Big Game Hunting – Week Ten

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 2, 2017 | 3:38 AM

With the regular season concluded and the playoffs beginning in less than 48 hours, every game becomes a big game. With that in mind, this week’s installment of Big Game Hunting will try to hone in on a particularly intriguing battle in each of the six classifications. With temperatures finally dropping this week, the quarterfinals (in 6A through 3A) and first-round (in 2A and 1A) games will truly have a different feel than the regular slate, too. Of course, the TribLive High School Sports Network is your comprehensive source for everything related to the WPIAL football playoffs.

6-A Quarterfinals:
No. 3 Bethel Park Black Hawks (8-1, 6-0 Southeast Conference) vs No. 6 Penn Hills Indians (7-3, 3-3 Northern Seven Conference) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Bethel Park High School; Broadcast on the TribLive High School Sports Network and WJAS 1320 AM by Lanny Frattare and Sean Meyers.

One of the biggest questions following the realignment of football prior to the 2016 season was whether or not the Southeastern Conference could compete with the Northern Seven in 6A. Last year, the latter dominated in both the regular season and the playoffs, as all four Northern Seven squads reached the semis.

If that is to change this year, Bethel Park could be the team to best represent the Southeastern Conference. The Black Hawks won the section with an unblemished mark, thanks to last week’s 34-24 triumph at Mount Lebanon.

Bethel Park head coach Jeff Matheny has used a tried and true offensive formula all season: running the football until the opponent can stop it. Keyed by a talented and experienced offensive line that included WVU commit James Gmiter and Gavin Vargesko, the Black Hawks have usually succeeded with that approach.

Tanner Volpatti has paced the running attack, as the senior has rushed for 1,111 yards on 153 carries, and has notched 22 total scores. Likewise, diminutive all-purpose back John Doleno has accumulated 643 yards rushing, as well as a team-best 17 receptions for 209 yards.

After Luke Surunis saw the majority of snaps at QB to begin the campaign, Bethel Park has turned over the reins to sophomore Anthony Chiccitt, who has thrown for nearly 900 yards and seven scores.

While Chiccitt has proven capable as a passer, the Black Hawks are a team that thrives playing with the lead, as they have an offense that often works methodically, and can run significant time off the clock.

Conversely, the Penn Hills’ attack is predicated on the passing game, and the Indians have a bevy of weapons who are gamebreakers. The player who orchestrates the offense is Hollis Mathis, the latest in an impressive line of Penn Hills’ signalcallers. Mathis has thrown for 2,093 yards and 23 touchdowns, with just six interceptions. He can also pick up yards with his legs, as he’s rushed for 303 yards and three scores.

The most talented target for Mathis is senior Julian Major, who committed to Michigan State earlier this year. Major, due to various setbacks, has been limited to just 10 catches this season, however. The duo of Dante Cephas and Daequan Hardy have more than filled the void, though. With nearly identical numbers, they have combined for 55 catches, 1,368 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Penn Hills has two talented running backs, too, with Terry “Tank” Smith leading the way. He has rushed for 533 yards and compiled seven total touchdowns in his junior season, and has already received Division I offers. Moreover, Tim Smith has registered nearly 400 yards on the ground.

Penn Hills has three losses, but those setbacks came to the top three teams in its conference: Pine-Richland, Central Catholic and North Allegheny. That loss to the Tigers is notable, though, as Bethel Park handed North Allegheny a 20-point loss early this season.

5-A Quarterfinals:
No. 3 West Allegheny Indians (7-2, 6-2 Allegheny Nine Conference) vs No. 6 McKeesport Tigers (7-2, 6-2 Big East Conference) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at West Allegheny High School; Broadcast on the TribLive High School Sports Network by Cory Campano and Steve Nagler.

The last time these teams met, the WPIAL 5A Championship was on the line, and the game became one for the ages. The Indians ultimately prevailed, after dramatic action that included a penalty that negated the final play, and allowed the Indians to send the game to overtime.

For West Allegheny, many of the faces from that classic battle have moved on. Now, perhaps the top standout for West Allegheny is running back Wil Weber. Weber, who missed time due to injury earlier this season, has compiled 557 yards on the ground, 107 yards via receptions, and also has passed for 176 yards. All told, he’s accounted for 14 touchdowns, and his versatility was impossible to replace during his absence.

Tight end Mateo Vandamia has proven to be a multi-faceted weapon in his own right, as he’s caught 27 passes for 384 yards, both team highs. He has also rushed for 132 yards, quite an accomplishment for a hulking tight end.

Legendary coach Bob Palko has shuffled between two “traditional” quarterbacks, in addition to Weber and Vandamia as wildcat QBs this season. Kam Kruze has thrown more than Jamie Diven, but both could see snaps behind center.

For McKeesport, the flexbone offense again is front and center, as the Tigers have racked up prolific rushing stats. To that point, three players have each rushed for more than 650 yards, led by bruising fullback Layton Jordan. Jordan, who topped 200 yards on the ground last week, boasts 1,177 rushing yards, and 14 scores. His touchdown total is equaled by QB JJ Harper, though. The lightning-quick senior has rushed for 970 yards, while passing for just 170 yards in 20 attempts. Finally, Carlinos Acie, a wingback, has produced 672 yards rushing and eight scores. All three players have received major college attention, as has physically-imposing lineman Alex Meadows.

If Week Nine results mean anything for momentum, then McKeesport certainly holds the edge. The Tigers knocked off previously-undefeated Penn-Trafford 27-24, while West Allegheny surprisingly fell to Moon, 27-20.

4-A Quarterfinals:
No. 2 Belle Vernon Area Leopards (9-0, 8-0 Big Nine Conference) vs No. 7 Mars Fighting Planets (6-4, 5-3 Northwest Nine Conference) 7:30 Friday, Nov. 3 at Belle Vernon Area High School; Broadcast on TribLive High School Sports Network by Paul Paterra and Lou Rood.

The Leopards winning the Big Nine Conference was a surprise, just because Thomas Jefferson has been so dominant for more than a decade. Belle Vernon capitalized on its home-field advantage in the matchup against TJ in Week Seven, though, and earned the No. 2 seed as a result of the win.

Nobody on the Leopards’ offense has eye-popping statistics, but Matt Humbert’s squad features a balanced attack. QB Jared Hartman, a sophomore, has thrown for 742 yards and 13 scores. Hartman also leads the team in rushing touchdowns, with eight, despite rushing for just 163 yards.

Hartman’s top targets are Logan Pfrogner and Derek Thomas. Pfrogner, a receiver, has hauled in 17 passes for 265 yards, while the tight end Thomas boasts 15 catches for 219 yards. Each player has recorded six touchdowns.

On the ground, Mason Pascoe has established himself at a big-play threat. Pascoe, who shined against TJ, has accumulated 616 yards on the ground on 94 attempts, scoring five times.

Both the running and passing attacks benefit from a strong offensive line, which is anchored by massive tackle Blake Zubovic. Big Z, who is committed to the University of Pittsburgh, stands at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds.

The Planets, meanwhile, have experienced and up-and-down campaign. Impressive wins against Montour and Highlands have been offset by disappointing setbacks to New Castle and Knoch. Also, Mars dropped its marque matchups against both South Fayette and Thomas Jefferson in lopsided fashion.

Scott Heinauer’s team has usually featured a prolific running back in recent seasons, but this year, the carries have been evenly split between Garrett Reinke and Teddy Ruffner. Reinke has accumulated 440 yards on the ground and a team-best eight touchdowns, while Ruffner has totaled 462. Chuck Green has also eclipsed 400 yards rushing, but he’s done so in less than half the carries of either Reinke or Ruffner.

Much like Belle Vernon, Mars has a QB who has posted solid but not spectacular numbers. Tyler Kowalkowski has thrown for 707 yards and eight scores, but has completed well less than 50 percent of his attempts.

Cade Heltzer is the leading receiver for the Planets, as he’s registered 16 catches for 424 yards, while Tom Sheehy has double-digits receptions, with 11.

While Mars’ defense has been impressive, allowing just 16.3 points per game, the Leopards have been even better. BVA has surrendered just 9.0 points on average, the second-best mark in Class 4A.

3-A Quarterfinals:
No. 2 Quaker Valley Quakers (9-1, 5-1 Beaver Valley Conference) vs No. 7 Derry Area Trojans (9-1, 6-1 Interstate Conference) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Quaker Valley High School; Broadcast on TribLive High School Sports Network with John Flickinger and Bob Lasinski

Last season, the Beaver Valley Conference proved to be the toughest in Class 3A, and likely in the entire WPIAL, while Derry Area capped an incredible turnaround by winning its section. This year has been a similar outcome, as the BVC has again featured clearly the top two teams in 3A, while the Trojans tied for the section crown and head back to the postseason. While the Quakers earned the No. 2 seed, a strong argument could be made that Derry Area deserved a better fate than No. 7, especially since the Trojans won their final eight games, all in convincing fashion.

Quaker Valley, which failed to make the postseason last year, has rallied under coach Jerry Veshio, who took over just weeks before the start of the season. Veshio decided not to make sweeping changes, and the move has paid off in a big way. QB Ricky Guss has been a star, as he’s been one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the district. Guss has passed for 1,630 yards and 19 touchdowns, while also rushing for a team-best 785 yards and 20 scores.

As good as Guss has been, the play of Isaiah McNair has been just as important to QV’s success. McNair has caught 37 passes for 676 yards, and rushed 39 times for 278 yards. In all, he’s compiled a dozen touchdowns. Meanwhile, J.T. Taylor has also displayed his versatility, as he’s second on the team in both rushing (96 carries, 616 yards) and receiving (23 receptions, 356 yards).

Some expected Derry to take a step back after losing several star players from last year’s team, but the Trojans have reloaded under the guidance of head coach Tim Sweeney. Quarterback Ryan Polinsky has passed for just shy of 750 yards, as well as seven touchdown passes. His favorite targets have been Justin Huss (11 receptions for 208 yards), Justin Flack (nine receptions for 195 yards) and Colton Nemcheck (nine receptions, 151 yards).

Nemcheck, meanwhile, has also shined in the backfield, as he leads the team with 654 yards on the ground and 13 rushing scores. Those totals are just ahead of Shawn Broadway, who boasts 651 yards and 12 scores rushing. Additionally, Onreey Stewart has made a big contribution, rushing for 467 yards and seven touchdowns.

Last year, the Trojans won their first playoff game in decades, defeating powerhouse Central Valley. That matchup took place in Derry, though, and this time the Trojans will have to knock off a Beaver Valley Conference opponent on the road. The Quakers, meanwhile, will look to take the first step towards getting a rematch against section-foe Aliquippa, the only team that defeated QV this year.

2-A First Round:
No. 5 Charleroi Cougars (9-1, 6-1 Century Conference) vs No. 12 Avonworth Antelopes (3-5, 3-3 Three Rivers Conference) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Charleroi High School; Broadcast on TribLive High School Sports Network with Jason Kern and Ty Bedillion

The Cougars have been a tremendous story over the past few years, as Don Militzer has helped turn a beleaguered program into a championship contender. The Cougars boast a “big three”, with QB Geno Pellegrini, RB Hunter Perry and WR Dakota Romantino.

Pellegrini has produced numbers never seen before at Charleroi, as the signalcaller has passed for 2,333 yards and 24 touchdowns, with just three interceptions. He’s also rushed for 355 yards and eight scores.

Perry, meanwhile, has rushed for 1,060 yards on just 89 carries, good for an absurd 11.9 yards per carry. He also leads the Cougars in scoring, with 16 touchdowns.

Romantino, who also made a game-saving tackle defensively for the Cougars earlier this season against Beth-Center, has caught 49 passes for 1,033 yards and has found the end zone 15 times. While he’s clearly the go-to receiver, the Cougars have solid secondary options in Travis Lytle (427 yards) and Cameron Carter (356 yards).

Charleroi’s lone loss came more than two months ago to undefeated Washington, as since then, the offense has looked nearly unstoppable. For the season, the Cougars are averaging 41.8 points, the third-best mark in 2A.

Avonworth will have its hands full, but the Lopes have had some recent postseason success on which to fall back. The Lopes have won four postseason games in the past three years, including reaching the WPIAL Championship in 2014, something that the current crop of seniors likely witnessed first-hand. Duke Johncour, who was the coach for that run to Heinz Field, is still guiding the team. Also, Avonworth had a plus-nine scoring margin for the season, something not usually accomplished by a fifth-place team. Furthermore, the team’s two non-section losses came to Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, one of the team teams in 2A, and Shady Side Academy, a potent 3A squad.

In the regular season, the Lopes depended greatly on the passing attack, which is orchestrated by QB Derek Johncour. The younger Johncour passed for 1,603 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as seven picks.

Avonworth’s No. 1 receiver is Turner Grau, who compiled 738 yards on 47 receptions, and seven scores, which tied for the team lead. Much like the Cougars, though, Avonworth has more than just one option at receiver, as Brennan Neidhart caught 38 passes for 331 yards.

On the ground, J.J Igims needed 109 carries to rack up 385 yards. His 3.5 yards per carry could be problematic, as the Lopes would be well-served to grind out lengthy possessions to keep the potent Cougars’ offense off the field.

1-A First Round:
No. 5 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers (8-2, 7-1 Big Seven Conference) vs No. 12 Springdale Dynamos (5-5, 4-3 Eastern Conference) 7:30 Nov. 3 at Moon High School; Broadcast on TribLive High School Sports Network courtesy of the OLSH Sports Network

For the first time in a while, the 1A Classification feels wide open, as Clairton is not the overwhelming favorite. At least the top five seeds all have realistic title aspirations, and the Chargers are included in that group. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart opened eyes with its victory against Rochester in early October, erasing the two-game losing streak the Chargers had to open the campaign.

On the offensive side of the ball, QB Tyler Bradley has been a revelation, as he’s passed for 2,242 yards and 25 scores for the Chargers, while tossing just five interceptions in 225 attempts.

Richards Banks has been equally impressive for OLSH, as he leads the team in both receptions and rushing yards. Banks has carried 138 for 1,025 yards, and caught 48 passes for 694 yards. Combined, he’s scored 19 touchdowns, more than double that of his nearest teammate, Jack Graff.

Graff, meanwhile, has run for 737 yards, while Andrew Schnarre has a team-leading 719 yards receiving, and six scores.

While the offense has proven to be dynamic, the defense has been solid, but not suffocating. During the winning streak, OLSH has allowed between 12 and 18 points in all but one contest, when it held Western Beaver to six points.

Springdale, on the other hand, has allowed nearly twice as many points per game than OLSH. The Dynamos, under the guidance of new coach Seth Napierkowski, had the unenviable task of playing in the same section as Clairton, Jeannette and Imani Christian, though, so the numbers are slightly skewed.

The Dynamos like to run the football first and foremost, and have enjoyed decent success in doing so. Josh Harmon has paced the ground attack, accumulating 872 yards on 138 carries. Scott Landis, meanwhile, has carried 131 times for 766 yards. Both players are options in the passing game, too, but first-year QB Josh Jones has passed just 71 times. Jones has been inefficient at times, and the Dynamos could struggle mightily if they fall into a significant deficit early in the contest.

Tags: Avonworth, Belle Vernon, Bethel Park, Charleroi, Derry Area, McKeesport, Perry Traditional Academy, West Allegheny