W.P.I.A.L. High School Football Predictions: 3A-6A Championships

Each week from the start of the WPIAL season through the PIAA State Finals, Pittsburgh SportsNation brings you the best, 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 of WPIAL High School Football in Western Pennsylvania. Or is it she...? Either way, we'll never tell! (Unless you have a crisp $100 bill in hand)

By P To The Power of 2

We move along this Friday to make our selections for the WPIAL finals for Class ‘AAA’ thru Class ‘AAAAAA’. Quick refresh from yesterday, our postseason total stands in at 44 victories and only 4 defeats. Our 2017 total to 113 victories and only 22 defeats, 83%!

Heinz Field is the site tomorrow, with a steady all-day rain predicted by the weather sources, the grass will be destroyed by the end of the first game. Let’s just all hope no players are injured due to these piss poor conditions.

Class ‘AAA’

# 1 Aliquippa Quips (12-0) vs # 2 Quaker Valley Quakers (11-1)

11:00am, Heinz Field

Our opening contest starts the long day, but a potential barnburner is on tap. A rematch from week 7, where the Quips defeated Quaker Valley 22-7. The only loss on the season for the Quakers. Aliquippa makes their 10^th consecutive trip to the district finals. An amazing feat! The Quakers will make their first ever appearance.

Last Week, the Quips struggled without QB Eli Kosanovich as William Gibson stepped into the QB positions to get the Quips to a 14-7 sloppy victory over Beaver. Quips RB Avante McKenzie has 1,567 rushing with 18 touchdowns. McKenzie was hurt last week on the first play, exiting him from the contest. He is expected to play tomorrow.

Quaker Valley dominated Seton LaSalle last week, for the second time in 4 weeks to the tune of 40-7. Quakers QB Ricky Guss has 30 total touchdowns and 2,974 yards of total offense. Could the rain effect the passing game of Quaker Valley? Is Aliquippa’s McKenzie healthy? Lots of questions!

Aliquippa holds 16 WPIAL Championships, while Quaker Valley is attempting to obtain one. Again, a potential barnburner. Aliquippa lost last year to Beaver Falls. They wont lose back-to-back.

Aliquippa over Quaker Valley

Class ‘AAAAAA’

# 1 Pine Richland Rams (12-0) vs Central Catholic Vikings (10-2)

2:00pm, Heinz Field

Tell the local animal activists to keep their eyes open for actual live rams roaming the North Shore as Pine Richland students will be out in full force!

Central Catholic last week defeated Penn Hills 17-8. Vikings QB Troy Fisher has 19 touchdowns with 1,345 passing yards on the season.

Pine Richland crushed North Allegheny, 49-25. Rams QB Phil Jurkovec has over 3,000 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. His unbeliavalbe season continues as the Rams continue to destroy opponents week after week. They are averaging a staggering 50 points per game.

These two division foes met earlier in the season, it wasn’t even close as Pine Richland embarrassed Central Catholic 47-17. With a steady rain in the forecast and a sloppy field, maybe Central Catholic can slow the attack of the rams, but not enough to win.

Pine Richland over Central Catholic

Class ‘AAAAA’

# 1 Penn Trafford Warriors (11-1) vs # 2 Gateway Gators (11-1)

5:00pm, Heinz Field

Penn Trafford returns to Heinz, by defeating Upper St Clair, 35-14. Gateway returns by upending McKeesport in a thriller, 28-21.

Gateway will look to QB Brady Walker who has 3,390 yards passing on the season and has 37 touchdowns. Penn Trafford will counter with their QB Cam Laffoon who has 1,433 yards passing with 15 touchdowns.

Earlier this season, Penn Trafford crushed Gateway 28-0. PToThePowerOf2 took Gateway in week 5 and was devastated in the results. Not this time!

Penn Trafford over Gateway

Class ‘AAAA’

# 4 Montour Spartans (9-2) vs # 3 Thomas Jefferson (10-1) 8:00pm,

Heinz Field (Whoever wins gets baptized next week by Erie Cathedral Prep)

Well, Montour pulled off the comeback last week and sent South Fayette home stunned, 35-27. Spartans QB Kavon Morman is a dual threat as he has rushed for 663 yards and thrown for over 1,300. The Spartans have made 2 back-to-back comebacks in the past 2 weeks to reach the district finals. They’ll attempt to earn their first championship since 1964.

Meanwhile, Bill Cherpak returns to his home away from home, the north shore. Thomas Jefferson avenged their only loss of the season, by destroying Belle Vernon 27-0. For those who said this was a so-called “upset” are crazy. Jaguars RB Justin Vigna will play a huge roll on a more than likely poor conditions for the final game. On the season, he has 1,700 yards and 24 touchdowns. The Jaguars defense has continued to stymie their opponents by only allowing 48 points thru 11 weeks. Thomas Jefferson will attempt the rare 3-Peat and look to lock up their 8^th district championship.

Last time these two teams met at Heinz was in 2007, when the Jaguars crushed Montour 34-0. Nothing changes. Cherpak outcoaches Cerro, again.

Thomas Jefferson over Montour

Enjoy the lights and the rain! See yous in the PIAA playoffs next week!