Teams ready for WPIAL football playoffs
Do or die. Win or go home. Those themes echo throughout the high school practice football fields this week as area teams embark on their quest for WPIAL championships.
The celebrations associated with capturing conference championships are over, said Joe Rossi and Jeff Metheny, who coached their respective clubs, South Fayette and Bethel Park, to titles.
“It’s nice to hang a banner and it’s a huge accomplishment that means something to the kids but now everybody starts at 0-0,” Rossi said after the Lions ran the table during the regular season, going 8-0 in the Northwest Nine Conference and capping their sixth straight undefeated regular season (10-0) with a resounding win against Montour, 49-21.
“Anything can happen,” he added.
Mike Melnyk, who coached Mt. Lebanon to a runner-up showing to the Hawks after falling to Bethel Park in the regular season finale, 34-24, added of the post-season, “Everything needs to be a little bit better. Every mistake is magnified. Every big play is bigger.”
There are plenty of big games on the schedule Nov. 3 as the WPIAL tournament commences. Championship games at the 6-A through 3-A level will culminate in a trip for the finalists to Heinz Field Nov. 17 while Class 2 and 1-A will play their title tilts Nov. 25 at Robert Morris University’s Joe Walton Stadium.
Finishing is the key says Melnyk, whose Blue Devils played well in their last two games, both losses to Penn Hills and Bethel Park, but did not complete the job. He outlined what his team and all others must do to be successful in the tournament.
“We have to play our best football and hopefully catch a few breaks along the way to advance,” he said.
Teams will need those breaks in Class 6-A because Pine Richland has dominated the landscape this fall. Undefeated and champions of the Northern Seven Conference, the Rams boast Notre Dame recruit, Phil Jurkovec, who ranks among the Top 10 all-time passers in the WPIAL with more than 6,500 yards.
“Pine Richland is the best team that we’ve seen by far … in some years, said Metheny, whose team lost to the Rams, 54-20, during the regular season. “You want to stay away from those guys for as long as you can.”
As the tournament’s No. 2 seed, the Hawks surely will. They host Penn Hills (7-3) at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of the 6-A tournament.
“They are big and fast,” Metheny said of Penn Hills. “They have a lot of talent and they are well coached.”
So too are the Hawks. They finished 6-0 in the Southeastern Conference and 8-1 overall. In the win over Lebo, Tanner Volpatti rushed for 202 yards and two scores to vault over 1,000 yards for the season with 22 total touchdowns.
“We like to run the ball and we’ve done an excellent job of that (against Lebo) and all season,” Metheny said. So in the playoffs, the Hawks will “do what we’ve done all year,” Metheny added.
BP has also developed a passing attack since they have started Anthony Chiccitt at quarterback. The sophomore has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and 8 scores, including a 39-yard strike to John Doleno against Lebo.
“Defense has played well and we’ve made big plays,” Metheny said. “If we continue to do that, then we have a shot at moving forward.”
Mt. Lebanon
Meanwhile, the Blue Devils have a shot to advance because of Aidan Cain. In the loss to Bethel Park, he shattered the all-time WPIAL regular-season record with his 87th reception. He also smashed the record for an entire season with 1,652 yards receiving.
“Aidan has done exactly what I expect him to do this year,” Melnyk said. “He is a dominant player and played best in big games.”
Lebo’s big game this week is a rematch at home with North Allegheny. The Tigers (7-3) won the first fray, 44-27, back on Sept. 29.
“We have had the most difficult schedule of any team and I hope that has prepared us for the second season,” Melnyk said. “Since Central Catholic and us had to have home games, we knew that we were going to have a repeat game. That helps on a short week of preparation.”
South Fayette
Although the Lions enter the Class 4-A tournament as one of the top seeds, they are hungry to avenge last year’s early departure in the first round of the playoffs. And, though Thomas Jefferson was upset by Belle Vernon and thus did not win the Big Nine Conference, the Jaguars, says Rossi, are the team to beat.
“TJ is the champion until somebody knocks them off,” he said.
The Lions have some of the best players in the WPIAL. Drew Saxton, like Jurkovec, has thrown for more than 6,000 yards in his career. He was 14 of 20 for 345 yards and three scores in the conference clincher, a 49-21 win against Montour. Saxton also rushed for touchdowns as did Johnny Beck and RayQuin Glover. Additionally, Noah Plack’s one-handed TD grab demonstrated why he is a Delaware recruit.
“We have some veterans. I like how they respond under pressure,” Rossi said, pointing to their comeback against the Spartans. “It’s nice to see how calm the guys are and how they came right back and drove down the field. These guys have been there and they understand what you need to do to win games.”
The Lions will win because they have “spirit” says Rossi.
“There is something special and genuine about this group,” Rossi said. “Their overall spirit and love for each other is what I like about this team. They care about each other. Team attitude like that is going to go a long way.”
Upper St. Clair
Jim Render agrees with that insight. His Panthers won the Allegheny Nine Conference despite their loss to the Wolverines, 9-7.
“I like the great effort out guys give each game,” he said.
To Render, the Class 5-A tournament is wide open with eight pretty good teams, including McKeesport, Penn-Trafford, Gateway, West Allegheny. The Panthers will host Franklin Regional (6-3) in their opener. The Panthers, who are led by Jack Hansberry behind center with 1,376 yards and 9 scores and Colin McLinden with 760 yards rushing and 11 scores, also feature a defense that allows just 19.4 points per game and is led by Jack Burton (75 tackles).
“No. 1 we have to play good defense,” Render said. “We need to be more consistent on offense. Special teams have to be good. And, it’s nice to have turnovers go your way.”
All games at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3.
Bethel Park (8-1) hosts Penn Hills (7-3)
Mt. Lebanon (6-4) entertains North Allegheny (7-3)
Peters Township (7-3) plays Central Catholic (8-2) at Cupples Stadium
Upper St. Clair (7-3) hosts Franklin Regional (6-3)
South Fayette (10-0) plays West Mifflin (5-4)
Seton LaSalle (8-1) vs. Freeport (7-2) at Dormont Stadium