Sep 18, 2008 5 min read

While the games feature teams moving in opposite directions, both contests will go a long way in determining how the section plays out. The Rockets are unbeaten and face a B-C team coming off its first-ever Tri-County South victory, a win last week over Carmichaels.

The winner will likely have to go through Monessen if it wants to claim the section title.

The Mikes and Maples, meanwhile, are still searching for their first victory, but tonight’s game is about much more than two winless teams going through the motions.

“I think it’s a very big game,” said Mapletown coach George Messich. “A lot of factors go into it. It’s not only a rivalry game with Carmichaels, but with four teams making the playoffs, this game could have a lot of bearing on that.”

Indeed. As it currently stands, Monessen, Jefferson-Morgan and Beth-Center appear to have the inside track on the Tri-County South’s top three playoff berths.

As for the fourth and final berth, who knows?

Mikes quarterback Joby Lapkowicz, who has been sidelined to this point while rehabbing a baseball-related injury, has begun practicing with the team and could be back as early as next week.

If Lapkowicz does in fact return and performs at a level close to what he’s capable of, it would be a huge boost to a young, struggling Mikes squad.

California opened section play a week ago with a win over West Greene, and Messich is hoping his team can turn it around against Carmichaels and get on a roll.

Throw in an improved Geibel squad and it’s easy to see why the Tri-County South pecking order won’t be determined until the final section game is contested at the end of October.

Elsewhere in the county this week, West Greene travels to Monessen and Waynesburg Central hosts Jeannette.

Beth-Center at Jefferson-Morgan

The Rockets are unbeaten, but tonight they’ll face their stiffest test to date in new Tri-County South member Beth-Center.

Jefferson-Morgan has wins over Leechburg, Avella and Geibel Catholic, teams with a combined 1-8 mark.

Now, it’s a B-C squad which has always been deep at running back under coach Ed Woods. This year, Beth-Center (2-1, 1-0) features sophomores Josh Lockett and Jeff Tarley.

Last week, the Bulldogs fell behind 14-8, but scored 50 unanswered points in making a successful Tri-County South debut after spending years in the Black Hills Conference.

“They’re a very sound football team,” said J-M coach Jan Haiden of the Bulldogs. “They’re young but they’re good. Their quarterback (senior Dom Moore) is good, and their running backs are very elusive and powerful.”

Moore scored three times against Carmichaels, and Lockett finished with 180 yards and a touchdown.

Jefferson-Morgan (3-0, 1-0), meanwhile, jumped out to a 21-0 lead at Geibel before the Gators closed to within seven points. The Rockets added a touchdown and won 28-14 as Hans Lubich scored three times and accounted for 241 total yards of offense.

“We’re not playing up to our capabilities,” Haiden said. “We have a young team, but I told the kids that we really aren’t young anymore because this is the fourth week.

“Geibel is a very much improved team. When you sit down and watch them, they’re a lot better than they have been and they’re going to beat some people.”

Haiden graduated from Beth-Center in 1973 and was a guard/line backer under former coach Bill Connors. Don Bartolomucci was an assistant coach at the time.

Mapletown at Carmichaels

The Maples opened their season with non-section losses to Bentworth and Frazier, before hosting an 0-2 Monessen squad last week.

The Greyhounds took out their frustrations and hung a 54-0 drubbing on Mapletown as 6-foot-5 quarterback Terrance Stepoli had a hand in four first-quarter touchdowns.

The last time Mapletown started 0-3 was 1992.

“There were some positive things last week,” Messich said. “We sort of did what we did all year and that was play in spurts. Some plays we played very well. Some plays we took a break.

“We haven’t played a complete game yet. We still have only three seniors dressing, and we’re working on getting better.”

Carmichaels, meanwhile, has lost three games to opponents with a combined 8-1 record.

The Mikes were very much in last Friday’s game with Beth-Center until a 3:25 stretch where the Bulldogs scored 28 points.

The Mikes have started the past two seasons 0-4, only to rebound and make the playoffs each time.

“I think with this being such a rivalry, you can throw out the records,” Messich said. “When people are talking about playing Carmichaels, we’re not hearing that they’re 0-3.”

West Greene at Monessen

Life doesn’t get any easier for the Pioneers, who lost their Tri-County South opener last week to California.

Inexperience has been a big factor in West Greene’s 0-3 start, as has the caliber of competition the Pioneers have faced.

West Greene opened the season with non-section losses to Chartiers-Houston and Fort Cherry, which have combined for six wins and have outscored opponents 219-28.

Monessen, meanwhile, is still trying to rebound from back-to-back losses to Rochester and Clairton to open the season.

Jeannette at Waynesburg Central

The season started promising for second-year head coach Scott Orndoff and his Raiders squad after a win over rival Washington. But back-to-back losses to South Allegheny and Mount Pleasant by a combined seven points followed.

The Jayhawk are the defending WPIAL and PIAA champions, and are currently ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL and riding a 19-game winning streak.

Last week, Jeannette shut out a previously unbeaten South Allegheny squad that was 2-0 for the first time since 1979.