Mt. Lebanon, Woodland Hills battle for SEC title
Since the WPIAL expanded to a Quad-A division in football, Mt. Lebanon and Woodland Hills have each won five championships. Lebo last won a WPIAL title in 2000, beating the Wolverines and breaking up their bid for four banners in a row. Woodland Hills claimed WPIAL championships in 1999 and back-to-back trophies in 2001-02.
Since his arrival as head coach, Mike Melnyk has become quite acquainted with the rivalry, which will be renewed with a vengeance when the Blue Devils invade Turtle Creek for a 7:30 p.m. clash Oct. 23. With both Lebo and Woodland Hills sporting 7-0 records, the Southeastern Conference championship is on the line.
“The Wolvarena,” said Melnyk of Woodland Hills’ home field, “is a great setting for this game and will add to this storied rivalry. We won (in overtime, 39-36) in 2012, my first year in a remarkable game and I’m sure Coach (George) Novak will remind (his team) of that.”
Melnyk, meanwhile, doesn’t need to remind his Blue Devils about the greatness of this year’s Woodland Hills team. Not only are the Wolverines undefeated, they are ranked No. 1 in the state and boast a plethora of Division I recruits, including Miles Sanders. The Penn State recruit has rushed for 3,736 yards so far in his varsity career. He rushed for 234 yards last week in a come-from-behind win against West Allegheny, 22-15, and will become only the eighth running back in Quad-A history to rush for more than 4,000 yards if he gains 264 additional yards before his scholastic career ends.
“Woodland Hills is a terrific team,” Melnyk said, “and Sanders has been special since he was a freshman. I’m just glad he doesn’t get a red-shirt year,” he added with a laugh. They are a great team because they have other great players that make them dangerous in all three phases of the game. Game-breakers, game-changers. You have to concentrate on all of them while not totally focusing on any one of them.”
Jaymond Dunn changed the game around for the Wolverines against West-A when he returned a kickoff 96 yards for the winning touchdown. Jo El Shaw is another “game-changer” for Woodland Hills. The Western Michigan recruit leads the Wolverines in rushing with nearly 800 yards and an 11.3-yard average per carry. He also averages 12.3 yards per catch.
To top the Wolverines, the Blue Devils must do exactly what they did last week in beating North Hills, 35-20, in a non-conference game. In the victory, Eddie Jenkins completed 10 of 16 aerials for four touchdowns of 24 and 40 yards to Jack Young and 51 and 42 yards to Nick Tommasi. Jenkins, who has passed for over 1,000 yards this season, also galloped 60 yards for the final score of the game.
“The North Hills game was a game where our kids again showed their focus and resolve. North Hills played hard. They are much better than their record might indicate. But,” Melnyk continued, “we were able to exploit what they were giving us and made plays. That’s what we will have to do (against Woodland Hills) … make plays when they present themselves.”
In racking up a 7-0 record overall and 5-0 in the conference, the Blue Devils have made plays late in games that have proved pivotal to the outcome. They overcame a 20-7 halftime deficit to upend Bethel Park and they outscored North Hills, 14-7, in the final frame to preserve that victory.
So hanging in there against the Wolverines will be key for the Blue Devils, said Melnyk.
“The longer we can stay in the game, the better our chances, because they can get things rolling down hill on you quickly,” he said. “Our kids have proven one thing this year, they won’t quit, ever.”