WPIAL football highlights
Carmichaels and Monessen proudly carry conference banner in playoffs For too many years now, some football watchers have labeled the Tri-County South (A) Conference sort of a “weak sister” when it comes to WPIAL playoff competition.
Apparently they felt that any conference whose representatives failed to advance beyond the first playoff round didn’t belong there in the first place. Well, now they have to change their opinions a little bit.
Carmichaels and Monessen saw to that last weekend when both advanced to this week’s quarter-finals, the first time since 1986 that two TCS teams have won their first playoff game. Carmichaels moved ahead with a 42-7 rout of Canevin, while Monessen sent a strong Farrell lineup packing, 7-6.
Both will be in deep this week with unbeaten Carmichaels (10-0) taking on Fort Cherry (8-2), a 19-14 winner over Clairton, while Monessen (7-3) meets strong Duquesne (9-1) which routed Chartiers-Houston, 43-7.
Carmichaels also has another “plus” on its side.
In addition to being the only undefeated team in the entire “A” division, with the win over Canevin, the Mikes held onto the honor of being the second highest scoring team in the entire WPIAL, regardless of classification, which means that only one other team is ahead of them, while 122 others are looking upward in their direction.
The top three on offense remained intact for another week when Thomas Jefferson (446-44.6) pummeled Laurel Highlands, 70-6, and Pine-Richland (406-40.6) stopped Peters Twp., 56-20. They are the only teams in the WPIAL to score 400-plus so far.
Rounding out the top 10 offensively are Penn Hills (363-36.3), Jeannette (350-35.0), Duquesne (342-34.2), Knoch (333-33.3), Seton-LaSalle (330-33.0), Keystone Oaks (326-32.6), and Shenango (315-31.5).
Thomas Jefferson is a double leader, adding defensive honors to the offensive lead. In 10 games, TJ has surrendered only 44 points (4.4), an average of slightly over a field goal, and less than one touchdown every four quarters.
Then come Seton-LaSalle (53-5.3), Woodland Hills (60-6.7), Hopewell (60-6.0), Knoch (62-6.2), Pine-Richland (81-8.1), Jeannette (83-8.3), Rochester (86-8.6) and West Allegheny (88-8.8). Woodland Hills drew a playoff bye last weekend, and has played nine games, while the others have played 10.
Of the top 10 on defense, four will square off this weekend when West Allegheny plays second-seeded Pine-Richland, and Knoch plays Hopewell.
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There are only six unbeaten teams in the WPIAL, and all six passed their first playoff tests.
Class AAAA – Woodland Hills drew a bye.
Class AAA – Thomas Jefferson (70-6 over Laurel Highlands), and Pine-Richland (56-20 over Peters Twp.
Class AA – Jeannette (blanked Apollo-Ridge 53-0), and Seton-LaSalle (collared Center, 54-0).
Class A – Carmichaels (42-7 over Canevin).
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One previously winless team made it into the “W” column in its final game, Neshannock (2-A) winning over Geibel Catholic, 34-12. Six others finished their season without a win.
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Twelve teams with losing records went into the WPIAL playoffs, and only two survived. In Quad-A, Franklin Regional (4-5) upset Upper St. Clair, 28-21, and in 3-A, Moon (4-5) ousted Belle Vernon, 30-14. Think maybe the WPIAL will take another look at its future playoff lineup? Don’t bet on it.
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Some highlights of the 10th weekend around the WPIAL:
Field goal – 34 yards, Travis Zinkhann, Butler, and Adam Chatlos, Hempfield, 32, for a 3-3 halftime tie; 33 (and 28), Mark Klabnik, Knoch, vs. Uniontown; 33, Adam Bonfanti, Greensburg-Salem, vs. West Allegheny; 32, Scott Kallner, Freeport, vs. Washington.
TD run – 86 yards, Chuck Banks, Sto-Rox, vs. Springdale; 70, Dionta Henry, West Allegheny, vs. Greensburg Salem.
Passing TD – 91 yards, Quentin Sutton to Brian Jackson, Clairton, vs. Fort Cherry; 87, Chris Streett to Josh Kurz, Franklin Regional, vs. Upper St. Clair.
Blocked punt return for TD – 2-yards, Ryan Healy, Trinity, vs. Indiana.
TD passes – 5, Kevin McCabe, Pine-Richland, vs. Peters Twp.; 5, Chad Davies, Beaver, vs. East Allegheny.
TD catches – 4, Lance Fink, Beaver, 20, 5, 60, 55 yards, from Davies.
TD run with fumble – 33 yards, Joe Lamonde, Keystone Oaks, vs. Highlands.
Punt return TD – 70 yards, Jon Drager, Thomas Jefferson, vs. Laurel Highlands.
Pass interception return for TD – 99 yards, Pete Winovich, Thomas Jefferson, vs. Laurel Highlands.
First shutout win – Yough, 10-0 over Steel Valley.
Shutout for the first time – Elizabeth-Forward, 38-0 by Blackhawk; Apollo-Ridge, 53-0, by Jeannette, and Center, 54-0, by Seton-LaSalle, both in “AA” playoffs. The shutout win was the fifth for Blackhawk, which was also zeroed twice. Of their 10 games, seven were shutouts one way or the other.
Scoring – 36 points, Jon Drager, Thomas Jefferson, vs. Laurel Highlands (5 TD runs, 44, 2, 2, 7, 61 yards, and 70-yard punt return).