Ok. We’re getting down to the real tough games. All that are left in all four classifications are 1,2,3,4, or 5 seeded teams. Last week, we picked a couple personal sentimental favorites in Hopewell and Ft. Cherry and came up on the short end and finished 13-3 for the second round. All of these teams remaining are good, have had fine seasons, and deserve to play another week. But we know that only one from each game moves on for the chance to play at Heinz Field. So, here are this weeks picks:
CLASS AAAA
North Allegheny over Gateway. Gateway has been hot. Coach Terry Smith has his team peaking at the right time, and Thomas Woodson and the rest of the Gators are looking for their biggest win of the year. However, they are going against last years champs who have rolled over just about everybody they’ve played this year. The Tigers offensive attack of QB Mack Leftwich, RB’s Alex DeCiantis, Vinnie Congedo and Nick Passodelis, and receiver James Kleinhampl will be a little too much for the young Gator team.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Upper St. Clair. This game is loaded with top college prospects on both teams, Perry Hills, Anthony Nixon, Dakota Conwell, Damion Jones-Moore, and Ian Park are just a few of those players. The Panthers, despite an earlier season loss to North Allegheny, have been tough and with Conwell, have one of the games best athletes. The Vikings can run or throw and seem to be playing with a chip on their shoulder and will move on to the championship game.
CLASS AAA
Central Valley over Montour. At the beginning of the year, I thought this was the year of the Spartans. Montour has two tremendous offensive weapons in QB Dillon Buechel and RB Julian Durden. But Central valley, last year’s Class AAA champs, counters with it’s own offensive stars in QB Curtis Lewis and RB Robert Foster. When they met earlier in the season, Central Valley won 27-16. It may be even closer this time around, but I see the end result being the same.
Knoch over Franklin Regional. This is a tough one. Two undefeated teams, each with running backs not as well known as others in the WPIAL, but very good in their own right. Knoch’s Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin and Franklin Regionals’ Dane Brown have had great seasons for their respective teams. Dane Brown has 33 TD’s and 1,900 yards this year to put him as the number 3 back in the WPIAL. However, Knoch is playing with strong emotions after the death of cheerleader Alexis Summers who was Rumburg-Goodlin’s girlfriend. In a game with two pretty evenly matched teams, I’m going with the Knights.
CLASS AA
Aliquippa over Greensburg Central Catholic. GCC has a solid defensive team and can put up some points with QB Bobby Noble and RB’s Jordan McRae and Zach Guiser, but overall the team is young. They played conference champ Jeannette very close a couple weeks ago in their only loss of the season. Aliquippa is a very balanced and explosive team led by QB Mikal Hall with plenty of good receivers and running backs. If the Quips win, it would be their fourth straight WPIAL Class AA championship game.
Seton-LaSalle over Jeanette. First of all, let me start by saying I’m a fan of the Century Conference, of which Seton-LaSalle comes from. Last year’s Class AA Champions, South Fayette, also came out of this confernece. Having said that, this game promises to be one of the best of the night. Two unbeaten teams with two of the top players in Class AA in Jeanette’s QB Demetrious Cox with 25 combined rushing and passing TD’s and Seton-LaSalle’s RB Kevin Hart with 28 rushing TD’s. They’re two of the most exciting and game changing players on the field, and the supporting casts for both teams are very talented too. A well respected coach told me way back in the summer to watch out for Seton-LaSalle and Kevin Hart and his words have become prophetic.
Class A
Clairton over Rochester. The Clairton Bears have won 42 straight games and have recorded 8 shutouts this season in 11 games. Clairton is the class of Class A. Tyler Boyd, Trent Coles, and Capri Thompson are just 3 of the Bears multitude of stars. Rochester is led by RB De’Andre Moon who rushed for over 1,600 yards and 31 TD’s this year. Even though Rochester is the toughest opponent the Bears have faced to date, the Bears are just too good and too tough.
Sto-Rox over Canevin. Both teams are undefeated but both teams have taken different route to their 11-0 records. Bob Jacoby’s Canevin Crusaders have done it with a very solid but stingy defense, ranked number 2 (scoring) in the WPIAL and is led by linebacker Mike Dunn. Sto-Rox, however, has done it with an explosive, quick-scoring offense led by sophmore QB Lenny Williams with 29 TD passes and running back Josh Beverly with 16 TD’s. The Vikings have scored 70 TD’s this year and have too many weapons with too much firepower for the Crusaders
