WPIAL Big Game Hunting – Week Three 2014

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 | 1:22 PM

See I told you it goes by quickly, I am just about set for week one and here is week three! The weather man says it will feel a lot more like football this weekend. Before we go Big Game Hunting a shout out to the defenses! We here at BGH are lovers of the defensive side of the ball. Despite the fact that all the gang at the network refer to us as “offensive”, sometimes right to our faces, we appreciate the big stops in the big spots. We love the traditionally strong defensive teams at have not allowed a single point thus far into the 2014 season.

Teams like Clairton, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Mount Lebanon and Norwin…uh wait… Norwin? YES  Norwin, the Knights that last year went 1-7 in the Foothills and allowed over 22 points per game, have not allowed a single point this year. Dave Brozeski we salute you sir, and if you could maybe help us with some crib notes for our chemistry exam it would be much appreciated, you know how Rebel is when you come back to the studio with a bad grade. Big Game-a-Hunting we will go.

AAAA Northern Eight
#10 North Allegheny Tigers (1-1)(1-1) vs #2 Central Catholic Vikings (1-0)(2-0) Friday September 12th at 7:30 pm @ Highmark Stadium at Station Square broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and 1410 AM KQV by Lanny Fratarre and Bob Orkwis also broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and the North Allegheny Sports Network by Randy Gore and Rick Meister

Did we see the game of the year in AAAA already? Week two brought chills and thrills…well thrills anyway, at Newman Stadium as the Tigers were knocked off by Pine-Richland in overtime 28-24.

Central’s defense continued to shine in their second straight shutout, a 31-0 throttling of Shaler.

North Allegheny senior quarterback Jeff Clemens has been one of the top dual threats in the league  through a pair of games. Clemens has completed 22 of 44 passes for 293 yards while also rushing for 222 yards and three touchdowns on 46 carries. The Tigers have also gotten good production from senior wide receiver Clay Byerly who has rushed for a pair of scores and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in the overtime loss to Pine-Richland.

North Allegheny will need that kind of balance and more heading into this game against a Central defense that is nothing shy of phenomenal.

The defense has not allowed a point though the first two weeks and the defensive line passes the eye test in a big way. The defense provided the Vikings with very short fields in week one against Bethel Park including a pair of interceptions by defensive linemen Jordan Scarbrough and Rashad Wheeler. The front four is big , strong, fast, super athletic and very well coached.

It is one thing to not have allowed a point but combined through two weeks the Vikings have allowed less than 100 yards of total offense.
Mike Navarro and Gunnar Ferotte have split time at quarterback after Ferotte suffered an injury late in the first half of week one. But for the time being the quarterback is just the guy handing off the football to running backs Grant Foster, Ronnie Jones and full back Brian Totten. The Vikes are generating 90% of their offense on the ground. This might be a good test in the trenches for the Vikings, a lot of folks looked past North Allegheny because of their losses to graduation but through two weeks against some very tough competition they have proven they are for real.

AAA Greater Allegheny Conference
#7 Franklin-Regional Panthers (1-1)(1-1) vs #9 Mars Planets (1-1)(1-1) Friday September 12th at 7:00 pm @ Mars Athletic Complex in Mars, Pennsylvania broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Josh Rowntree and Cory Campano

Both the Planets and the Panthers rebounded from disappointing week one losses with week two victories.

Mars did well to rebound emotionally from the opening night loss of superstar running back Josh Schultheis to a broken leg. Reports indicate he may be lost for the rest of the season. In the absence of Schultheis senior running back Ori Rinaman will be called upon to carry the load for the running game. Rinaman has responded very nicely so far with 30 carries for 201 yards and five touchdowns.

The Planets senior quarterback is first year starter Jake Rosswog who so far has completed nie of 19 passes for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He, like the rest of the Planets will be asked to do a little more now that Schultheis is sidelined. Rosswog has seen the field very well early on as he has spread his nine completions out to seven different receivers.

Defensively the Planets are allowing 14.5 points per game with three stout returning starters up front in Marshall Robinson, John Castello and Nate Sablowski.

The Panthers have a first year starter at quarterback as well in junior Santino Birty. The start of his prep career has been impressive with 16 of 32 passes completed for 172 yards and just one pick thrown. He is still looking for that first passing touchdown.

Zach Iovino and Jordan Kestler are the favorite targets for Birty with a combined nine catches for 90 yards.

On the ground Brett Zanotto a Maryland recruit makes the Panhters go with 24 carries on the season for 176 yards and four touchdowns. Zanotto is also a tough linebacker leadeing a Panther defense that is allowing 14.5 points per game.

AA Midwestern Conference
#10 Beaver Bobcats (1-0)(2-0) vs Beaver Falls Fighting Tigers (1-0)(2-0) Friday September 12th at 7:00 pm @ Reeves Field on the campus of Geneva College broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WKPL FM 92.1 by His Excellency Rob Matzie and “The Coach” Johnny Lee

A pair of perennial playoff teams go at it in the always competitive Midwestern Friday night. It is a very young team for Coach Matsook and the Fighting Tigers as no fewer than nine starters are sophomores.

Senior quarterback Keirnan Brown has been very good at quarterback in getting Beaver Falls off to the perfect start. Brown has completed 13 of 19 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Brown’s top target has been another senior in Javon Turner who has six catches for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the year.
On the ground a three-headed monster has emerged for the Tigers. Cordell Cummings has 153 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Torian Leak has carried 12 times for 50 yards and a score, and sophomore Derell Carter has rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown. Carter also has done a nice job in the passing game with five catches for 55 yards, he has scored four times on the year.

Up front the Tigers rely heavily on the leadership of one of their few upperclassmen in 6’ 270 pound senior guard Alec Nocera.
The Beaver Bobcats are trying to reach the playoffs for an eighth straight season and they are off to a perfect start. Jeff Belz has gone to a platoon system at quarterback with sophomore Landon Pantoli and senior Zach Royba each getting some time calling signals. The duo has combined to throw for 372 yards and eight touchdowns.

The engine that makes the Bobcats go offensively though is sophomore multi-purpose player Darius Wise. Wise is a big time playmaker with a flair for the dramatic and a nose for the end zone. He has five catches for 229 yards and eight rushes for 234 yards and has reached pay dirt eight times.

Up front the always solid trenches for the Bobcats are anchored by returning starters George Avdellas at 5’11” and 225 pounds as well as Cody Kohlman who is 5’11” and 245 pounds. That battle in the trenches will go a long way in deciding which of these teams remains unbeaten.

A Big Seven Conference
#3 Neshannock Lancers (2-0)(2-0) vs #10 Riverside (1-0)(2-0) Friday September 12th at 7:00 pm @ Panther Stadium on the campus of Riverside high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Matt Vandriak and Greg Kuntz

Good news for Lancer fans as they have been able to jump out to a perfect start despite the absence of superstar running back Eli Owens due to a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs last year. The news gets better Friday night as Owens is expected to make his return to the backfield on the road against the Panthers. Junior running back Robert Lindsey has been solid in place of Owens so far this season with 157 yards and six touchdowns in his 21 carries.

At quarterback, first year starter Frank Antuono a sophomore has been stellar. Antuono has played like an upperclassman completing 16 of 29 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns while only tossing a single interception. He has also been a threat on the ground rushing for 76 yards and another two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Seth Dueitt leads the receiving corps for the Lancers with six catches for 93 yards and a score. 

The Lancer defense has been solid allowing just 6.5 points per game on the season.

Riverside is pounding the ball on the ground with senior running back Marcel Cleckley reaping the benefits of a big strong experienced offensive line. That front headed by Shane Reich (6’2’’ 205 pounds), Jake Alters (5’11’’ 275 pounds) and Mark Glevicky (6’3’’ 225 pounds) has paved the way for Cleckley to amass 246 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Cleckly also has three catches for 32 yards and a score.

Junior quarterback Jason Dambach has completed 17 of 33 passes for 192 yards, a touchdown and thrown an interception. Dambach’s top target has been sophomore Ricky Wass with seven catches for 78 yards.

This is a big test for the Panthers and I am sure they are glad to have a crack at Neshannock at home, a win in this game would be Riverside’s way of announcing they are officially a big-time contender in the Big 7.

Tags: Beaver, Beaver Falls, Franklin Regional