Aug 26, 2014 8 min read

As the bright lights of high school football stadiums are about to finally go on, I can’t help but reflect on the impeccable spreads from last season. No, not the spread offense that is more prevalent today than Deuce Skurcenski’s voice at WPIAL basketball games, but the delectable meals hacks like me get to consume every Friday night.

There were the cookies at Wash High, the cold cuts at Chartiers-Houston, the Sloppy Joes at Fort Cherry and – oh, yes – the banquet-like feast for South Fayette’s WPIAL Class AA semifinal matchup with Beaver Falls.

In this business, there’s nothing so fulfilling as free food.

The more grease and sugar, the better.

Talking about grease and sugar, the O-R’s annual picks for the 2013 WPIAL football season reinforced how the Fat Man knows more about football than anyone.

That Lance Lysowski joker didn’t pick a winner all season. There’s Chris Dugan picking Fort Cherry to miss the playoffs, Joe Tuscano predicting Bernie Kosar to win player of the year, Dale Lolley forgot Terrelle Pryor left Jeannette years ago and Jason Mackey picked Trinity to make the playoffs in Class AAA’s toughest conference. A round of applause for these guys, please.

Nice going, fellas. Let the master get to work. If it were not for Woodland Hills, my predictions would have been flawless. Here’s to an inevitably perfect 2014.

Since most of my underlings are either stuck in the past or are a real life version of Tom Hanks’ character in the film “Big” – I’m looking at you, Lysowski – I’ll dip into a baloney and whipped cream sandwich as I give you folks a heads-up on what games should be circled on your calendar.

Here we go.

This isn’t the sexiest matchup, but with the Tri-County South wide open this season, the Bulldogs and Maples could be playing for a conference title in Week 1. Beth-Center is loaded in the backfield with junior Anthony Welsh and senior Nico Brown. Both teams have new starting quarterbacks and plenty coming back. This season could end Mapletown’s eight-year playoff drought while the Bulldogs are looking to repeat as conference champions.

Another great matchup is Woodland Hills at Peters Township. Can senior quarterback Cory Owen and the Indians compete with the Southeastern conference favorite? Also this week: Canon-McMillan against Mt. Lebanon, Charleroi makes its debut under new coach Donnie Militzer at Southmoreland, McGuffey’s spread-option offense will look to unseat Mount Pleasant on the road, Ringgold has a showdown with perennial powerhouse Thomas Jefferson, Brett Brumbaugh and defending state champion South Fayette open with East Allegheny at home and Wash High welcomes Derry to the Interstate Conference.

Peters Township is looking to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season and the Panthers will need a win to ensure their hold on the Southeastern Conference. The Indians replace key skill players and USC lost 21 of 22 starters. With the resurgence of Woodland Hills and Penn Hills, these two need early season victories to keep pace.

Other notable games include California at Avella, Charleroi at McGuffey and Chartiers-Houston faces defending state champion North Catholic on the road.

It has been quite a while since this matchup has been relevant, but both the Raiders and Prexies are flush with talent in 2014. Wash High is the odds-on favorite to win the Interstate, but a loss to Waynesburg would shake things up. Both will rely on the running game and defense this season. This will be the best matchup for Wash High, besides its battle with that team from Claysville.

Other games of note are Beth-Center at California, an important matchup for playoff positioning in the Tri-County South; Canon-McMillan at Peters Township, one of the best rivalries in the area; South Fayette at South Park; and West Greene at Mapletown as the Pioneers look to position themselves for their first playoff appearance since 1993.

Ideally, the Rams would face West Mifflin early instead of Thomas Jefferson, but that is life in the Big Nine. This could be the WPIAL’s Game of the Week if Ringgold upsets TJ in Week 1, but it is likely the two will be playing for second place. The Rams return a ton of talent, while West Mifflin lost the bulk of its talent, but the Titans don’t rebuild, they reload.

Beth-Center hosts Carmichaels, in a game of two run-heavy offenses; Canon-McMillan hosts Bethel Park, which could be a sleeper matchup for the Big Macs; Bishop Canevin at Fort Cherry should hold playoff implications; Frazier at Mapletown for Tri-County South bragging rights; McGuffey against an improved Southmoreland squad and what about Waynesburg at Mount Pleasant? I see the Raiders as a sleeper.

Yes, both teams lost the bulk of their talent. Yes, there are many unknowns surrounding both rosters. But few rivalries match the emotion you will see when these two face off. Both will be coming off key conference games and with a wide open Tri-County South, this one could hold serious weight.

This week was a toss-up with Charleroi hosting Waynesburg. I know, the two combined for a 6-12 record last season, but both are greatly improved. The Cougars’ spread offense will turn heads with serious size and speed. Others include Mapletown at Avellaand Wash High at Mount Pleasant, which could go either way if the Vikings’ young pieces flourish.

A game matching the Highlanders and Panthers is usually a one-sided affair, but Baldwin is massive up front. Other than Penn State recruit Sterling Jenkins, the Highlanders average nearly 300 pounds on both sides. This could be the year USC misses the playoffs and Baldwin will have plenty to say about it.

Other top games include Beth-Center at Frazier, which was a 39-28 thrilling victory for the Bulldogs last season that clinched the conference title; West Greene at Carmichaels, a win could push the Pioneers into the playoffs; Wash High at Charleroi, a chance for the Cougars to secure a statement win; and Fort Cherry gets a crack at defending state champion North Catholic at Jim Garry Stadium.

This is the Eagles’ biggest test of the season. With an extremely thin roster and searching for answers on the offensive line, Avella will need a big victory over a team such as Beth-Center to make it back to the Class A playoffs. Having one of the best quarterbacks in Class A in senior Santino Paris will help them compete with the Bulldogs.

Other games to watch: California at West Greene will be more intriguing than people think with the Pioneers having one of their best teams in years; Charleroi at Mount Pleasant will be a measuring stick for the Cougars; Chartiers-Houston travels to face a strong Brentwood team, Monessen at Jeannette is always a must-see and South Fayette will give Sto-Rox a rude welcome to Class AA.

The Lions faced the Rebels in the regular season and the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals last year with the same result. South Fayette won both games by an average of 33 points. Both teams have high expectations and are the class of the Century conference.

Also, watch out for Carmichaels at Avella, which will say a lot about the Eagles’ playoff chances; California at Mapletown will be a competitive power-running game, Waynesburg at McGuffey will decide playoff seeding with the Highlanders’ size and speed having the advantage, Washington hosts a strong Southmoreland squad and last but not least, Clairton at Monessen. Can the Greyhounds get another win over the Bears? It’s very unlikely with an inexperienced roster against one filled with Division I talent.

People have been waiting years for this game to return. With the realignment of the Interstate Conference, the biggest positive is an annual Highlanders-Prexies rivalry game. Both will run the ball behind strong offensive lines and have stout defenses. Turnovers may decide this one, which will be the Game of the Week.

Also, Ringgold hosts Trinity, which would be a morale boost for the Hillers if they can spoil the Rams’ conference title hopes; West Greene at Avella could decide the final playoff spot in the Tri-County South; Jefferson-Morgan at Carmichaels won’t be as exciting as last season, but anytime a stadium is packed under the lights, it is one to watch; two of the WPIAL’s best quarterbacks are in action as Brumbaugh of South Fayette and Dane Jackson of Quaker Valley square off at SF Stadium and Waynesburg finishes the regular season against Derry.