WPIAL Class 2A championship primer: Steel Valley vs. Washington

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 24, 2017 | 2:27 PM

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WPIAL football championship primer

Class 2A

No. 1 Steel Valley (11-0) vs. No. 2 Washington (12-0)

6 p.m. Saturday, Robert Morris’ Joe Walton Stadium

On the air: Tribhssn.triblive.com

Winner plays: The winner of Saturday’s PIAA quarterfinal between District 9 champion Clarion (12-0) and District 10 champion Wilmington (12-0). The winners will play in the PIAA semifinals Dec. 1 or 2.

What to watch

• Can the Ironmen limit Washington’s running game?

Senior Nick Welsh is second in the WPIAL in rushing with 1,979 yards, trailing only Seton LaSalle’s Lionel Deanes (2,112), and the Little Prexies will certainly rely on him Saturday.

Steel Valley’s defense has allowed just 14.1 points per game and was rarely challenged this season with the exception of an early-season game against South Allegheny (31-27) and last week’s 13-10 semifinal win over Riverside.

• Can Washington end the streak?

Steel Valley has won 26 straight games, including a 15-0 mark last season, which ended with a 49-7 win over Southern Columbia in the PIAA championship game. Steel Valley topped Neshannock, 49-14, in last season’s WPIAL Class 2A final at Robert Morris.

• Will Steel Valley run to victory?

The Ironmen rolled through the first three playoff games behind the running of Kameron Williams and Trevon Adams, who combined for nearly 600 yards and eight TDs in the postseason.

Players to watch

• Amonte Strothers, Steel Valley: A Division I cornerback recruit with offers from Syracuse, Kent State, Toledo, Delaware, Georgetown and Duquesne, Strothers (6-2, 178) has caught 18 passes for 495 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

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• Trey Karfelt, Steel Valley: The 5-11, 175-pound quarterback, who was injured earlier this season, has thrown for 578 yards and nine scores.

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• Daniel Walker, Washington: Walker (6-1, 185), a Division I recruit, caught two passes for 20 yards in last week’s semifinal win over Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, but one went for a 15-yard touchdown to start the scoring. He has 25 catches for 514 yards and 10 scores this season.

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• Isaiah Schoonmaker, Washington: Schoonmaker (6-2, 200), a Miami (Ohio) linebacker recruit, scored on a 61-yard run in the third quarter of last week’s semifinal victory.

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Stat leaders

Passing: SV: Ronnell Lawrence, 36-78-722 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs; W: Zack Swartz, 86-143-1,765 yards, 26 TDs, 0 INTs

Rushing: SV: Kameron Williams, 133-1,017, 19 TDs; W: Nick Welsh, 162-1,979 yards, 27 TDs

Receiving: SV: Trevon Adams, 22-536 yards, 16 TDs; W: Isaiah Schoonmaker, 30-692 yards, 12 TDs

By the numbers

All-time records: SV: 277-199-12 W: 685-365-56

Last title: SV: 2016; W: 2001

WPIAL titles: SV: 4; W: 6

Did you know?

• Steel Valley junior linebacker Todd Hill, who has offers from Cincinnati and Robert Morris, among others, has scored six touchdowns this season from his fullback position.

• Washington’s female kicker, Lilly Christy, has connected on 36 extra points this season.

• Washington’s Walker grew up in Washington before moving to Georgia, where he played the past two seasons before returning to play this year for the Little Prexies.

Prediction

Steel Valley, 28-21

Tags: Steel Valley, Washington