5 things to watch: It’s win or go home
The NBA used to come up with a “win or go home” campaign to promote playoff games on TV.
I always found that strange because the NBA playoffs are structured under a best-of-7 series.
When the WPIAL football playoffs kick off tonight at 7 for 11 local teams, the “win or go home” phrase will accurate.
Belle Vernon (8-1) qualified as the top seed in Class 3A, and the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion was awarded a bye in the first round. Canon-McMillan (6-4) qualified in Class 6A, but all four qualifiers have an off week before the semifinals begin Nov. 10.
Class A has six local qualifiers that will be in action tonight: Fort Cherry, Burgettstown, California, West Greene, Jefferson-Morgan and Monessen.
Washington, McGuffey and Waynesburg will take the field in Class 2A. Trinity is the lone local team to qualify in Class 4A and Peters Township will host as the top seed in Class 5A.
1. Glad to be back: Jefferson-Morgan and Waynesburg return to the postseason after lengthy absences, but both have mighty challenges in front of them.
The Rockets (6-4) are in the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, while the Raiders (7-3) clinched last week with a 45-27 win over Charleroi to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2014.
Waynesburg suffered through a winless campaign last season, which makes for a great story.
The Raiders hope for the storybook season to continue, but they will be tested against Imani Christian (7-2) at UPMC Graham Field in Wilkinsburg in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Jefferson-Morgan will see if it can slow Matt Sieg and company at Fort Cherry (10-0). The Rangers were hoping to be the No. 1 seed in Class A but the nod went to South Side Beaver (10-0).
2. McGuffey, Wash High on collision course?: The Highlanders and Prexies will host first-round games in Class 2A, which would create a rematch between the Century Conference powers in the quarterfinals, if both win tonight.
Third-seeded Washington (9-1) hosts Ellwood City (5-5) and No. 6 McGuffey (7-3) plays Derry (5-5).
If a quarterfinal rematch occurs, it will be only two weeks after Washington edged McGuffey, 13-7, to earn the top spot out of the conference for the playoffs.
3. Peters Township begins quest for 5A title: The Indians host Franklin Regional.
The 5A bracket fields eight teams and the championship game is scheduled for Nov. 18 at Norwin High School with a noon kickoff.
Peters Township was dominate in the regular season on its way to a 10-0 record. The Indians’ smallest margin of victory was a 23-10 win over Canon-McMillan in Week 8.
Peters Township’s defense allows 6.5 points per game and has four shutouts, but don’t sleep on the Indians’ offense, as it averages 40.5 points per game.
There was controversy among the teams that qualified in Class 5A, as Upper St. Clair was left out despite an 8-2 record, but the criteria for the eight that were selected favored Moon (5-5), Penn-Trafford (5-5) and Bethel Park (4-6).
Franklin Regional finished the regular season at 6-4.
4. No love for Tri-County South: California won the Class A Tri-County South Conference crown with a 7-0 record in league play.
The Trojans’ lone loss this season was to Waynesburg in the third week of the season. California did get a home game as the conference winner, but it won’t be a gimme against Jeanette (7-3).
The Jayhawks’ success is one of the most storied in the WPIAL, and even though they have not had the success they are accustomed to, expect a tough test for the Trojans.
West Greene (8-2) finished in second place in the Tri-County South and was hoping for a home game, but the Pioneers must travel to Plum High School for a rematch with Greensburg Central Catholic (7-3).
The Centurions finished second in the Eastern Conference and beat West Greene, 48-30, in Week 2 in Rogersville.
5. Road warriors: Monessen, Trinity and Burgettstown’s path to the quarterfinals will be on the road. Well, sorta.
The Greyhounds (4-6) travel to Hookstown against top-seed South Side Beaver (10-0), while the Hillers (6-4) have a shorter trip despite being the 10th seed in playing at neutral site South Fayette against North Catholic (5-5).
Burgettstown (5-4) will rack up the miles on the bus in traveling to New Castle to face Union (8-2). The Scotties are the defending WPIAL champions in Class A.