Playoff win next goal for Pioneers, Jackson
Friday night was a memorable one for West Greene High School. Not only did the Pioneers lock down the outright Tri-County South Conference title, but Ben Jackson became the all-time leading rusher in both school and Greene County history.
While both of these accomplishments are noteworthy, the true legacy of the 2019 Pioneers will be determined over the next month or so … hopefully.
The Tri-County South has seen plenty of different teams take the conference crown over the past two decades. However, with the exception of the 2006 Jefferson-Morgan Rockets and the 2002 Carmichaels Mikes, who both made it to the WPIAL semifinals, Greene County representatives from the conference have not had much luck in the postseason.
In two weeks, the Pioneers will begin their run at a district championship. In order for this year’s squad to be considered a great one, it will need to prove that it can rise above its home county’s history of postseason futility out of the TCS. The Blue and Gold can help itself out with a convincing win in Friday’s regular season finale at Union.
The Scotties’ season has been something of a mixed bag in terms of success. They’ve looked strong in competitive losses to Shenango and Laurel, as well as a 47-14 triumph over Rochester. Union also struggled in a 27-18 loss to Carmichaels. While the Pioneers shouldn’t need anything like the 62-8 victory they picked up over J-M this past Friday, a convincing triumph to end the season may just bump them up a spot or two in the playoff seedings.
n Both Penn State and Pitt are highlighting a trend in major college football that should make traditionalists smile. Apparently, you CAN still win by focusing on defense, rather than trying to put up 50 points per game.
The Nittany Lions have moved up to sixth place in the latest AP poll following a 17-12 win at Iowa and a 28-21 victory over Michigan. In both those games, PSU won despite not cracking 300 yards of total offense.
The Panthers haven’t made it easy on themselves, but have apparently gotten very comfortable in winning close games. All five of their victories have come by 10 points or less. When it comes to the team’s wins over Syracuse, Duke and Central Florida, that ability to win under pressure could be seen as the squad’s grit and mental conditioning winning the day.
However, when the Blue and Gold need every point it can muster in a 17-14 victory at home against FCS opponent Delaware, the Panthers might be seen as a team that plays down to its opposition.
Saturday’s homecoming game against Miami should serve as a nice measuring stick for just where Pitt is in its development. These aren’t the same Hurricanes that terrorized the NCAA in the 1980s and 1990s. However, they are still quick and dangerous, making them a great test for the defense’s secondary, which is starting to gain a reputation for success in the ACC.
n After getting healthier over the bye week and facing a team literally tanking away the season for a brighter future in Miami, the Steelers’ run to an improbable spot in the playoffs has to start now.
Mason Rudolph is back and ready to go under center, while the team’s young defense has a chance to feast on an offense in shambles. In the past, these were the sorts of seemingly easy victories that the franchise couldn’t take advantage of. If the Steelers can avoid a letdown against Miami on Monday night, they will have a chance to prove that they belong among the playoff contenders over the following three weeks with games against Indianapolis, the Rams and Cleveland.
Even if the Black and Gold run the gauntlet before facing Cincinnati on Nov. 24, there is a good chance they will still be looking up at Baltimore in the AFC North standings. However, they will have shown the sort of mental fortitude necessary to go from sneaking into the playoffs to being a tough out for anyone on the road to the Super Bowl.