WPIAL Class A championship primer: Jeannette vs. Imani Christian

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

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WPIAL football championship primer

Class A

No. 3 Jeannette (12-1) vs. No. 4 Imani Christian (11-2)

Noon Saturday, Robert Morris’ Joe Walton Stadium

On the air: Tribhssn.triblive.com

Winner plays: The winner of Saturday’s PIAA Class A quarterfinal between District 9 champion Ridgway/Johnsonburg (10-2) and District 10 champion Farrell (10-2). The winners will play in a PIAA semifinal Dec. 1 or 2.

What to watch

• Can Jeannette ground the Imani air attack?

Imani Christian’s passing attack has been among the WPIAL’s best this season. Quarterback Tawan Wesley has elite targets in Sam Fairley, Rahmon Hart and Ray Jackson, as well as a talented backfield presence in Asante Watkins. The first-team group has produced more than 2,500 yards through the air.

• Will cooler heads prevail?

These teams had a Week 4 matchup at Graham Field in Wilkinsburg halted with 4 minutes, 30 seconds left when officials felt it wasn’t safe for the game to continue, mostly because of fans entering the field area and rising tension between the players.

Imani Christian was reprimanded by the WPIAL for fan behavior and players leaving the sideline.

Both coaches said they don’t expect any similar issues this time around.

• What role will experience play?

Many Jeannette players experienced the championship game atmosphere at Robert Morris last season, and some even stepped on Heinz Field for the 2015 title game, both losses to Clairton. That familiarity could factor into a quick start.

Players to watch

• Seth Howard, Jeannette: Howard (6-1, 170) has stepped into the quarterback role in the playoffs and has excelled, completing 14 of 24 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns. He also has run for 339 yards and 10 scores this season.

• Tre Cunningham, Jeannette: One of the top players for the WPIAL champion Jeannette baseball team, Cunningham (6-3, 165) has been a reliable receiver with 21 catches for 308 yards and five touchdowns. He also has contributed 45 extra points as the team’s kicker.

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• Rahmon Hart, Imani Christian: A Division I recruit with offers from Buffalo, Howard, Temple and Toledo, Hart (6-3, 200) has 56 catches for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

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• Sam Fairley, Imani Christian: Fairley (6-1, 170), who has offers from Miami (Ohio), Army, RMU and Columbia, had four catches for 171 yards and a 66-yard score in the first meeting with Jeannette, which the Jayhawks won 54-36.

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Stat leaders

Passing: J: Robert Kennedy, 77-139-1,264 yards, 23 TDs, 0 INTs; IC: Tawan Wesley, 166-270-2,581 yards, 33 TDs, 11 INTs

Rushing: J: Kennedy, 123-978 yards, 22 TDs; IC: Asante Watkins, 133-1,117 yards, 21 TDs

Receiving: J: Marcus Barnes, 25-446 yards, 9 TDs; IC: Sam Fairley, 68-1,282 yards, 22 TDs

By the numbers

All-time records: J: 733-315-48 IC: 22-20

Last title: J: 2007; IC: N/A

WPIAL titles: J: 8; IC: 0

Did you know?

• The Jayhawks can tie New Castle for most wins in WPIAL history (734) with a victory Saturday in the championship game.

• Led by Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette won the 2006 and ’07 WPIAL Class 2A championships. The Jayhawks have lost three times in the finals since, in 2011 to Aliquippa and in 2015 and ’16 to Clairton.

• Imani Christian had to cancel its season in 2013 because it didn’t have enough players to field a team. The Saints returned last season to finish 5-6 and reach the WPIAL quarterfinals.

Prediction

Jeannette, 35-31

Tags: Imani Christian, Jeannette