5 things to watch: Halfway home in regular season
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Tom Aspinall (8) celebrates with Jake Velgich (6) after scoring Peters Township’s second touchdown last Friday in a 24-0 win over South Fayette. The undefeated Indians host Upper St. Clair tonight.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ethan Wertman (4) of Peters Township breaks up a pass intended for Dom Monz of South Fayette last weekend. Undefeated PT hosts Upper St. Clair tonight.
It’s hard to believe tonight marks the halfway point of the high school football season in the WPIAL, but the race for the playoffs is just beginning.
Eighteen local teams opened conference play last week, including eight in Class A Tri-County South Conference action. Defending champion Mapletown lost to Beth-Center; Bentworth downed Monessen; California handled Jefferson-Morgan and West Greene topped Carmichaels.
Fort Cherry overwhelmed Chartiers-Houston in Class A Black Hills Conference play. Avella lost to Cornell and Burgettstown was defeated by Bishop Canevin on Saturday in the other Black Hills Conference games featuring local squads.
Peters Township shut out South Fayette in Class 5A’s Allegheny Six Conference, and Trinity, thanks to a performance from quarterback Jonah Williamson that earned him Observer-Reporter Athlete-of-the-Week honors, edged Connellsville, 41-40.
Waynesburg improved to 4-0 and won its conference opener over Keystone Oaks in Class 2A Century Conference play. McGuffey topped Brentwood and Charleroi lost to Sto-Rox.
Here are five things to look out for during tonight’s action:
1. Allegheny Six Conference battle: Peters Township hosts Upper St. Clair tonight in a battle of unbeatens.
The Indians and Panthers won their conference openers in decisive fashion, and share one common opponent in Fox Chapel, whom Peters Township and Upper St. Clair both defeated handily. The Indians won, 35-0, in Week Zero, and the Panthers earned a 34-0 triumph last week.
2. Will Brady be back?: West Greene won its conference opener over Carmichaels, 47-14, but the victory came with a price as senior running back Colin Brady went down with a high ankle sprain.
The Pioneers, who play at Bentworth tonight, are hoping Brady is able to return at some point this season, but if not, West Greene has other capable players. Bentworth enters at 1-0 in conference play after a stunning win at Monessen.
Brady rushed for 149 yards on 10 carries last week against Carmichaels and needs 76 yards for 5,000 in his career.
3. Leaving Greene County: Waynesburg will head to Claysville tonight when it plays McGuffey in a Class 2A Century Conference matchup with both teams looking to go 2-0.
The Raiders are 4-0. Waynesburg has played all four of its games in Greene County. The Raiders opened the season at Carmichaels before traveling to Jefferson-Morgan. Waynesburg then hosted California and Keystone Oaks.
4. Rangers continue to roll: Fort Cherry opened Class A Black Hills Conference play last week with a 51-0 victory over Chartiers-Houston.
The Rangers are off to a 4-0 start and average close to 50 points per game. Sophomore quarterback Matt Sieg is averaging 102 rushing yards per contest and has a 67.4 completion percentage.
Teammate Ethan Faletto is rushing for 90.2 yards per game. Sieg’s favorite target is Shane Cornali, who has 16 receptions for 304 yards.
Despite its offense prowess, Fort Cherry has been no slouch on defense, allowing only 6.25 points per game. Corey Bouchelle leads the team in tackles with 34.
The Rangers host Our Lady of the Sacred Heart tonight in conference play. The Chargers defeated Carlynton, 22-6, last week.
5. Big-time battle: Belle Vernon and Thomas Jefferson are no longer in the same conference and classification since realignment, but the two juggernauts continue to have a yearly battle, which continues tonight at James Weir Stadium.
The Leopards have won the last three games in a rivalry that dates back to 1965, but the Jaguars still have one of the premier programs in the WPIAL despite not having their usual WPIAL championship or title game appearance in the last two years.
Thomas Jefferson won a WPIAL and state championship just three seasons ago, which most teams would gloat about, but the Jaguars are used to winning titles and any season that doesn’t end in a championship is not considered a success.
Belle Vernon is the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion in Class 3A, but I believe Thomas Jefferson will pull this one out. That’s not to say the Leopards won’t repeat as champions, but the Jaguars are coming into tonight’s game determined to snap their three-game skid to Belle Vernon.
If you are headed to this game, make sure you leave plenty early to get a good seat. It is expected to be a packed house.