Big Game Hunting for Week One 2016

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 | 10:51 PM

Big Game Hunting gets bigger! Nothing wrong with that, right? 2016 and our weekly four-pack gets rounded out to an actual 6-pack. While I am not a fan yet of six classifications; I am willing to give it a try and I am a huge fan of six-packs. When someone shows up at your door and they have a six-pack, they are automatically your friend. Well in 2016 I will be showing up at your door with a six-pack every week, so that will make us friends. That’s a good thing and so is more football talk, and so is researching and writing about 150% of the games for the same amount of money right? Er…. Without further ado, let’s for the first time in 2016, go Big Game Hunting!

6A Southeast Conference:
Canon-MacMillan Big Macs (1-0)(0-0) at Hempfield Spartans (1-0)(0-0) Friday September 2^nd 2016 at 7:00 PM @ Hempfield high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WHJB FM 107.7 by Mike Zappone and Jimmy Lee Santorella 

Both of these teams return after 3-7 seasons in 2015, Hempfield made the playoffs and lost in the first round to Woody High, Canon-Mac just played and extra game at the end of the regular season. Both of these clubs played the extra game they were allowed in the move to six classifications last week in week zero. Canon-Mac handled Kiski 42-22 despite losing tailback Bryan Milligan to an injury on his second touch of the game. Anthony Sacco replaced Milligan and ran for 82 yards including a touchdown. Jordan Castelli completed 46% his passes for over 250 yards and three scoring strikes. Rahmiere Knight hauled in two of those touchdown passes, one from 60 and another from 58 yards out. Knight also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score. The Big Macs hope that Millgan will be able to return this week but still have to feel good about the way the offense played without their leading rusher from last season.

Hempfield held on late to defeat Greensburg Salem 28-21 allowing a pair of touchdowns in the final minute of regulation. The Spartans did rush for over 300 yards in the win. Jordan Kempka led the way with 184 yards on the ground, Isaiah DiAndreth scored a rushing and receiving touchdown in the win. Justin Sliwoski completed 59% of his passes for nearly 150 yards.

Both clubs are likely looking at a step-up in competition heading into this week one match-up. Playing the week zero game does take away a scrimmage, it will be great fun for us to decide as pundits, through this regular season whether teams that chose to play a game made the right choice. It’s early but this game will count the same as all the other Southeast Conference games at the end of the season. Both of these clubs have playoff aspirations, winning this game would be a huge step forward, losing it will make the road considerably harder. This is the very definition of a BIG Game.

5A Big East Conference:
#6 Franklin Regional Panthers (0-0)(0-0) at #4 McKeesport Tigers (0-0)(0-0) Friday September 2^nd 2016 at 7:00 PM @ McKeesport high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Paul Paterra and Lou Rood

Here we have two perennial playoff teams and both decided not to play in a week zero game. The Panthers no longer have dual-threat quarterback Santino Birty, a big loss they will look for Simon Behr who had all of five carries in his junior year to be that dual-threat in Greg Botta’s offense this season. Taking over at running back for the departed Jake Ross is junior Stephen Johns who toted the rock to the tune of 415 yards and six touchdowns in his 57 carries. He will get a bunch more touches this season based on those from 2015. The Panthers don’t air it out often, only one receiver reached double-digits in catches for them last year, Todd Sumers and his ten catches are gone as well, look for Nate Leopold to be that guy this season.

In the trenches and on defense is where Franklin-Regional has the most returning size, strength and experience. Bennett Verona, Doug Rudzinski and Bryce Lauer along with Adam Farbarik will lead what should be a very strong offensive line for the Panthers.

Speaking of not airing it out very much, it’s time to talk about the McKeesport Tigers. Last year in the final year for legendary head coach George Smith the Tigers completed 13 passes as a team for the season, and that was actually a pretty high number. McKeesport’s new coach Matt Miller not only lost Khaleke Hudson to graduation but actually lost all of his top four rushers and top four scorers, gone with them 3067 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns, WOW!

Jayvaun Shears is back for his senior year, last season he completed four of 13 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns, he also carried the ball 42 times for 346 yards and scored five touchdowns. John Harper also returns after rushing for 208 yards and three touchdowns last year, look for that duo to get a bunch of touches in an offense that will still be the “Flex-bone” that Coach Smith made famous and Matt Miller played on in the early 90’s.

The Tiger do have some solid returnees on the defensive side of the ball. Shears and Harper both will return to roles in the secondary, while Antoine Cook returns in the trenches and the line-backing corps will still be anchored by Davon Brown and Ray Zellars.

The Tigers have replaced great runners before so I doubt the drop off will be so dramatic on the offensive side of the ball. The winner of this game establishes themselves as a contender for the Big East Conference title.

4A Northwest Nine Conference:
#5 Mars Planets (1-0)(0-0) at #1 South Fayette Lions (1-0)(0-0)  Friday September 2^nd 2016 at 7:00 PM @ South Fayette high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Lanny Frattare and Bob Orkwis

Impressive week zero wins for both of these teams last weekend. South Fayette controlled Central Valley 28-17 behind a rock-solid defense and the passing of junior quarterback Drew Saxton. Saxton completed 18 of 22 passes for 259 yards and a 38 yard touchdown pass. The Lions got a pair of scores on the ground from Geavonie Love.

The Lions looked loaded and ready to contend for a Northwest Nine title. Noah Plack is a playmaker on both sides of the ball, the trenches are very strong for 10^th year head coach Joe Rossi. Wide Receiver Dan Trimbur has become a dominant playmaker, when you add Plack as the tight end and Mikey Speca in the slot or on the other edge defenses just don’t have the manpower to cover these guys. You cannot double team everyone. Lions get open and with Drew Gedrys and Alex Minford protecting Saxton he has plenty of time to find those open guys. Right now the Lion offense is a beautiful thing to see.

For yet another season that fantastic offense may distract from one of the best defenses in the WPIAL . The defensive line is so solid Gedrys and Ray Eldridge lock down the edges and Minford and Thayer Phillips (who returned a fumble for a touchdown in week zero), bottle up the middle. Plack at middle linebacker is a football player’s football player. The secondary is anchored by Trimbur and a solid, one-on-one cover guy in Luke Meindl.

The Lions will get one of their toughest tests in conference play here in week one though. The Planets and Scott Heinauer are perennial contenders and appear ready to make a run again this year. Mars went 10-2 and reached the semi-finals last season.

Isaiah Johnson returns after rushing for over 1600 yards last season and nearly 20 touchdowns. Johnson made a solid statement to start his senior year rushing for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a week zero 28-0 win over Hampton.

The Planets rushed for 314 yards in the win with Garrett  Reinke adding 81 yards and a score on the ground.

Quarterback Noah Wright completed one of five passes for 29 yards in the win, Max Chizmar a returnee on both sides of the ball made the catch. So the Planets aren’t going to try and disguise the offense too much they intend to run the football, and see if you can stop them.

The Planets have some monster line backers as well led by Chizmar and Anthony Grieco. Defensively they held what I think will end up being a pretty good Talbots team to 209 total yards of offense in week zero.

The Planets only have a single returning starter in the secondary though in Johnson. That could make the fact that they are running into the Lions in week one a problem.

The winner of this game becomes the early favorite to win the Northwest Nine in its inaugural season.

3A Beaver Valley Conference:
Aliquippa Quips (1-0)(0-0) vs Beaver Falls Tigers (0-0)(0-0) Friday September 2^nd 2016 @ 7:00 PM @ Reeves Field on the campus of Geneva College broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WBVP AM 1230 by Bob Barrickman and Kerry Lacey

Thankfully the six classifications move has not cost us this game. It has moved it from week nine to week one but, any port in a storm.

The Quips have won seven straight in the series, and they are coming into this game with a week zero win over New Castle 44-28.

Curious to see this game in any case but it will be interesting to see, as the Quips played and Beaver Falls did not play in week zero, if there is any detectable difference in the decisions.

The Tigers are loaded with returning and incoming new talent. Expectations are very high coming off a 9-2 season and a trip to the quarterfinals in 2015.

One of the top talents in the WPIAL returns in Donovan Jeter, also back are Malik Shepherd and Adam Brady who combined to complete 54 of 105 passes last year for 1166 yards. Shepherd was also the leading rusher for Beaver Falls rolling up over 1100 yards on the ground and scoring a total of 18 touchdowns on the season.

Top receiver Derrell Carter also returns, a big-time playmaker.

Beaver Falls also got a transfer from Ambridge in quarterback Austin French keep an eye on how the Tigers work him into the mix.

Beaver Falls though has to overcome what I think will be a significant mental hurdle against Aliquippa, they have not beaten the Quips since 2009.

The Quips lost a lot to graduation but that never seems to really slow Coach Z and company. They fell behind against New Castle last week early and had to overcome a 21-6 deficit to win the game going away.

The talk is that their offensive and defensive lines are just going to overwhelm a lot of teams in this 2016 campaign.

Tyriq Jones, Babby Cashaw and Avante McKenzie had big week zero games for the Quips who played week zero without Kiyon Fooks who many expect to be there main go-to in terms of running the ball in 2016.

Kwantell Raines will be the signal caller for the Quips as well as a D-1 recruit in the defensive secondary for the defending champions.

The line on both sides for Mike Zmianic will be anchored by Xavier and Dajour Fisher 290 and 280 pounds respectively, and they are capable of taking over football games completely at times.

The Quips win last week was number 688 in school history.

As with every season the winner here gets more than just bragging rights, they get a huge leg-up on a conference title.

2A Midwestern Conference:
#3 CWNC Trojans (0-0)(0-0) vs #4  Neshannock Lancers (1-0)(0-0) Friday September 2^nd 2016 @ 7:00 PM @ Neshannock high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WJST-AM 1280 by Mark Schaas and Lee Mohn

The Trojans were 11-1 and semifinalists last year in single A, while the Lancers went 9-2 before falling in the quarterfinals. This another pair of well-established programs.

It’s obviously very early but the winner will become the favorite to win this conference title outright.

The Lancers surprised a lot of folks with a week zero dismantling of the Farrell Steelers 42-14, in a game that from all reports was not even as close as the score would indicate.

Senior quarterback Frank Antuono completed 8 of 17 passes for 162 yards and a score, while also rushing for 123 yards and three more scores in the win.

Sean Doran ran for 79 yards and a score as well for the Lancers, while senior Danny Welker caught three passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Doran led the Lancer defense with eight tackles including a couple for losses.

In all the Neshannock defense totaled six tackles for loss, two sacks, and a pair of interceptions against the Steelers.

Cardinal Wuerl lost a lot to graduation with the departure of Erick Taylor at quarterback, but Mario Latronica is back for what I expect to be a monstrous senior season rushing the football for second year head coach Jason Gildon.

Latronica, who has been a big part of this Trojan offense since his freshman year will be the main focus I think after a 2015 season where he rushed for 918 yards and 14 scores.

No word yet on who will take over the signal calling duties for CWNC, but the line will be strong on both sides, despite their youth, how quickly they gel together to block for Latronica and company will go a long way to determining the fate of the 2016 Trojans.

1A Tri-County South Conference:
Carmichaels Mighty Mikes (0-0)(0-0) vs Monessen Greyhounds (0-1)(0-0) Friday  September 2^nd @ 7:00 PM @Monessen high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and the Green County Sports Network by Jason Tennant and Lanfer Simpson

The Hounds went 5-4 last year missing the playoffs and Carmichaels went 5-5, maybe wishing they had missed the playoffs after a first round 70-6 whooping at the hand of the Clairton Bears.

Monessen drop a week zero contest to rival Charleroi 23-21 last weekend. The Hounds and Jo-Jo Salvino will look to rebound with line play from three returning starters in Marc Gibson, Hunter Telegraphis and Damien Tineri.

Lavelle Rush is lost to graduation so look for Jaron Youngblood to get more carries after a 2015 that saw him rush for over 300 yards. Jaden Altomore will be the signal caller, and passer for the Hounds. Youngblood scored on a five yard run in the loss to Charleroi.

Keep an eye on Monessen’s Nate Simms who buzzed in an 89 kickoff return for a touchdown last weekend. The Hound’s managed just 145 yards of total offense in that week zero loss and they will need to improve on that if they hope to start conference play with a win.

The Mikes are feeling good entering their first game of the 2016 campaign. Jonathan Christopher slides from leading receiver into the role of quarterback after catching 20 passes for 384 yards last year he will do the throwing behind a very experienced offensive line.

Nick Mundell will get the bulk of the work in the running game taking over for graduated Coty Allen. Mundell rushed 65 times for 271 yards and a score last year. He will have the ball in his hands a lot this season.

Robert Meadows, who was all-conference on the defensive line last year for the Mighty Mikes will anchor the line on both sides of the ball this season for head coach Ryan Krull.

Tags: Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Canon-McMillan, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Carmichaels, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, McKeesport, North Catholic