Thoughts on the WPIAL football playoffs
This Friday, West Greene and Carmichaels will join the rest of the field in the 2017 WPIAL football playoffs to see who will take home this year’s six District 7 titles in three weeks.
It’s pretty likely you all know by now that West Greene, which received the No. 11 seed in Class 1-A, will travel to Beaver County to face sixth-seeded Rochester for its first playoff game in over two decades. Carmichaels gets the luxury of playing at home for what it hopes will be the first of three WPIAL playoff games, when the No. 7 Mikes host No. 10 Western Beaver.
Both contests, as well as all but one first-round match-up, will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Rather than analyze those two games, I thought I would try to provide some secondary story lines from outside the Greene County lines to get you interested in games that maybe don’t hold that much appeal. For a system like the WPIAL playoffs that more often than not produces remarkably similar results year-in and year-out, I think this season has a chance to be different.
n Sticking in 1-A, the unthinkable could happen in 2017: a Tri-County South team hoisting the trophy at Robert Morris University. California completed its first undefeated season in over 60 years this past Friday and boasts some truly impressive statistics to go along with a 10-0 record.
The Trojans completed the season-long sweep with an average final score of 54-7. Contrast that with Upper St. Clair, which won the Class 5-A Allegheny Nine Conference, by an average score of 26-19. I know comparing the T-CS to one of the best conference in western Pennsylvania might not be fair, but the numbers alone are pretty staggering.
Unlike past conference champions, California also boasts impressive victories in its non-conference tilts. The Trojans downed Imani Christian, which is seeded fourth in this year’s bracket, by 15 points, and rolled through sixth-seeded Rochester 38-6 just two weeks ago.
Perhaps it’s just my personal feelings and lack of expectations when it comes to the Tri-County South, but I still don’t see Cal as a slam dunk champ in the same vein as Clairton in recent years. After watching the Trojans against the Pioneers, I believe that a speedy, confident team that is stout on the defensive line, could slow that prolific triple-option offense.
One thing playing into California’s favor is the fact that the Trojans will only have to face either Clairton or Jeannette to take the crown, as both are on the other side of the bracket.
n If there is one high seed that everyone seems to be overlooking, I feel that it is undefeated Belle Vernon in 4-A. Despite that unblemished record and a win over one of the most successful programs in the Pittsburgh area, Thomas Jefferson, BV had to settle for second behind perennial powerhouse South Fayette.
It’s almost impossible to conceive of a team that is further from the stereotype of a top seed than the Leopards. Their starting quarterback, Jared Hartman, has completed just 45 of 97 attempts for 681 yards and 12 touchdowns, while the team’s leading rusher, Mason Pascoe, has a respectable, but not awe-inspiring 563 yards on the ground.
So, how has Belle Vernon pulled off a flawless 2017 campaign? The Leopards have only given up 9.0 points per game, meaning their bright gold field is flashier than the team that competes on it.
n Looking for an upset special this Friday? I, as well as R.J. Leisie, one of the voices of high school football on WANB, like 11th-seeded Beth-Center to take down sixth-seeded Serra Catholic on the road. The biggest reason for this confidence is the play of stud running back Dom Fundy, who is the No. 5 rusher in all classes of the WPIAL.
The Bulldogs have also shown the ability to compete with playoff-caliber opposition. They lost by 12 points or less to both Charleroi and Burgettstown and were able to stay close to Washington before the Prexies pulled away in the second half.
Before I wrap up this football-themed piece, I want to make a quick mention of maybe the most successful futbol program in county history. Best of luck to the Waynesburg Central girls soccer team which will go for its first WPIAL title in school history on Saturday at Highmark Stadium at Pittsburgh.
The game, which pits the Raiders against top-seeded and unbeaten Freedom, gets going at 11 a.m. If you can’t make it to the big city to cheer WCHS on in person, Greenesports.net will have all the action.