W.P.I.A.L. High School Football Forecast: Championship Edition
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 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
Well, Well, Well….Here we are, the WPIAL District 7 Finals, from Heinz Field….for those of you who are one dimensional assclowns and do not know your own district number.
Last season, PToThePowerOf2 posted a record of 1-3 for the D7 finals, ugly to say the least. Last week however, during the semifinals, I racked up a record of 6 wins and only faced 2 defeats…thus lowering the postseason total quicker than LeGarrette Blount boarding the team bus: 47 victories and 9 defeats, 83%….A season total of 117 victories and 28 defeats, 80%!
Thanks Cherpak for being unprepared again….4th season in a row I’ve banked on you getting over the proverbial “hump”….back to that old nickname you had during the semifinals years ago….”Cherpak’s Chokers!”….A shout out to Neshannock for making me proud on the fantastic run no one thought these young men were capable of, keep your heads held high, awesome season!
We also will make a few selections on other district championship matchups as well this week, since most of my largest critics have to call me or tweet to me online @PToThePowerOf2, to find out what occurred outside of the district. True football fans you are…..
Welcome back to my friends and followers around the commonwealth! So nice to have you back for another trip on the PIAA football playoff train. As I always say, Let’s Get To Work!
Do not forget to follow all games live, with me, from the Press Box at Heinz Field on my twitter,@PToThePowerOf2 and at www.maxpreps.com. Enjoy the cold weather, I’ll have a “cold-one” for you from the luxury of the box.
CLASS ‘A’ Championship - #5 Avonworth Antelopes (11-1) vs #2 Clairton Bears (12-0)
at 11:00am.
Bambi took down the Pope last week as Avonworth upended the defending Class ‘A’ champions, the North Catholic Trojans last week in a thriller, 28-21. RB Jamal Hughley continues to amaze fans around the district with 779 yards rushing, 449 yards receiving and also has 17 touchdowns this season. QB Josh Drawl has taken over quite well this season after the loss of starter Zach Chandler. Mr. Drawl has thrown for 615 yards and 6 touchdowns. Clairton enters by defeating Neshannock, in overtime last week in a WPIAL classic, 48-42. Clairton QB Ryan Williams has thrown for 2,232 yards and 27 touchdowns this season and only has 4 interceptions. WR Aaron Matthews and Jimmy Hines are the targets of choice. These two WR’s have 59 receptions combined, for 1,329 yards and 22 touchdowns. RB Lamont Wade is the heart & sole of the Bears lineup as he has 2,128 yards on the ground for 39 touchdowns only on 136 carries. Avonworth last had a taste of gold in the D7 championship way back in 1959, and Clairton is looking to add another trophy to the case, they already have 10 of them, the most recent, in 2012. Bears usually eat fish, this week, they’ll eat deer.
Prediction: Clairton over Avonworth
CLASS ‘AA’ Championship - #2 Aliquippa Quips (12-0) vs #1 South Fayette Lions (12-0)
at 5:00pm.
A rematch from last year’s Class ‘AA”’ final which saw the Lions collect their 4th WPIAL championship. South Fayette QB Brett Brumbaugh has thrown for 2,927 yards and has 35 touchdowns. He could very well become the all-time passing leader in the state if the Lions can go on a deep PIAA run. WR Nick Ponikvar has 874 yards receiving on 45 receptions and has 9 touchdowns. TB Hunter Hayes has totted the rock for 1,280 yards and 24 touchdowns. OLB Logan Sharp has made the Lions defense one of the best in the state. South Fayette has only allowed just over 12 points per game. Aliquippa returns to Heinz for the 7th consecutive season. The Quips are led by QB Darrien Fields with 1,459 yards via flight for 18 touchdowns. RB Kaezon Pugh and DiMantae Bronaugh lead the one-two punch out of the backfield. Kaezon has 25 touchdowns on 132 carries with 1,510 yards. DiMantae has 24 touchdowns with 1,245 yards. The Quips have a margin of victory averaging at 38 points per game. Last week, Head Coach Mike Zmijanac said that “revenge” was for losers. Not in my book, revenge is a dish, best served with cake on it, for cake eaters…..Stamp it baby! Aliquippa wins their record 17th WPIAL championship.
Prediction: Aliquippa over South Fayette
CLASS ‘AAA’ Championship - #3 West Allegheny Indians (11-1) vs #1 Central Valley Warriors (12-0)
at 8:00pm.
Just in time for the freeloading drunks to ride over to the incline, to ride up to Mt. Washington to observe from the overlook with their binoculars. God forbid it cost money to get into the game! Last week Central Valley destroyed Ringgold, 41-13. Central Valley relies on RB Jordan Whitehead who has 1,412 yards on 69 rushes, 206 yards receiving on 13 receptions and has 23 touchdowns with 2,404 all purpose yards. Awesome stats to say the least. Warriors QB John George has 879 yards via flight for 11 touchdowns. George also has 256 yards rushing with 6 touchdowns. Also, backup QB Chris Callaghan has tossed for 1,266 yards for 12 touchdowns. WR BJ Powell has 38 receptions for 720 yards with 9 touchdowns. The Warrior defense has averaged under 15 points per game against this season. LB Preston Johnson and Rocco Martini lead the defense corps for Central Valley. The Warriors will be in search of their 2nd WPIAL championship, the other, coming in 2010. West Allegheny enters their 3rd straight WPIAL championship and looking for their 8th ring. Last week West Allegheny did what they do best to Thomas Jefferson at Bethel Park, bitch slap them! 41-7. West Allegheny will feature a stout defense, only giving up an average of 12 points per game against. Armand Dellovade and Sean Orsini have 246 tackles and 9 sacks on the year combined. On offense, West A is led by the trio of Chayse Dillon, Terence Stephens and Whitney White. Stephens has 837 rushing yards, White has 652 yards and Dillon has 916 yards. Let’s have that total, 2,405 rushing yards with 45 touchdowns. WR Danny Guilfoil and Sean Orsini have 16 catches combined with 557 yards for 8 touchdowns. The 7th meeting between these two schools, each of them winning 3 each. Last year, West Allegheny topped Central Valley 16-6. Earlier this season, in week 9. Central Valley overcame a 14 point deficit to win 28-17. That was then, this is now. Honestly, the game should be voided due to both schools illegally recruiting players. It’s a daunting task to defeat the same team twice in the same season. Crown this! A Three-Peat!
Prediction: West Allegheny over Central Valley
CLASS ‘AAAA’ Championship - #3 Central Catholic Vikings (11-1) vs #1 Pine Richland Rams (12-0)
at 2:00pm.
Not letting students attend a game because of school is ludicrous. Let’s be realistic, the best student section this season has been none other than Pine Richland. A letter outgoing to students parents stating they can be released early with a note written to the principal. I hope his mailbox fills up faster than the snow falling in Buffalo. Central Catholic will defend its crown and look to get a 5th WPIAL championship, the last one, 2013. Last week the Vikings cruised over Penn Trafford, 52-34. RB Grant Foster, Brian Totten and Vinny Emanuele have combined for 26 touchdowns and 1,800 yards rushing. The Vikings boast the best defense, allowing 11 points per game and has 5 shutouts on the season. Pine Richland will feature top-notch QB Ben DiNucci. The Rams rolled McKeesport last week, 42-7. DiNucci has tossed for 3,300 yards and 34 touchdowns. WR D’Ondre Gastion and Mike Merhaut have over 1,000 yards receiving and also have a 1,000 yard rusher in RB Connor Slomka. Pine Richland embarrassed Central Catholic earlier this season to the tune of 48-28. Rumor has it that the Pine Richland student section is brining an actual Ram to the game…..there are no words for this other than awesome….the king is dethroned….too much DiNucci.
Prediction: Pine Richland over Central Catholic
For the others….
District 5 ‘A’ Championship: Berlin over Meyersdale
District 10 ‘A’ Championship: West Middlesex over Sharpsville
District 9 ‘A’ Championship: Brockway over Kane
District 6 ‘AA’ Championship: Mount Union over Tyrone
District 10 ‘AA’ Championship: Hickory over Greenville
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