Big Game Hunting – Week Eight

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, October 19, 2017 | 4:48 AM

The penultimate weekend of the regular season is here and there is still so much to decide. There were some big upsets last week and some things got sorted out. Just two playoff spots remain in 6-A entering week eight and a single spot remains unclaimed in 5-A. Meanwhile in the smaller classifications things are less determined, in fact in 2-A only a single team has been eliminated from playoff contention and in 1-A, just two teams have been eliminated. Don’t get caught up in the numbers though, let’s just get saddled up and go Big Game Hunting.

6-A Southeastern Conference:
Peters Township Indians (5-3)(3-2) vs Canon-MacMillan Big Macs (4-4)(2-3) Friday October 20^th @ 7:00 PM at Big Mac Stadium in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania broadcast on The TribLiveHSSN by Sean Saputo and Kevin Zielmanski

This is a win and you are in for Peters Township. Canon-MacMillan faces elimination from playoff contention with a loss. The Indians enter this game coming off a tough loss to Mt. Lebo 18-15 in week seven. Despite that loss or, maybe because of that loss and the closeness of that game it is a very confident football team for T.J. Plack. Canon-Mac had their two game winning streak snapped by Bethel Park in week seven falling 48-16 at Black Hawk Stadium.

The Indians defense led by Angelo Quarture continues to be very solid allowing a 2^nd best in the conference 19.1 points per game.

The Big Macs defense has been suspect at times this year, they are averaging allowing 27.6 points per game.

For Peters Jake Cortes can hurt you with his arm or his legs from the quarterback position, he will throw the ball to Josh Casilli and Luke Mary.

On the ground the Indians have a pair of solid young runners in Ryan Magiske and Adrien Williams. The run game could be a valuable tool for the Indians to chew some clock as the Big Macs, prior to the loss at Bethel had scored up around 30 points per game in their win streak.

Tre Lewis and John Quinque will share time at quarterback for Canon-Mac, the duo has combined to throw for 1246 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year.

Greyden Piechnick is the leading receiver for CM with 20 catches for 261 yards and five touchdowns. Drew Engel has 18 catches for 330 yards and four scores.

In the ground game CM will get a bunch of carries from both Elijah Turner and Anthony Sacco. Turner has 91 carries for 368 yards, while Sacco has 94 carries for 309 yards, they have combined for four touchdowns.

5-A Big East Conference:
#2 McKeesport Tigers (6-1)(5-1) vs #3 Gateway Gators (7-1)(5-1) Friday October 20^th @ Gateway high school broadcast on WJAS AM 1320 and The TribLiveHSSN by Lanny Frattare and Sean Meyers

How absolutely loaded is the Big East? This game features #2 v #3 and neither of these teams is on top in the Big East! Both are looking up at #1 unbeaten Penn Trafford. Gateway had their crack at the Warriors back in week five and fell 28-0. McKeesport still has a chance to get a share of the title, they host Penn Trafford next Friday, but that won’t matter if they cannot find a way to beat Gateway THIS Friday.

The Tigers have rattled off six wins in a row after falling in week one to Franklin-Regional, their most recent win was a thumping of then #3 USC last week 42-14. The Gators shook off the loss to Penn Trafford by scoring 109 points in their next two games and thrashing Kiski last week 61-21.

The Tigers offense is what you probably think the Tigers offense is, run, run, run. As a team they have completed just seven passes on the season. John Harper does the throwing when it needs done, completing 5 of 12 passes for 134 yards and a score. Harper does get in on the running part as well, in fact he leads the team in carries with 76 carries for 636 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns.

Layton Jordan leads them in yardage with 941 yards and 12 scores in his 68 carries. Carlinos Acie completes the proverbial three-headed monster with 57 carries for 571 yards and eight touchdowns.

For the Gators, they prefer to do their traveling in the air, quarterback Brady Walker leads the entire WPIAL in passing completing 133 of 204 passes for 2239 yards 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Courtney Jackson is the leading receiver for the Gators and the second leading receiver in the WPIAL with 74 catches for 933 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jeremiah Josephs and Isaiah Cameron have combined to catch 43 passes for 688 yards. Cameron is also the leading rusher for Gateway with 57 carries for 481 yards and he has a combined total of 14 touchdowns as well.

 4-A Big Nine Conference:
#1 Belle Vernon Leopards (7-0)(7-0) vs #6 West Mifflin Titans (5-2)(4-2) Friday October 20^th @ 7:30 PM at Titan Stadium on the campus of West Mifflin high school broadcast on the TribLiveHSSN by Sam Hall and Steve Nagler

West Mifflin is at home and in a fight for their playoff lives coming off a big win over Ringgold 37-13 last week. Belle Vernon will have to make sure they have put their huge emotional win over Thomas Jefferson last Friday night behind them and not get caught napping by the Titans if they hope to stay perfect.

Which West Mifflin team will show up? The one that has convincing wins over teams like Ringgold, or the one that allowed Albert Gallatin to get their only win of the season against them?

The Titans rely heavily on the ground game, Matt Schuster at quarterback has completed 11 of 32 passes for 172 yards and a pair of scores.

Zkkrah Patterson has four catches for 112 yards for West Mifflin, he has scored three touchdowns.

The running back duo of Parrish Parker and Howie Reid is where the Titans butter their bread. Parker has 74 carries for 769 yards and 11 touchdowns. Reid has 110 carries for 725 yards and another 10 touchdowns.

The Leps have solid balance in their offense, it starts with quarterback Jared Hartman who has completed 45 of 97 passes for 681 yards and a dozen touchdowns, and he has taken care of the football tossing just two interceptions.

Logan Pfrogner and Derek Thomas have combined for 30 catches for 460 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Mason Pascoe is the leading rusher for Belle Vernon, he has 563 yards and three touchdowns in his 78 carries. Derrick Cesovski and Larry Callaway have a combined 517 yards and four scores between them.

3-A Allegheny Conference:
#10 Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles (5-2)(4-1) vs #7 Freeport Yellow Jackets (5-2)(4-1) Friday October 20^th @ 7:00 PM at Freeport Area high school it is the Chick-Fil-A Robinson Game of The Week broadcast on The TribLiveHSSN by Cory Campano and Brandon Showers

Week eight and both of these teams find themselves in that weird and frankly, in my opinion, unacceptable place that means either of them could win the conference championship or either of them could not make the playoffs at all. To me, that is just a BAD system.

It is what it is I guess, much to my chagrin. Freeport had a fourth quarter lead against Seton LaSalle last week but could not stop Lionel Deanes down the stretch and got their first conference loss of the year falling 21-10. Keystone Oaks has won two in a row beating Apollo-Ridge 35-13 last week.

For the Golden Eagles freshman quarterback Logan Shrubb is good and getting better every week. He has completed 96 of 180 passes for 1165 yards and 10 touchdowns.

C.J. Morrow is their leader in terms of receptions with 27 catches for 314 yards and four scores. 27 catches for 314 yards and four scores.

Keystone Oaks’ second leading receiver is also their leading rusher, Mike Daure is a special player for Greg Perry. Daure has 23 catches for 253 yards, he also has 140 rushing attempts for 882 rushing yards and has scored a combined team-high 16 touchdowns on the season.

Joey Tortorella contributes on both side of the ball for KO, he is a vital part of the Eagles defense seemingly always around the football and in on every tackle. Freeport must make sure they know where he is on the field at all times.

The Yellow Jackets must put that disappointing loss to Seton behind them quickly as they head home to face Keystone Oaks.

Austin Romanchak is a great dual-threat quarterback for them. Romanchak has thrown for 448 yards and four scores and he has rushed for a team-high 544 yards, he has scored 14 touchdowns on the season. Romanchak is also a big part of the Freeport defense and had a punt return for a touchdown called back in the loss to Seton. He is magical in the open field with thee football in his hands.

Jake Sarver leads the Yellow Jacket receiving corps with 11 catches for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

On the ground Freeport, in addition to Romanchak will give the football to Conor Selinger, he has 83 carries for 489 yards and six touchdowns.

Selinger and Austin Kemp are a formidable force as linebackers for the Freeport defense.

2-A Century Conference:
#8 Beth-Center Bulldogs (7-1)(4-1) vs #4 Charleroi Cougars (7-1)(4-1) Friday October 20^th @ 7:00 PM at Charleroi high school broadcast on the TribLiveHSSN by Matt Vandriak and Rennie Detore

Both of these teams are already locked into a playoff spot, both are also still in the hunt for a valuable home playoff game in the first round. Beth-Center’s loss was to Burgettstown, Charleroi’s loss is to #2 Washington. Beth-Center can keep hope alive for a conference title with a win in this game as they still get Washington in week nine.

The Bulldogs throttled Brownsville last week 47-0. Charleroi won their 6^th game in a row beating previously unbeaten Burgettstown 37-14.

Beth-Center will be led by signal-caller Bailey Lincoski who has completed 57 of 82 passes for 846 yards and 11 scores whilst tossing just four interceptions. He has also rushed for 801 yards and eight touchdowns on the year.

Trevor Anderson (19 catches, 248 yards and 11 scores) and Dom Fundy (15 catches, 117 yards and 10 touchdowns) anchor the receiving corps for the Bulldogs.

Fundy has also been a monster for them running the football for 1074 yards on the season.

The Cougars have a dual-threat quarterback of their own, Geno Pelligrini has completed 94 of 158 passes for 1792 yards and 18 touchdowns, all the while rushing for 249 yards and seven more scores.

Dakota Romantino is the go-to target for Pelligrini with 38 catches for 831 yards and 13 touchdowns. Travis Lytle has 24 catches for 427 yards and 10 touchdowns.

On the ground Hunter Perry leads the Cougars with 870 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the year.

1-A Tri County South Conference:
#8 Carmichaels Mighty Mikes (5-2)(5-1) vs #6 Fort Cherry Rangers (6-1)(4-1) Friday October 20^th @ 7:00 PM at Fort Cherry high school broadcast on The Greene County Sports Network and The TribLiveHSSN by Jason Tennant and Lanfer Simpson

Again both of these teams are locked into the post season. What is at stake here is 2^nd place and a home playoff game. Both of these clubs have their only loss of the season to first place and #2 California.

Carmichaels enters after thumping Jefferson-Morgan 41-7 last week while Fort Cherry rides a six game win streak after shutting out Mapletown 42-0 last week.

The Mikes Kevin Kelly has thrown for 460 yards and seven scores, he has also rushed for 197 yards and three more scores.

Dylan Wilson is Kelly’s main receiver with 12 catches for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

On the ground look for Nick Mundell with 88 carries for 661 yards and a team-high nine tuchdowns to get the bulk of the work for Carmichaels.

The Mighty Mikes defense is allowing just a bit over 21 points per game on the season.

The Rangers will ride with their man Ryhan Culberson, and it has been quite a ride. Culberson has completed 24 of 42 passes for 441 yards and five touchdowns. Where he really does his damage is running the football. Culberson has 99 carries for 1048 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season. Teams know he is coming and they still cannot stop him.

Nate Higham and Matt Staley have combined for 13 catches for 232 yards and four scores.

If Culberson is not running it for the Rangers, Zach Vincenti will be. Vincenti has 61 carries for 349 yards and four scores on the 2017 campaign.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Beth-Center, Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels, Charleroi, Fort Cherry, Freeport, Gateway, Keystone Oaks, McKeesport, West Mifflin