Nov 4, 2015 6 min read

The shadow of previous first-round playoff defeats was a dark shroud over Ringgold’s football program, but it was finally lifted in 2014 with the Rams’ run to the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals.

Five starters on both offense and defense, including Nico Law, are gone, but coming one win shy of a trip to Heinz Field has altered expectations in Monongahela.

The players, coaches and members of the community are settling for nothing less than the program’s first WPIAL title since 1982.

“Expectations are raised by us and everyone else around us,” Ringgold head coach Nick Milchovich said. “We probably had our best practice of the year (Tuesday). It was almost like the kids flipped a switch and said, ‘Now it counts.’ A lot of those kids were a part of the playoff run last year and they know what it takes.”

It all begins Friday night, when the fifth-seeded Rams (8-1) host No. 12 Ambridge (5-4) in a first-round playoff game at Joe Montana Stadium. All first-round games kick off at 7:30 p.m.

Ringgold, which finished second in the Big 10 Conference, narrowly escaped Trinity’s upset bid a week ago, but it was not the first close call.

After beating Gateway and Hampton by average of less than six points per game in the playoffs last season, the Rams have won three games this fall by seven points or less, including victories over Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin.

“Those kinds of wins are huge,” Milchovich said. “When I got the job, I looked at the scores from previous years and it was always blowouts one way or the other. The kids really learned how to grind it out at the end of games. They learned they have to make plays at the end if they want to win and that builds resiliency. These kids never panic.”

Ringgold is having success with a strong running game and sound offensive line – two qualities it shares with the Bridgers, who qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Like the Rams, Ambridge has a run-heavy offense with a big quarterback, Austin French.

The Bridgers finished fourth in the Parkway Conference, averaging just 16.7 points per game, but they were without French for a portion of the season. Ambridge coach Dan Bradley, a Washington High School graduate, saw plenty of similarities when watching game footage of the Rams.

“As much as we’re the same, we’re also very different,” Bradley said. “We have more of a power running game, while theirs is more zone and stretch, but defensively we both get after it. It’s probably going to come down to the team that runs the ball the best and makes the fewest mistakes.”

Ringgold’s formula could be different than last season. While Law was a dual-threat quarterback, first-year starter George Martin, a junior, is a traditional pocket passer who has thrown nine touchdowns.

While many expected the Rams’ offense to revolve around the running of senior Chacar Berry and sophomore Brenden Small, they used the regular season to prepare Martin for a run at Heinz Field. He will likely be tested by Ambridge, which has a large defensive line that includes Micah Jarrett, a 6-6, 336-pound senior, and had success stopping the run.

“Could we run the ball 40 times a game and beat people? Sure. But we had to develop a passing game,” Milchovich said. “We’re a different team than we were last year. We had to bring George along. If we wanted to, we could run the ball and beat people, or do we want to win a championship? You’re going to need your quarterback in the playoffs because you’re going to run into a team with a good defense that will put you in third-and-eight, and you’re going to have to convert.”

No. 9 Avonworth at No. 8 Beth-Center : The Bulldogs (7-2) will host the Antelopes (7-2), who finished third in the Black Hills Conference. Beth-Center is trying for its first playoff win since 2010, which was the Tri-County South’s last playoff victory.

Since then, the conference has accounted for eight of the nine upsets in the first round. It is the Bulldogs’ 13th consecutive playoff appearance.

“I like being the underdog, which we are according to all the papers and people out there,” Beth-Center head coach Ed Woods said. “We have nothing to lose. We haven’t won a playoff game in a while. That’s something that’s been stressed the last couple of days. Our goal is to go out there and do the best we can, leave it all out on the field and come out with a win.”

The teams have two of the most prolific offensive players in Class A.

Avonworth senior quarterback Zach Chandler set the WPIAL single-season passing record, which was held by Seton-La Salle graduate and Steelers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. Chandler has completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,812 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Beth-Center running back Tony Welsh has 4,857 career rushing yards and could become only the 16th player in WPIAL history to reach 5,000.

No. 16 Carmichaels at No. 1 Clairton: The Mikes (5-4) will try to spoil the Bears’ bid for a seventh WPIAL title in eight years, but Clairton (9-0) possesses the WPIAL’s highest-scoring offense and its defense is allowing only 6.8 points per game.

The Bears have a trio of Division I prospects: senior quarterback Aaron Mathews, senior running back Harrison Dreher and junior running back Lamont Wade.

Carmichaels is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009, when lost to Fort Cherry in the first round.

No. 14 Chartiers-Houston at No. 3 Jeannette: The Jayhawks (8-1) earned the third seed, despite finishing second in the Eastern Conference. They are led by quarterback Giovonne Sanders’ 18 touchdowns and running back Kareem Hall, who left last week’s win over Greensburg Central Catholic with an injury.

The Bucs (5-4) are led by quarterback TJ Johnston’s 13 touchdown passes. They have not won a playoff game since 2001 and are looking to become the sixth team in the last 10 years to upset a third seed in the first round.

No. 11 Bentworth at No. 11 Neshannock: The Bearcats (6-3) are making their first playoff appearance since 2005 and finished third in the Tri-County South behind a balanced offense.

Quarterback Josh Hughes threw for almost 1,800 yards and 23 touchdowns, and running back Ethan Tush ran for 1,000 yards and 13 scores.

Neshannock (8-1) was second in the Big Seven Conference behind quarterback Frank Antuono’s 2,376 total yards and 33 touchdowns.