Mikes’ win over Pioneers creates TCS third-place logjam
CARMICHAELS – Anyone know a good mathematician?
The Class A Tri-County South Conference needs one after Carmichaels defeated West Greene 19-6 on a chilly Friday night at Coaches Field, causing a logjam for third place in the standings.
West Greene, which could have clinched third place and a playoff berth in the conference with a win, instead finds itself in a tie with the Mikes and Bentworth, each with a 3-3 record, for third place in the final earned spot in the WPIAL playoffs.
“I think it’s unlikely we’ll get into the playoffs, but I don’t know for sure,” said West Greene head coach Beau Jackson. “We weren’t worried about the numbers. We just were worried about Carmichaels this week.”
If the teams remain tied after the regular season ends this week, the Gardner Points System will be applied, and if the teams remain deadlocked then the WPIAL Point-Differential System will be used. If a tie still exists the WPIAL football committee will decide which team will receive the third playoff spot in the conference.
All three teams are on the road this Friday night with the Bearcats at Avella, West Greene at Beth-Center and Carmichaels at Mapletown.
Bentworth is in the driver’s seat as, according to the tiebreaking numbers, a win over the Eagles by three or more points would put them in the postseason. Anything less could open the door for Carmichaels if it can defeat the Maples by at least 10 points.
“All year, I told our players we are only going to worry about what’s in front of us, whether that would be practice or training sessions,” said Carmichaels head coach Ryan Krull. “We’ll let the scoreboard play out whatever way it was going to play out. In this game, it was play the next play, then play the next play, and then play the next play. When we looked at the scoreboard, the Mikes scored more.”
Carmichaels quarterback Cannon Bupka, a junior, rushed for unofficially 105 yards and scored two touchdowns. Backfield mate Will Murray rushed for 106 yards and scored a touchdown in the second half that gave the Mikes a 19-0 lead.
“We’ve not had two guys rush for that many but we have had one,” Krull said. “It’s hard for a defense when they have to worry about this guy, and this guy. We had some other guys touch the ball on a regular basis.”
“It was almost a perfect game,” said Bupka. “You don’t want to slight Mapletown (next week’s opponent) but I feel a lot more confident after beating West Greene.”
Carmichaels built a 13-0 lead on the legs of Bupka. The Mikes’ quarterback broke off a 34-yard run the first play into the second quarter. Robbie Wilson-Jones nailed the extra-point attempt, and the Mikes led 7-0. Bupka’s touchdown run was set up by a sack of 20 yards by Parker Hewitt.
The second score came on 20-yard scamper with 5:36 remaining in the half. The score capped an eight-play, 76-yard drive.
Murray rushed for 77 yards on 14 carries in the half while Bupka gained 55 on five attempts.
Hayden Hamilton scored West Greene’s only touchdown on a 5-yard run with 8:52 remaining in the game.