Section title, playoffs at stake for Uniontown, LH
Don’t be surprised if John Fortugna and Scott Knee show up tonight decked out in tuxedos. Both have dates with destiny.
Fortugna’s Red Raiders travel north on Rt. 51 to take on Keystone Conference leader Belle Vernon, while Knee’s Mustangs host conference doormat Mount Pleasant in Week 8 action.
A victory keeps Uniontown’s conference championship hopes alive, while a win by Laurel Highlands puts the Mustangs in the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 1989.
“This is by far the most important game we’ve played,” Knee said. “We have to get this game so we can get into the playoffs and play a meaningful game in Week 10.”
Week 10 signifies the start of the postseason, and Laurel Highlands appears headed there after winning three of its past four games to rebound from an 0-3 start. Uniontown, meanwhile, has lost two of three after starting 4-0.
Last week, Blackhawk snapped the Red Raiders’ eight-game regular-season winning streak at Bill Power Stadium in convincing fashion, 40-0.
“The kids are upset because we lost the way we did,” Fortugna said. “We played a close game with Greensburg Salem in a game we thought we should have won. The kids may have been thinking ahead (last week) and that’s my fault. I’ll take the loss. We shouldn’t have lost by that score.
“I don’t like to lose and my kids don’t’ like to lose. When we lose, we take it hard – the staff, players, whoever’s around. We worked very hard in practice and we’re not going to lie down. These kids aren’t going to quit. We’re going to climb back up and get to the top of that mountain again.”
The ascent begins tonight, when Uniontown (5-2, 3-1) faces a Belle Vernon team riding a six-game winning streak. After a 43-0 loss to Thomas Jefferson to open the season, the Leopards have shut out four of six opponents in taking control of the Keystone Conference.
Defense and a ball-control offense, led by running back Andrew Bell, have keyed Belle Vernon’s success. The Leopards (6-1, 5-0) have not allowed a touchdown pass while registering 26 sacks. Bell, meanwhile, has racked up 528 yards and six touchdowns.
For Uniontown, Bill McLee has gained 604 yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns. The Red Raiders offense has struggled two of the past three weeks, scoring just 27 points over the past three games.
“We have to execute tonight,” Fortugna said. “We have to play a great football game and I think the kids are capable of playing it. Belle Vernon is a very good team. They’re well-coached and they’re very big up front. To win, we have to eliminate our mistakes.”
That probably will be a key for Laurel Highlands as well. The Mustangs (3-4, 2-2) face winless Mount Pleasant, but aren’t looking past the Vikings.
“We can’t look forward to Uniontown,” Knee said. “We need to take care of business this week, so next week means that much more for this program. We want to get this one, not only for the playoffs, but so we can have a shot at a winning record.”
Laurel Highlands could have written off its season after opening with losses to Huntingdon, South Park and Belle Vernon. But a non-conference win over Ambridge in Week 4 without starting quarterback Matt Humbert perhaps pulled the team together and lit a fire under the Mustangs.
Wins over Yough and Derry followed, and Laurel Highlands held its own a week ago at Greensburg Salem before eventually falling 14-7.
“The kids never stopped working,” Knee said. “The defense really started playing well and kept playing while the offense was struggling. If you play defense, you’ll always be in games.”
Albert Gallatin at Franklin Regional
The Colonials (1-6, 1-4) play a cross-over game this week, but will keeping an eye on Quad-West action between Trinity and Fox Chapel. Should the Hillers – the only team the Colonials have beaten – defeated the Foxes, Albert Gallatin can claim the final conference’s final playoff berth with a Week 9 win over Ringgold.
Already in are Upper St. Clair, Canon-McMillan and McKeesport.
Baldwin at Connellsville
Three playoff berths in the Quad-East are sewn up. Woodland Hills, Penn Hills and Pittsburgh Central Catholic are in.
That was easy enough, wasn’t it?
Now, this is where it gets interesting.
Baldwin, Norwin, and yes, even Connellsville are still alive. What alignments of the planets must occur for each to get in? Pay attention.
Baldwin (3-4, 2-2) – The Highlands can put an end to the drama with a win over the Falcons tonight. Baldwin closes then closes out its regular season with Central Catholic, a probable loss.
Norwin (2-5, 1-4) – Norwin must defeat winless Hempfield tonight and hope Baldwin loses twice while Connellsville wins its last two. All that so the Gardner Points system can be utilized.
Connellsville (1-6, 0-4) – Connellsville needs to defeat Baldwin and Hempfield, and hope the Spartans can pull off an upset of Norwin. The last time Hempfield won a game? You guess it – against Norwin last season.
Waynesburg Central at Southmoreland
When was the last time the Raiders lost two straight? That’s where Waynesburg Central (5-2, 3-1) is at, having lost to Jeannette two weeks ago and non-conference foe Thomas Jefferson last week.
The Interstate Conference is the only section in the WPIAL without a playoff berth locked up. Jeannette leads the conference at 4-0, but has games remaining with Washington and Greensburg Central Catholic.
Waynesburg, Washington and the Greensburg are 3-1. Get your slide rule ready if all four teams wind up 4-2, which is very possible at the moment.
Southmoreland comes into the game 1-6 overall and 0-5 in section play.
Brownsville at Elizabeth-Forward
The Falcons (2-5, 1-4) step out of conference to take on the Warriors (3-4, 2-3).
Frazier at Mapletown
Geibel at Carmichaels
West Greene at California
Monessen at Jeff-Morgan
What do we know?
A:) Carmichaels is in. The Mikes more than likely will finish the regular season 9-0 – 7-0 in Tri-County South play – before being dissed by the WPIAL seeding committee. Tonight’s opponent: Geibel Catholic.
B:) Monessen, perhaps still reeling from last week’s 42-0 spanking at the hands of Carmichaels, is also in. The Greyhounds are 4-3 overall and 4-1 in section play.
A and B are usually givens.
C:) California (3-4, 3-2) is close, very close. The Trojans host West Greene tonight and then closes out the regular season at Geibel. Win one of those games and California is in.
D:) Frazier, Mapletown, West Greene and yes, believe it or not, Geibel Catholic are still alive, which makes tonight’s game between the Commodores and Maples in Greene County of utmost importance. The winner likely grabs the Tri-County’s final playoff berth.