WPIAL Big Game Hunting – Week Eight – 10/21/2015

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 | 5:03 PM

Week Eight arrives and we can smell the playoffs now. The post season party is just around the corner at the MSA World Headquarters, in fact pairings shows and medals are already making their appearances. But football is the biggie, the one where everyone shows up and Chix Picks prepares the fresh sushi bar. The Football pairing show is always likely to trigger a Schaasy and Mike Azadian argument about schools from Lawrence County versus schools from Allegheny County. Usually we have two people per classification and there is just enough sushi and just the right amount of seats to avoid problems. Next year though, six classifications for the first time, THAT could be a disaster at headquarters. Just another in the long list of reasons this particular reporter dislikes the move so much. What I do like though, are Big Games, and there are plenty coming up so let’s go Big Game Hunting.

AAAA Southeastern Conference
#6 Mount Lebanon Blue Devils (7-0)(5-0) vs #1 Woodland Hills Wolverines (7-0)(5-0) Friday October 23^rd @ 7:30 PM @ The Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and the Woodland Hills Sports Network by Adam Gusky and Fredy Guy

This is the Southeastern Conference Championship game and we expect it to be a dandy despite the fact that last year Woody High rolled the Blue Devils 47-0.

Since coming over from Manheim Township to take the Mount Lebanon job in 2012 Mike Melnyk’s team have been pretty good, twice they’ve made the playoffs including reaching the quarterfinals in 2012. This year’s team has a chance to be great. The Blue Devils are perfect and would love to stay that way. Woody High meanwhile remains atop the MSA Sports Top Ten and comes into week six after facing what might have been their toughest test so far in AAA West Allegheny last week.

George Novak’s teams always seem to find a way to win and this year that way is with a defense allowing a conference low 11.4 points per game and a running attack that just does not allow you to take a breath.

Senior quarterback Daron Cooper has completed 23 of just 46 passes on the season for the Wolverines, for 384 yards and seven touchdowns and he has not thrown an interception. He doesn’t throw a lot, because, why would you?

Jo-El Shaw has rushed it to the tune of 802 yards and 14 touchdowns on 81 carries for the season, averaging just a shade under 10 yards per attempt.

Miles Sanders is averaging just a tick less than 14 yards per attempt with his 698 yards on 50 touches, and he has scored nine touchdowns as well.

Lebo meanwhile counters with Eddie Jenkins who has been a force this year, completing 60 of 102 passes for 1059 yards and 13 touchdowns while tossing three interceptions.

His favorite targets have been Pat Moeller (24 catches 259 yards) and Jack Young (20 catches 598 yards) the duo has combined for nine touchdown receptions.

On the ground the Blue Devils will rely on David Harvey who has 72 carries and 575 yards to go along with his nine scores. Jenkins will run it as well he has rushed for 166 yards and a half dozen touchdowns on the year. Winner not only gets the Conference Title but maybe an inside leg on the top seed in the AAAA bracket.

AAA Greater Allegheny Conference
Armstrong River Hawks (4-3)(3-3) vs Gateway Gators (4-3)(3-3) Friday October 23^rd @ 7:00 PM @ Pete Antimarino Stadium on the campus of Gateway high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Greg Warnock and Greg Kuntz

The final playoff spot in the GAC might come down to this game between the Hawks and the Gators. One thing is certain, winner has a great shot at the post season, and the loser will have their playoff hopes greatly diminished.

Mike Lohte and Dawson Porter have combined to complete 45 of 70 passes for the Hawks, totaling 532 yards and 11 touchdowns with neither tossing a pick.

Shawn Giddings has 12 catches for 135 yards on the season for Armstrong.

On the ground the Hawks have one of the best in the entire WPIAL in Zane Dudek who has a second in the league total of 1438 yards rushing on 149carries for 19 touchdowns. Dudek is also a threat in the passing game with 10 catches for more than 100 yards.

Gateway’s defense is very good allowing a second-best-in-the-conference 15.6 points per game.

Offensively the Gators have not been perfect but they get the job done. Quarterback Brady Walker has completed 57 of 107 passes for 953 yards and eight scores without tossing an interception.

Aiden Howard is the Gators top receiver with 13 catches for 138 yards. Adam White will handle the bulk of the rushing duties with 91 carries on the season for 457 yards and four touchdowns. No other Gator has reached double digits in rushing attempts.

Not do, or die, winner not in, and loser not eliminated, but it certainly feels that way.

AA Century Conference
#8 Seton LaSalle Rebels (6-1)(5-1) vs #1 South Fayette Lions (7-0)(7-0) Friday October 23^rd at 7:00 PM on the campus of South Fayette high school broadcast by Sam Hall and Scott Majesky also available as a video stream game with Jess Levo on camera 

Joe Rossi’s Lions try to wrap up yet another unbeaten conference season looking for their 40^th consecutive win at home in week eight against rival Seton LaSalle. The Rebels got tripped up in week four by Steel Valley and so can only hope for a piece of the Century Conference title with a road win here in week eight.

The Lions have been totally dominant all season long. When many thought they might get a game on the road two weeks ago against Steel Valley they shut the Ironmen down completely en route to a 37-0 win.

South Fayette’s defense is stifling, and somehow under-rated. They only allow seven points per game on average with a pair of shut outs on the year. The offense has not missed a beat either.

Sophomore quarterback Drew Saxton has completed 65 of 93 passes for 981 yards and 20 touchdowns while throwing just four interceptions.

Danny Trimbur has 19 catches for 334 yards and seven scores. Nick Ponikva has 15 catches for 249 yards and tight end Ryhan Culberson has 13 catches for 127 yards.

On the ground Hunter Hayes has 759 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hayes is also a monster on the defensive side of the ball from the safety position for the Lions.

Seton meanwhile has been getting splendid production from first year starter at quarterback Nolan Abbiatici who has hooked up on 53 of 105 passes for 936 yards and 14 scores.

Pitt recruit Paris Ford is a “big-play-machine” for Damon Rosol with 514 yards on 26 catches, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch, he is also averaging almost nine yards per carry rushing the ball and has a team-high 16 touchdowns on the season.

The Lions have been playing for a while with a target on their back, this is a huge game for both of these teams regardless of the circumstances, mix in a shot at a piece of the title for the Rebels and they will be bringing everything they can to bear against the sophomore quarterback for the Lions.

A Black Hills Conference
#8 Bishop Canevin Crusaders (5-2)(4-1) vs #2 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans (7-0)(6-0) Friday October 23^rd @7:00 PM @ Mars Athletic Complex in Mars, Pennsylvania broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Cory Campano and Adam Hoerner

Don’t look now but out of nowhere the Crusaders get a crack at a piece of the Black Hills Conference title Friday night. Here’s the kicker, the Crusaders might have entered this game unbeaten in the conference were it not for surrendering a 14-0 fourth quarter lead against Fort Cherry back in week four before falling 20-14 in overtime. As it is they have won three straight including upsetting Avonworth in week six and they have earned their title crack.

North remains unbeaten but showed a crack in their heretofore perfect veneer in getting past Avonworth last week by a 26-14 margin.

Austin Scott at quarterback for the Crusaders has been solid since taking over three weeks ago, Scott has completed 19 0f 35 passes for 478 yards and seven touchdowns. He has thrown four interceptions, he will need to take care of the football if Canevin is to have a chance to knock-off number two this weekend.

Seasn Fitzgerald has 19 catches for 282 yards and five touchdowns receiving for Canevin. The Crusader run game is built around Amaan Bridgett who has 119 carries for 621 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year. Maliek Hemmingway has become a playmaker as well for Darren Schoppe’s club with 304 yards on 47 carries and he has scored four times.

Austin Liebro, Alex Simpson and Cam Rush anchor a defense that is allowing less than 20 points per game for Bishop Canevin.

The Trojans have quarterback Erik Taylor getting it done through the air completing 64 of 90 passes for 1119 yards and a dozen touchdowns. His top receivers are Khalil Weathers and Isaiah Harvin who have combined for 603 receiving yards on the season and, scored nine touchdowns.

Mario Latronica has 93 carries for 626 yards and nie touchdowns of his own, while Taylor also contributes in the run game with 393 yards rushing and another seven scores.

The Trojan defense is nothing shy of fantastic allowing just 6.3 points per game on the year.

Tags: Armstrong, Bishop Canevin, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Gateway, North Catholic, Woodland Hills