W.P.I.A.L. High School Football Forecast: Playoff Edition- Semi-Finals
Every week during the High School Football season, Pittsburgh SportsNation brings 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 men are being separated from the boys, as we move forward from the Quarterfinals onto the Semifinals!
Last week, P-To-The-Power Of 2 racked up 15 wins and had only 1 defeat, raising the Postseason total quicker than Robert Foster signing transfer papers out of Alabama.
That's 41 Wins and 7 defeats….85%. Thus also raising the overall 2014 campaign to 111 Wins and 26 defeats….81%.
Could the weather have a possible influence on the Semi’s Friday night? Let P-To-The-Power-Of-2 give you the Best breakdown, game by game in the state. Let’s Get To Work!
All games will have a 7:30PM kickoff.
CLASS ‘A’
#3 Neshannock Lancers (11-0) vs #2 Clairton Bears (11-0) Friday from Canon Mac HS.
Last Friday, P-To-The-Power Of 2’s preseason Class ‘A’ Champion defeated Jeannette in a track meet, 46-32. Lancers QB Frank Antuono has thrown for 1,617 yards and 18 of them for touchdowns. They’ll also look to the trio of RB’s with Rocco Fazio, Robert Lindsey and Eli Owens. Clairton enters by embarrassing Shenango, 68-7. Bears RB Lamont Wade has 33 touchdowns this season and is close to going over the 2,000 yards rushing mark this season. Also QB Ryan Williams has thrown for 26 touchdowns and is also close to going over the 2,000 passing this season. The Bears defense is also very good. They’ve only allowed all opponents to 43 points total. Also not to forget Clairton has averaged a disgusting 67 points per game. You cannot go against the stats, nor the speed. I just hope Neshannock keeps it respectable on the scoreboard. The Bears punch yet another ticket to Heinz Field…..Clairton over Neshannock
#1 North Catholic Trojans (11-0) vs #5 Avonworth Antelopes (10-1) Mars High School (On planet earth)
The march of the Trojans continued last week over South Side Beaver, 20-6. PJ Fulmore & Jerome Turner are the one-two punch for the Trojans this year, the two of them have over 2,200 yards rushing and 48 touchdowns. But if you look a little deeper into the lineup and you will find Sophmore Mario Latronica who rushed for 119 yards only on 6 carries. The Antelopes of Avonworth defeated Riverside last week, 31-14. Goodbye Hoopies! Avonworth will attempt to defeat the Trojans with the play of QB Zach Chandler who has thrown for 742 yards and 6 touchdowns and will also look to the ground game with RB Jamal Hughley who has 651 yards on 60 touches for 10 touchdowns. Earlier this season North Catholic spanked Avonworth 28-0. Avonworth has lost the last 4 meetings versus North Catholic. The 5 previous meetings before this year were all decided by single-digit margins. There will be an upset Friday night….Not here….The march to the Cathedral continues….Trojans to Heinz….North Catholic squeaks by Avonworth
CLASS ‘AA’
#1 South Fayette Lions (11-0) vs #5 Seton LaSalle Rebels (10-1) Peters Township HS. (A beautiful complex, if you enjoy walking 7 miles to the field from the parking lot.)
Both of these teams snuck by a Quarterfinal scare last week. South Fayette clipped South Park, 39-21 and Seton LaSalle got past Highlands, 28-21. These two teams met earlier in the season with South Fayette destroying the Rebels, 41-14. Lions QB Brett Brumbaugh has thrown for 2,690 yards and 33 touchdowns this season. South Fayette is averaging 20 more points per game than Seton LaSalle in the 2014 season. Earlier this year, Rebels did not have QB Tyler Perrone in their contest versus South Fayette. Does this really matter? Not really…..South Fayette returns to the North shore to defend its stolen crown from Aliquippa on an awful call at the goal line….just god awful….South Fayette over Seton LaSalle
#2 Aliquippa Quips (11-0) vs # 3 Washington Prexies (11-0) West Allegheny HS. (Where Tyler Palko now is the high school guidance counselor.)
Last week the Prexies used their balance attack to upend a very talented Apollo Ridge squad, 58-30. QB Jonathan Spina has 1,233 yards passing with 19 touchdowns. RB Malik Wels has 1,390 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns. Also keep a close eye on PIAA track medalist WR Dequay Isbell who has 610 receiving yards only on 19 receptions and has 12 touchdowns. Aliquippa will enter yet another Semifinal appearance, the 8th consecutive season. The Quips feature the highest scoring offense in Class ‘AA’ with TB Kaezon Pugh and DiMantae Bronaugh who have combined for almost 2,500 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns…QB Darrien Fields has 1,200 yards passing with 16 touchdowns. Aliquippa embarrassed Washington in 2012 at Heinz, 34-7. Its close from Imperial….might be the game of the year in Class ‘AA’…P-ToThePowerOf2 sticks with his Preseason Champion…..The Quips return to Heinz for the 7th straight season…..The rematch with the cake-eaters of South Fayette looms on the horizon…..Stamp it baby! Aliquippa over Washington
CLASS ‘AAA’
# 1 Central Valley Warriors (11-0) vs #5 Ringgold Rams (10-1) Chartiers Valley HS (Where no one gives a damn about your kettlecorn!)
Ringgold QB Nico Law leads the Rams with 15 touchdowns and 1,200 yards passing this season and has also rushed for 800 yards and 12 touchdowns. RB Chacar Berry has rushed for 1,341 yards and has 22 touchdowns. The Rams eeked Hampton last week, 21-20. Central Valley enters by defeating another cake opponent in Indiana, 41-14. QB Chris Callaghan has thrown for 1,200 yards and not to mention Pitt recruit Jordan Whitehead continues to embarrass defenses week after week with his blazing speed. Jordan has 1,246 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns. What is there to preview here folks? Another cake-walk for the cheating Mark Lyons and his recruits from Rochester….Central Valley gets back to the north shore….where is my vomit bag…..Central Valley over Ringgold
# 2 Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (11-0) vs #3 West Allegheny Indians (10-1) Bethel Park HS. (A gorgeous facility the WPIAL does not use enough.)
Two hall-of-fame coaches square off again. Cherpak vs Palko. These two powerhouses feared by many across the commonwealth will lock it up Friday night. West Allegheny enters by defeating Franklin Regional, 37-14. Thomas Jefferson defeated Mars, 28-13. West Allegheny features the trio of Andrew Koester, Chase Dillon and Terence Stephens. QB Koester has tossed over 1,200 yards this season and has 15 touchdowns. Stephens & Dillon have combined for over 1,500 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns. Then enter the Jaguars who boast on of thee top rushers in the WPIAL with Austin Kemp, who is almost over 2,000 yards and has 39 touchdowns. The Jaguar defense has been suffocating. The Jags’ defense has only been allowing less than 10 points per game. P-ToThePowerOf2 witnessed a Jaguar time who started slow out of the gate last week, if they do it tomorrow, they’ll get buried. Does the Parkway rematch loom large? P-ToThePowerOf2 goes against his brain and goes with his heart. An upset that shocks ‘em all…..Fear the shorts!…..Cherpak and the Jags de-thrown the Indians and get back to the North Shore…..Thomas Jefferson over West Allegheny
CLASS ‘AAAA’
#5 McKeesport Tigers (10-1) vs #1 Pine Richland Rams (11-0) North Allegheny HS (Where they don’t provide you with paper towels to dry your hands.)
McKeesport defeated Plum in last week, 20-5. The Rams spanked Altoona, 49-7. This contest will feature some of the top performers in the WPIAL. RB Khaleke Hudson leads McKeesport with 1,616 yards and 26 touchdowns. Ben DiNucci, the WPIAL’s top passer, leads Pine-Richland with 3,023 yards and 33 touchdowns on the year. Pine Richland RB Connor Slomka has been great in the backfield. Slomka has racked up over 1,000 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns this season. Too much “Ram Power” for the Tigers to fight another day. Pine Richland finally returns to the North Shore since 2003. Neil Walker sighting? Maybe? Pine Richland over McKeesport
#2 Penn Trafford Warriors (11-0) vs #3 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (10-1) Norwin HS (Where they get high!)
Central Catholic blanked Woodland Hills, 28-0 last week. Penn-Trafford edged North Allegheny, 35-31. The Vikings enter with the top defense in Class AAAA, allowing only 8.5 points per game. Central Catholic’s only loss was to Pine-Richland a few weeks ago. Penn Trafford has a powerful offense, averaging over 40 points per game behind a thousand-yard passer and rusher. QB Brett Laffoon has thrown for 1,779 yards and has 24 touchdowns. RB Devin Austin has 1,335 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Central Catholic will use the legs of RB Grant Foster who has 729 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. Defense wins championships right? Another appearance at Heinz for Central Catholic, The Vikings are pissed and want a rematch with DiNucci & company…..Central Catholic over Penn Trafford
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