Oct 27, 2016 4 min read

Some of the luster might be off tonight’s football game between Ringgold and Trinity at Joe Montana Stadium, but it still has meaning, especially to the Rams.

Ringgold wrapped up the final WPIAL playoff spot in the Class 4-A Big 9 Conference when Trinity was shut out by Greensburg Salem last week.

This game still has playoff implications, exclusively for seeding. Ringgold might be able to avoid a first-round meeting with a top seed by beating Trinity. The Rams (5-2, 6-2) have wins over two teams – West Mifflin in a Week 7 game in the Big 9 and New Castle of the Northwest 9 last week in a non-conference game – that could be considered for a better seed than the fourth-place Rams might otherwise expect.

Ringgold could be looking at a trip to undefeated South Fayette if the Rams lose to Trinity.

“We’re taking the approach that it’s a first-round playoff game,” said Ringgold head coach Nick Milchovich. “We have to win. We don’t know what to expect (from Trinity). A lot of times when teams aren’t in the playoffs, things can go one way or the other. We can’t predict who is going to show up, so we’ll be ready.”

Trinity (3-4, 3-5) has had a see-saw season, winning every other week since Week 2. The Hillers nearly upended then-unbeaten Belle Vernon before falling 21-15 in Week 6. Greensburg Salem handed the Hillers their first shutout of the season, 27-0, last week by holding running back Joey Koroly relatively in check. Koroly, who entered the game as the sixth-leading rusher in the WPIAL, finished with 76 yards on 18 carries. The Golden Lions also had two key interceptions of quarterback Dylan Kern.

“Trinity is a dangerous team,” Milchovich said. “They have a lot size. Their quarterback can make throws. We’ll have our work cut out for us.”

Ringgold quarterback George Martin has passed for 1,537 yards and not been intercepted this season. Running back Brenden Small needs 286 yards to reach 1,000. Wide receivers Max Maciejewski and Dalton Holt have combined for 69 receptions, 1,103 yards and 10 touchdowns.

West Greene needs a win: If West Greene is to snap a playoff drought that dates back to 1993, then the Pioneers need to win one more game.

The Pioneers play California in a Tri-County South Conference finale that holds the only win-and-you’re-in playoff-clinching game in the two-county area.

Avella (2-5, 2-7) and Jefferson-Morgan (1-5, 1-8) also are alive for a berth but need the Pioneers (2-4, 3-6) to lose. Avella has a non-conference game against Summit Academy (2-6) and Jefferson-Morgan plays conference power Fort Cherry (5-1, 7-1).

Avella can finish fifth with a California win and a Fort Cherry victory or with a California win and a win by Monessen (1-5, 1-8) over Mapletown (3-3, 4-5). Jefferson-Morgan is fifth with a win, and victories by California and Mapletown.

Confused?

It’s understandable.

West Greene head coach Rodney Huffman says he is treating this game like every other and that all the other possibilities are moot if the Pioneers succeed.

“I tried not to build it up too much,” said Huffman. “If all goes well and we win, it will be good for the school. We are the overwhelming underdog but I’m trying to put that aside.”

Look for the Pioneers to rely on quarterback Zach Pettit and tailback Ben Jackson, who has rushed for 1,081 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Pettit has run for 710 yards and nine TDs.

“The offense goes through Zach,” Huffman said. “He’s grown into a leadership role. We have to control the football and play better on defense than we did last week.”

West Greene lost to Western Beaver, 33-14, in a Homecoming game that had to be moved to Waynesburg because of flooding from of heavy rains.

“I think we lost focus because of the change of venue, Homecoming, and the weather,” Huffman said. “That’s characteristic of a young team.”