Franklin Regional, McKeesport set to battle for playoff positioning

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 | 6:06 PM

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There is a lot on the line Friday when Franklin Regional and McKeesport tangle in a WPIAL Class 5A Big East Conference battle.

The final two weeks of the regular season will be big for both teams.

While they already have secured playoff berths, finishing in first place is still a possibility for the winner.

“We’re looking at the final two games as a chance for redemption from the 2017 season,” McKeesport coach Mike Miller said. “(Franklin Regional and Gateway) defeated us last season, so we want to reverse those results.”

Franklin Regional (6-1, 4-1) opened that conference season with a 13-7 victory against the Tigers, and Gateway won 21-18 in the regular season and then ended the Tigers’ season with a 28-21 win in the WPIAL semifinals.

McKeesport (7-1, 4-1) has won four consecutive games since dropping a 20-9 decision to Penn-Trafford on Sept. 14. Franklin Regional rebounded from a 63-3 loss to first-place Gateway on Oct. 5 with a solid win against Connellsville.

Both are coming off easy wins in Week 7: McKeesport defeated Kiski Area, 66-6, and Franklin Regional toppled the Falcons, 42-9.

“I didn’t know how we’d respond after that loss to Gateway, but the players got back up off the mat after getting knocked down and fought hard against Connellsville,” Franklin Regional coach Greg Botta said. “Now we have to go to McKeesport and play another explosive team.

“Things snowballed against us when we played Gateway because of the big play. We can’t let that happen this week. We have to force them to earn everything they get. We can’t allow the big plays to McKeesport.”

The past two seasons, the games have been tight: McKeesport winning 14-7 in 2016 and Franklin Regional winning 13-7 in 2017.

Miller said Franklin Regional did a good job defensively the past two seasons.

But McKeesport is more diverse than it has been in the past because of senior quarterback Konota Gaskins and an improving offensive line.

“Konota is doing a great job running the offense,” Miller said. “He’s throwing the ball well, which opens up our run game.

“The last couple seasons, we opened with Franklin Regional. It will be interesting to see how we fare later in the season.”

Botta said defending McKeesport’s offense was a challenge when the Tigers predominately ran the ball. Now, it will be even tougher with Gaskins’ throwing ability.

“The quarterback us a dual threat,” Botta said. “When charting them, they’re throwing the ball even more than ever. They’re passing really well.

“I don’t know if we actually controlled their offense. We just kept them out of the end zone. They have tremendous athletes, and we have to be disciplined. It’s a heck of an offense to stop. Be gap sound and make sure we have our responsibilities.”

Early against Gateway, the Panthers defense did a good job taking away the Gators’ big pass plays. But a quick screen to Courtney Jackson, which was nearly a pick-6 for the Panthers, went for a 73-yard touchdown and the game quickly got out of hand.

“We had to move on from the Gateway game,” Franklin Regional quarterback Adam Rudzinski said. “There was nothing we could about the past. We had to worry about the future. We made the playoffs last week, and now we have to worry about the next two games and get ready for the playoffs.”

Rudzinski is having a special season for the Panthers. He has completed 55 of 112 passes for 1,068 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He said patience is the key against McKeesport.

“We have to play disciplined football on both sides of the ball and not give their athletes a lot of space,” Rudzinski said. “We’re just going to try to play our game.”

Both teams have big Week 9 games, as well, that will decide seeding for the playoffs. McKeesport battles Gateway, and Franklin Regional travels to Penn-Trafford.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Franklin Regional, McKeesport