Oct 31, 2002 By Jim Kriek For The 4 min read

Carmichaels is No. 2 but trying harder Carmichaels is like that old auto rental ad used to say – “number two, but still trying.”

Only one team in the entire WPIAL has outscored the Mikes this season, and they are two of only three teams to score over 300 points after nine weeks of regular season competition, and heading into the playoffs.

Thomas Jefferson is the WPIAL leader on both sides of the ball – 376 points scored, only 38 points allowed to nine opponents – scoring 41.8 per game while ceding 4.2 or slightly more than a field goal and less than a touchdown every four quarters.

Those are the figures that Laurel Highlands will face Friday night when the Mustangs travel to TJ for a first round game in the WPIAL’s Class 3-A playoffs. The Mustangs average only 13 points per game on offense, but give up 21.8 per game.

Carmichaels, the last unbeaten “A” division team, which is at home on Friday to Canevin, is the only other WPIAL team averaging 40-plus points per game, totaling 367 in nine games (40.8) to stand one point behind TJ on offense. Canevin scored 167 for an average of 18.6 while allowing 123 or 13.7 per game.

Pine-Richland is No. 3 on offense and the only other WPIAL team above 300 for the season (350-38.9). It is followed by Penn Hills (321, 35.7), Keystone Oaks, Knoch and Duquesne (all 299-33.2), Jeannette (297-33.0), Canon-McMillan and Seton-LaSalle (276-30.7), Shenango (273-30.3), Blackhawk (267-29.8) and Aliquippa (265-29.6).

Defensively, Thomas Jefferson is the Scrooge of the WPIAL, allowing just 38 points to nine opponents, including five shutouts, a field goal to Keystone Oaks, 14 apiece to Waynesburg and Elizabeth-Forward and seven to Peters Twp.

Only two other teams have held their opponents to less than a touchdown per game, Hopewell (46-5.1) and Seton-LaSalle (53-5.9).

Then comes Knoch (55-6.1), Woodland Hills (60-6.7), Pine-Richland (61-6.8), Upper St. Clair (67-7.6), Rochester (78-8.7), Jeannette (83-9.2) and North Hills (83-9.2).

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The WPIAL’s perfect ranks were cut to six last weekend when four previously unbeaten teams went down the chute.

In Class 4-A, Woodland Hills stands alone after a 27-2 rout of Penn Hills in a match of previously unbeatens, and Upper St. Clair was ambushed by McKeesport, 17-7.

3-A – Pine-Richland beat Knoch, 14-7, in their match of unbeatens, and Thomas Jefferson collared West Mifflin, 42-0.

2-A – Aliquippa was ousted from the elite lineup by Center, 12-0, while Jeannette mauled Greensburg Central Catholic, 35-7, and Seton-LaSalle dittoed Carlynton, 35-6.

1-A – Carmichaels, 37-8 over Frazier, is the only unbeaten in this division.

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Two teams scored their first wins. In 4-A, Shaler collared Norwin, 21-0, and in 3-A, Mount Pleasant rousted Yough, 34-6.

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Three teams were shutout for the first time, West Mifflin, 42-0 by Thomas Jefferson; Aliquippa, 12-0 and its first loss, by Center, and Geibel Catholic, 28-0 by California.

Eight other teams scored first shutout wins of the season: Uniontown, 20-0 over Laurel Highlands; Southmoreland, 25-0 over McGuffey; Shaler, 21-0, Norwin; Keystone Oaks, 41-0, Chartiers Valley; Moon, 10-0, Hopewell; Kittanning, 40-0, Valley; New Brighton, 14-0, Quaker Valley; and Avonworth, 41-0, Cornell.

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Thomas Jefferson and Hopewell are the leaders in blanking the opposition, five times apiece. Belle Vernon, Seton-LaSalle, Blackhawk and Pittsburgh Central Catholic have hung four collars. Seven others have three shutout wins.

In all, 65 teams have yet to be blanked, 15 in 4-A, eight in 3-A, 25 in 2-A and 17 in 1-A.

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Some top efforts across the WPIAL last weekend included:

Field goal – 41 yards, Ryan McDonough, Mount Lebanon, vs. Bethel Park.

Passing TD – 98 yards, Matt Butler to Travis Hawes, North Allegheny, vs. North Hills; 85, Derek Bunce to Don Feitl, Avonworth, vs. Cornell.

Punt return TD – 70 yards, Aubrey Chambers, Farrell, vs. Summit Academy.

TD run – 92 yards, Jon Drager, Thomas Jefferson, vs. West Mifflin; 90 and 88, Jimmy Bates, Riverside, vs. Laurel; 85, Dave Tarr, Kittanning, vs. Valley.

Kickoff return TD – 85, Ray Coleman, Wilkinsburg, vs. Leechburg; 80, Mike Byrd, Gateway, game opener vs. Franklin Regional; 80, Scott Fortune, Fox Chapel, vs. Indiana; 72, Wendell Brown, Duquesne, game opener vs. Serra.

Fumble return TD – 80 yards, Roger Rossi, Riverside, vs. Laurel.

Pass interception TD – 65 yards, Anthony Celitti, Kiski, vs. Plum.

TD passes – 5, Anthony Doria, Seton-LaSalle, vs. Carlynton.