Mikes鈥� win over Pioneers creates TCS third-place logjam
CARMICHAELS 鈥� Anyone know a good mathematician?
The Class A Tri-County South Conference needs one after Carmichaels defeated West Greene 19-6 on a chilly Friday night at Coaches Field, causing a logjam for third place in the standings.
West Greene, which could have clinched third place and a playoff berth in the conference with a win, instead finds itself in a tie with the Mikes and Bentworth, each with a 3-3 record, for third place in the final earned spot in the WPIAL playoffs.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 unlikely we鈥檒l get into the playoffs, but I don鈥檛 know for sure,鈥� said West Greene head coach Beau Jackson. 鈥淲e weren鈥檛 worried about the numbers. We just were worried about Carmichaels this week.鈥�
If the teams remain tied after the regular season ends next week, the Gardner Points System will be applied, and if the teams remain deadlocked then the WPIAL Point-Differential System will be used. If a tie still exists the WPIAL football committee will decide which team will receive the third playoff spot in the conference.
鈥淎ll year, I told our players we are only going to worry about what鈥檚 in front of us, whether that would be practice or training sessions,鈥� said Carmichaels head coach Ryan Krull. 鈥淲e鈥檒l let the scoreboard play out whatever way it was going to play out. In this game, it was play the next play, then play the next play, and then play the next play. When we looked at the scoreboard, the Mikes scored more.鈥�
Carmichaels quarterback Cannon Bupka, a junior, rushed for unofficially 105 yards and scored two touchdowns. Backfield mate Will Murray rushed for 106 yards and scored a touchdown in the second half that gave the Mikes a 19-0 lead.
鈥淲e鈥檝e not had two guys rush for that many but we have had one,鈥� Krull said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard for a defense when they have to worry about this guy, and this guy. We had some other guys touch the ball on a regular basis.鈥�
鈥淚t was almost a perfect game,鈥� said Bupka. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to slight Mapletown (next week鈥檚 opponent) but I feel a lot more confident after beating West Greene.鈥�
Carmichaels built a 13-0 lead on the legs of Bupka. The Mikes鈥� quarterback broke off a 34-yard run the first play into the second quarter. Robbie Wilson-Jones nailed the extra-point attempt, and the Mikes led 7-0. Bupka鈥檚 touchdown run was set up by a sack of 20 yards by Parker Hewitt.
The second score came on 20-yard scamper with 5:36 remaining in the half. The score capped an eight-play, 76-yard drive.
Murray rushed for 77 yards on 14 carries in the half while Bupka gained 55 on five attempts.
Hayden Hamilton scored West Greene鈥檚 only touchdown on a 5-yard run with 8:52 remaining in the game.