandstands. Spend some extra money Cherpak, I know all to well the massive amount of fundraising you made on that cheap and corny commercial a few years back. Don't end up like that guy from Montour....What's his name? Oh, that's right Lou Cerro. Anyhow, this game is always a good one. A match-up of the WPIAL's top rushers. West Mifflin RB DiAngelo Mitchell who has 1,058 yards and 23 touchdowns and Thomas Jefferson RB Austin Kemp who has 1,626 yards and 33 touchdowns.  Mr. Kemp WILL NOT be available for this contest due to a shoulder injury. The words "Conference Champion" seems to be, as usual, sort of given to Thomas Jefferson, without their horse, can they finish? Thomas Jefferson has dominated this series over the past decade and also the TJ Jags have not lost a home game in their last 55 games. That is a span of 5 years. 

Nothing changes.....Thomas Jefferson over West Mifflin

CLASS 'AAAA'

Penn Hills (6-2) vs Woodland Hills (7-1)

From The Wolvarena in Turtle Creek. The crown for the Southeastern Conference is on the slate. I was able to witness both of these clubs in action this season. Penn Hills QB Billy Kisner has led the Indians of Penn Hills. He has completed 21 of 42 for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns and has 0 interceptions. He also has 863 yards via rushing and 12 touchdowns on 96 attempts.  Mr. Kisner's favorite targets include RB Te'Shan Campbell, who this season has 830 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. Penn Hills is averaging 41 points per game. Enter Woodland Hills, led by QB Jeremiah Jones who has thrown for 755 yards, 7 touchdowns and also has 278 rushing yards. WR Art Thompkins has 118 yards, 6 touchdowns only on 10 catches. Also WR Jaymond Dunn has 247 yards receiving only on 6 catches. TB Jo-El Shaw and Penn State commit Miles Sanders tote the rock for Woody High, Sanders leads the way with 65 carries for 878 yards and has 12 touchdowns. Mr Shaw has 9 touchdowns and 522 yards rushing.  Woody High has averaged 38.5 points per game this season.  Both teams were defeated earlier in the year by 'AAA' Parkway teams. Woodland Hills losing to West Allegheny where their passing defense was atrocious and Penn Hills losing to Central Valley where they fumbled the game away 3 times inside their own 30.  

It's a toss-up....home field makes the difference in this contest.....Woodland Hills over Penn Hills

CLASS 'AAA'

West Allegheny (8-0) vs Central Valley (8-0)

The highly anticipated Parkway Conference title is on the line. From the most inferior location in the western hemisphere, Sarge Alberts Stadium. May I suggest that you depart work at lunchtime Friday just to make it in time for kickoff or better yet, bring your tent and stay overnight Thursday so you can help your elders obtain a handicap spot.  Let's not forget the freeloading drunks on the hill behind the scoreboard. I am sure that the same players that were drinking at San Rocco are available to help cleanup efforts when the game is over? Also, let's not forget the ignoramus from the press box, remember your earplugs. They have clearly forgotten the WPIAL motto "Sportsmanship, the only piece missing is you" Also let's promote "free" seats on the opposite hillside of the freeloading drunks.  Bring your lawn chair, as if it was a free fireworks display by Zambelli. Stop robbing student athletes of the paid admission which helps fund the program you love. All the other schools have placed up either a fence or a tarp to block these freeloaders. Not here, got to keep money savings for the "Hide the recruit". Not to mention the illegal recruiting that took place the past 2 seasons that your coach, Mark Lyons, was caught doing, to only be slapped on the wrist. Enough of all this truthfulness I've gotten to share with you.  Last week Central 'Freeloading' Valley defeated Hopeless Hopewell 57-7, while West Allegheny defeated Moon, 51-7.  The Top Two offenses in Class AAA.  Central Valley QB Chris Callaghan has thrown for over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns.  RB Jordan Whitehead has 815 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. Bob Palko & his West Allegheny Indians will boast a backfield trio of Terence Stephens, Chayse Dillon and Whitney White who have combined for 1,363 yards and 30 touchdowns. Last year, Central Valley lost both contests to West Allegheny, including 16-6 in the WPIAL championship. You can save me the 'revenge' tactic. Palko wins the coaching battle again, Palko versus the 80 assistants or certified recruiters that Lyons has on his sideline....they'll lose again..... 

West Allegheny over Central Valley

As for the others.....

North Allegheny over North Hills

Bethel Park over Baldwin

Jeannette over Greensburg Central Catholic

New Castle over Hopewell

Neshannock over Union