What to look for in Week 7 of the high school football season

Last week was fun.
Arriving at the high school football field in Fredericktown early Friday night allowed one to watch the parking lot fill to capacity and watch herds of fans make their way into the stadium.
Everybody was wearing navy blue, but that didn’t mean they were cheering for the same team when previously Beth-Center and Burgettstown played in a battle of unbeatens.
It meant a lot to the coaches, and even more to the players, but what was fascinating was what it meant to both communities.
You sensed the urgency. You sensed the pride.
That’s how Friday nights should be. And with the importance of every game at this point in the season, that’s what we should expect in these final three weekends.
Here is what I’m looking for when high school football kicks off Week 7 tonight:
1. Another week, another tough opponent for California – California deserves all the credit it is getting.
The undefeated Trojans have played a brutal schedule. They have played and defeated quality conference opponents Carmichaels and Fort Cherry and won a nonconference game at Imani Christian, the latter a team that has knocked off defending WPIAL champion Clairton. The undefeated Trojans play another rugged nonconference game tonight (7 p.m.) at home against traditional power Rochester (5-1).
California isn’t taking the easy way through the regular season, rather preparing itself for a deep playoff run. Playing these top teams now – Imani Christian and Rochester are either at or near the top of their respective conferences – will only help the Trojans down the road.
The question many have been asking through this impressive stretch for California (5-0, 7-0) is who is going to beat the Trojans?
The question we need to be asking is who can beat California?
Until somebody can stop California’s option offense that answer is nobody.
2. Playoff berths on the line – Several teams can clinch playoff berths tonight.
Let’s start in Class 6A, where if Peters Township defeats Mt. Lebanon or Canon-McMillan loses at Bethel Park, then the Indians will be in the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2013.
McGuffey will try to stay in contention for a first-round, home playoff game with a win over fourth place South Park in the Interstate Conference.
West Greene and Fort Cherry can clinch Class A playoff spots in the Tri-County South Conference with either a win or Jefferson-Morgan loss at Carmichaels.
3. Big games in the Big Nine – The biggest game of the week will be on the gold turf when Thomas Jefferson plays at Belle Vernon in a battle of unbeatens playing for first place.
But that isn’t the only big game in the tangled and entertaining Big Nine Conference.
West Mifflin (3-2, 4-2), who was originally thought of as a serious challenger to TJ for the conference title, is now fighting for a playoff spot after stunning losses to Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands. Ringgold is a half-game behind West Mifflin and hosts the Titans at Joe Montana Stadium. The winner will likely land a Class 4A playoff berth.
Every game down the stretch run of the regular season needs to be considered a playoff game for Trinity (2-3, 3-3). The Hillers can’t afford to lose ground in the standings as they are on the outside looking in at a playoff berth. Only the top four teams in the conference advance. If the Hillers win tonight at home against Albert Gallatin, they can play their way into the postseason with a win at Greensburg Salem and at home against Ringgold.
4. More offense needed – Not too many weeks will you find Peters Township rooting for a Canon-McMillan victory.
The Indians will be doing exactly that this week because if the Big Macs were to pull an upset over Mt. Lebanon, and Canon-McMillan defeats first-place Bethel Park, PT would move into a tie for first in the Southeastern Conference.
Both Canon-McMillan and Peters Township will have to show more life than they did a week ago. The Big Macs barely escaped what would have been Shaler’s first win in 20 tries, while Peters Township had no answer for Pine-Richland quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who completed all 14 of his pass attempts in the Rams’ romp.
5. Looking to stay perfect – If you liked Burgettstown vs. Beth-Center, then you might have to wait only one more week for another battle of unbeatens in the Class AA Century Conference.
Washington and Burgettstown are on a collision course for a showdown. Washington plays winless Chartiers-Houston tonight. Not much has gone right for the Bucs’ offense after losing its leading passer, rusher and receiver from a season ago. C-H averages only 3.7 points per game.
This will be another good game for Wash High quarterback Zack Swartz to continue making the Prexies a more balanced offense. Swartz has completed 27 of his 40 passes the last two weeks.
Burgettstown, however, will be tested. The Blue Devils play at Charleroi (3-1, 6-1). The Cougars’ only loss came at Washington on the first day of September.
Charleroi has scored 153 points over the last three weeks but hasn’t faced a defense like it will tonight since the game at Wash High
Burgettstown, like Washington did, could overpower Charleroi at the line of scrimmage and force the Cougars’ offense to become one-dimensional with the passing of quarterback Geno Pellegrini.
The Blue Devils’ defense will try to win the line play and create turnovers, which they’ve been known to do all season.
If both Washington and Burgettstown win tonight, then Hill Memorial Stadium will be standing-room-only next week with the Century Conference championship on the line.
Staff writer Luke Campbell can be reached at lcampbell@observer-reporter.com.