Big Game Hunting for Week Five 2016

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, September 29, 2016 | 9:17 AM

Week Five and the drive to stay alive is no jive, if you can make it you will arrive, where you want to be. Keeping that sentence there because, as bad as it is, it did not trigger any grammatical or spelling errors in the Microsoft Word software and, I like it. Week Five has great matchups including a preview of what many think could be the eventual championship game in AAAAAA. Before we get to week five though, WOW!!!! What a night at Dormont Stadium in week four, Beaver and Darius Wise and, Keystone Oaks and Alex Smith put on a show for the ages. John Lee and I were there for the 77-49 win for the Bobcats and it was nothing short of breathtaking for everyone in attendance. That game is a big part of why we do what we do at the MSA Sports Network, any given Friday night can turn into the memory of a lifetime. So once again, let’s go Big Game Hunting!

6A Northern Seven
#2 Pine-Richland Rams (2-0)(4-1) vs #1 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (3-0)(4-1) Friday September 30th @ 7:30 PM at Highmark Stadium in Station Square broadcast on WJAS AM 1320 and the MSA Sports Network by Lanny Frattare and Bob Orkwis

This is a match-up many people are predicting could be played again at Heinz Field in November. Number 1 versus number 2 in the largest classification the WPIAL has to offer.
Both these teams entered 2016 with high expectations and so far, both have delivered.
Both teams lost to out of state teams in week zero and have responded with four straight impressive wins, although Pine got a very good test from a solid Bethel Park team last week before securing a 31-24 win at home against the Black Hawks.

Central has the top-scoring offense in 6A and Pine-Richland has the third ranked offense in term of points scored in the classification.

The Rams will turn to Phil Jurkovec, junior quarterback and Notre Dame Recruit who gets set to face a Terry Totten defense allowing a second best in class 15.2 points per game.
Jurkovec has completed 79 of 31 passes for 1323 yards and ten touchdowns while throwing just two interceptions. He is also a threat to run and has scored seven rushing touchdowns on the season.

Junior running back Jordan Crawford has 20 catches for 283 yards and a pair of scores in the passing game. He is also the Rams go-to runner with 72 carries for 402 yards and seven scores.

Outside Jurkovec will look to a pair of juniors in Ray Falcone (18 catches 406 yards five touchdowns), and Jason DeFrancisis (19 catches 289 yards), when he wants to throw.
The Rams defense has nine interceptions led by senior Tanner Douglas who has four. Sophomore outside linebacker leads the Rams in tackles with 46.

Central has skill in quarterback Troy Fisher, who has completed over 60% of his passes for eight touchdowns and well over 500 yards, Fisher is another guy who can hurt you with his feet as well, he has rushed for nearly 200 yards and four touchdowns on the year.

J.J. Younger will get the bulk of the work rushing the football, he has rushed for nearly 400 yards and four scores of his own. Justice Evans is a guy the Vikes will try to get the football to in any way possible. He is their leading receiver with 12 catches but also makes big-plays in the rushing game with a ‘yards per carry’ average at a breathtaking 23.25 for the year.

Where the Vikes are really loaded is in the trenches Kurt (6’3’’ 290 pounds) and Jacob (6’3’’ 280 pounds) Hinish anchor the right side of the offensive line and Penn State recruit C.J. Thorpe (6’5’’ 310 pounds) is truly trucking people savagely on the left side.

Both Kurt Hinish and Thorpe are disruptive forces on the defensive side of the ball as well. David Adams is a Notre Dame commit at linebacker for Terry Totten’s team. The secondary is loaded as well for the Vikes, they have totaled seven interceptions on the season to date.
Winner here not only gets a leg up on a Northern Seven title but maybe the top seed in the AAAAAA bracket.

5 A Big East
#3 Penn Trafford Warriors (3-0)(5-0) vs #8 Gateway Gators (2-1)(3-2) Friday September 30th at 7:00 PM @ Pete Antimarino Stadium on the campus of Gateway high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Matt Vadriak and Sean Saputo

Gateway rebounded from a week three lost to Armstrong with a week four win over Hampton 49-14. Penn Trafford just continues to roll along through the 2016 season sloughing off Latrobe last week 48 – 17. Keep in mind the Warriors lost a huge amount of talent to graduation coming into 2016 and a lot of pundits thought this might be rebuilding season for John Ruane’s team. That job is already been done.

Junior quarterback Cam Laffoon is thriving in John Ruane’s offense, Laffoon has completed 52 of 90 passes for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns while throwing just one interception. He can also burn you with his feet running the football. Wide receivers Anthony Cervone and Cam Suman both juniors, have each caught 10 of the phones passes, the duo has combined for 414 yards and five touchdowns. John gay is the leading rusher for the Warriors 374 yards on 61 carries, he has scored three touchdowns. Christian Jantz and Nico Santimauro will also get their touches. Jantz is averaging 12 yards per carry with Santimauro getting 10 yards every time he carries the football.

Gateway enters the “Battle for the Bell” with Junior quarterback Brady Walker emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in the WPI AL as a dual-threat. Walker has hooked up on 48 of 75 passes for 961 yards and thrown for 10 touchdowns, he will pull it down and run as well. The Gators also have some designed runs for him in their offense. JaQuan brisker will get the bulk of the work for the Gaiter ground game, he rushed for 77 yards last weekend in the win over Hampton. Brisker is also a threat to catch passes out of the backfield.

Courtney Jackson got three touchdown passes and went over 100 yards receiving last week for the Gators.

The Warriors will need to do their best to limit his contributions in that Gator passing attack.

4 A Big Nine
#2 Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (4-0)(4-0) vs #7 Ringgold Rams (3-1)(3-1) Friday, September 30th at 7:00 PM @ Joe Montana stadium on the campus of Ringgold high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Andy Stanko and Kevin Zielmanski

Bill Cherpak’s Jaguars just keep rolling along. Thomas Jefferson is unbeaten behind quarterback Bobby Kelly. Kelly has completed 19 of 26 passes for 448 yards 11 touchdowns and thrown just one interception.

Kelly’s favorite target is Zane Zandier who has a dozen catches for 348 yards and a score, he is a threat to run the football as well. Jon Muehlbauer has five catches for 43 yards for the Jaguars.

TJ’s top rusher is Quinton Hill with 28 carries for 336 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Getting some work in the ground game also is Justin Vigna with 286 yards and five scores.

As always, the Jags play tenacious defense as well they are allowing a ‘second best in AAA’ 3.5 points per game on the season.

That Jags defense will be tested by the Ringgold Rams. This game begins a second half of the season for Bill Cherpak’s club in which they will be facing much more challenging opponents than they have seen so far in 2016. Four of their final five opponents are currently ranked in the MSA Sports Top Seven.

Ringgold quarterback George Martin has completed 41 of 68 passes for seven touchdowns and not thrown an interception, for a total of 599 yards.

His top receiver, Dalton Holt has caught 15 balls for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
When the Rams need to go to the ground attack look for Brendan Small to get the bulk of the work. Small has carried 49 times for 495 yards and six touchdowns.

The Rams are the more desperate football team at home this Friday night coming off a loss to Bell Vernon two short weeks ago and still having a meeting with West Mifflin down the road.

3 A Beaver Valley Conference
#1 Beaver Bobcats (2-0)(4-0) vs #4 Central Valley Warriors (2-0)(4-1)  Friday, September 30th at 7:00 PM @ Central Valley high school broadcast on WBVP AM 1230 and the MSA Sports Network by Bob Barrickman and Kerry Lacey

Huge game in AAA number one versus number four on the MSA Sports Network Friday night.

Mark Lyons and Central Valley Warriors have rattled off four straight wins and since a week zero loss at South Fayette. The Warriors quarterback system sees Nico Battisti and Curtis Latshaw sharing the snaps. The duo has combined to complete 40 of 82 passes for nine touchdowns and 728 yards while only throwing two interceptions. Battisti has also rushed for 228 yards and four scores.

Keep an eye on wide receiver Anthony Mendicino who has 11 catches 191 yards and a touchdown he is a big play maker for the Warriors, along with Aris Tatalovich who has nine catches for 59 yards, and Cam Drake who has six catches for 287 yards on the year.

Running back Danny Santia has carried the ball 48 time for 298 yards and eight touchdowns for the Warriors.  Terry Woods is not just a great full back and leading blocker but one of the best linebackers in the WPIAL for Central Valley, this kid is big, fast, very athletic and a team leader. The Warriors have been improving since that week zero loss and get their crack at number one this weekend.

Meanwhile the Bobcats keep rolling along behind Darius wise one of the best athletes that I have ever seen in the WPIAL. Wise is the ultimate dual-threat quarterback, completing 33 of 45 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns but where he does the most damage is running the football. He has 63 carries for 909 yards and 15 touchdowns, including a 400+ yards and seven touchdowns performance last week against Keystone Oaks. He’s a monster on defense is well at free safety for Jeff Beltz.

Keep an eye on Dante Anzevino who is the second leading rusher on the year for the Warriors. When Wise throws the football Christian Hyrb and Micah Weaver are his two top targets,  but Landon Pontoli makes a lot of big catches as well.

The Bobcats have passed several tests including knocking off Aliquippa this year, that test will continue down the stretch in this brutal Beaver Valley conference.

2 A Midwestern Cnference
#4 Neshannock Lancers (2-0)(4-1) vs #8 Laurel Spartans  Friday, September 30th at 7:00 PM on the campus of Laurel high school broadcast on WJST 1280 AM and the MSA Sports Network by Mark Schaas and Lee Mohn

This Midwestern match-up features Frank Antuono the Neshannock quarterback. The senior  has completed 46 of 85 passes for 805 yards and 11 touchdowns but he has  thrown seven interceptions. He’ll want to take better care of the football against the Spartans. He has also rushed for 347 yards and eight touchdowns. Antuono is  also a huge key on defense for Neshannock with 21 total tackles on the year.

Antuono’s number one receiver is Danny Welker who already has 20 catches on the year for Welker for 437 yards and seven touchdowns. Welker is one of the top tacklers in the Lancer defense with 34 tackles.

In the Lancers run game Sean Doran gets the bulk of the work 51 carries 341 yards and three scores. Joey Nerti makes big-time contributions as well, 23 carries 240 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Lancer defense has produced 11 sacks and nine interceptions on the year.

The Spartans meanwhile last week made a change at quarterback. Whether because of injury or not, I do not know but Will Shaffer did not complete a pass last week and remains at 25 of 57 on the year for three touchdowns and 363 yards to go along with five interceptions.

Jordan Dantico played quarterback for the Spartans in week four completing seven of 18 passes for 164 yards three touchdowns and just one interception. No word on who plays this week, if he is not at quarterback Dantico is the leading receiver for the Spartans with 16 catches for 251 yards he has scored a pair of touchdowns.

On the ground at Spencer Jones almost exclusively the rusher for the Spartans.  Jones 117 attempts for 416 yards and five touchdowns on the year.

Laurel has a loss in section to Riverside in week two and this game becomes huge for them to keep their title hopes alive.

1 A Eastern Conference
#2 Jeanette Jayhawks (3-0)(5-0) vs #4 Bishop Canevin Crusaders (2-1)(3-1)  Friday, September 30th at 7:00 PM at Dormont stadium broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Paul Paterra and Lou Rood

The Jayhawks and Crusaders go at it Friday night at Dormont stadium.

Jeanette is led by Gio Vonne Sanders, the senior quarterback has completed 29 of 43 passes for 781 yards and 10 touchdowns all without throwing a pick. He is a runner of the football as well with 205 yards rushing for five scores.

When Sanders throws he will look to Ryan Swinton who has nine catches for 249 yards and seven scores. Swinton also has 160 yards rushing the football on the ground.

Look for Kareem Hall to be a key for the Jayhawks he has rushed for 408 yards this year and has 192 yards receiving. Hall has totaled seven touchdowns.

Robert Kennedy is also big play maker on both sides of the ball for the Jayhawks with seven catches for 200 yards and 16 rushes for 125 yards and seven scores. Kennedy is also capable of taking over a football game defensively for Jeanette.

Bishop Canevin meanwhile has Brian DeSchon at quarterback, he is 22 of 48 on the season with 353 yards passing and four touchdowns, he has thrown one interception.

DeSchon’s key receivers are Kellan Gustine with eight catches for 140 yards and, Austin Scott with seven catches for 100 yards they have four touchdowns between them.

Canevin will go ‘wildcat’ with Maleik Hemingway running that cat 48 Rush is 400 yards and six touchdowns for Hemingway this season, he is fun to watch.

Zach Trusky will ground and pound for Canevin 34 carries on the year for Trusky, 203 yards and three touchdowns.

The battlein the trenches could prove to be the difference in this one.

Tags: Beaver, Bishop Canevin, Central Valley, Gateway, Jeannette