Big Game Hunting – Week Thirteen 2014

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 4:37 PM

Championship Friday on a work day for WPIAL football fans, it will be interesting to see what that does to attendance at Heinz Field. The MSA Sports gang will be there in full force and will have you covered from every angle with updates, interviews, videos, pictures, and game stories. Everything you need to enjoy Championship Friday completely will be at www.msasports.net. The larger classifications feature rematches from this regular season. AA features a rematch of last year’s championship game and in single A the Bears are back after a year away. Let’s go Big Game Hunting.

AAAA :
#1 Pine-Richland Rams (12-0) vs #3 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (11-1) Friday November 21^st at 2:00 pm @ Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Lanny Frattare and Bob Orkwis

We get a rematch of a week eight Northern Eight conference game won by the Rams at Highmark Stadium 48-28 in the AAAA game.

The top-seeded Rams are in search of their fourth WPIAL football championship to go along with 1969, 1970, and 2003 trophies already in their case.

Defending champion, Central Catholic is looking for title number five and their second straight crown. They also won gold in 2003, 2004, and 2007.

As it did in week eight this game features the top-scoring offense in AAAA and the top-scoring defense in AAAA.

Pine-Richland, behind the WPIAL’s leading passer, Ben DiNucci is scoring 47.9 points per game. Central lead by a ferocious front seven is allowing just 10.6 points per game.

DiNucci has completed 191 of 259 passes for 3296 yards and 34 touchdowns, he has only thrown three interceptions.

Senior wide receiver Mike Merhaut leads the Rams and the entire WPIAL in receptions with 72 for 1174 yards he has scored 15 touchdowns on the season. D’Ondre Gastion has caught 44 passes for 1002 yards he is averaging over 22 yards per catch and has scored 11 touchdowns. Anthony Battaglia and Luke Everett each has exceeded the 20 catch mark in that Rams passing attack.

Connor Slomka pushed the Rams ground game to the forefront in the semi-finals rushing for 181 yards and five scores in Pine-Richland’s 42-7 thumping of McKeesport. For the year Slomka has now rushed 179 times for 1214 yards and scored 32 touchdowns. No other Pine-Richland player has reached 200 yards rushing.

The Rams defense has recorded a pair of shutouts and is allowing just 10.1 points per game on the season.

Senior outside linebacker leads the Rams defense with 82 total tackles. Junior defensive end has five and a half sacks for the Rams. As a team Pine-Richland has sacked the opposing quarterbacks 17 times and totaled eight interceptions.

Central busted out the “Wildcat” in their semi-final victory over Penn-Trafford as John Petrishen rushed for 211 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns in the Vikings’ 52-34 win over the Warriors. Petrishen had just six carries prior to the semi-finals so look for more of that in the rematch with Pine-Richland.

Central’s leading rusher on the season Grant Foster did not get any carries in the semi’s due to a lower body injury, his status for Friday is unknown. Foster on the season has 118 carries for 729 yards and 16 touchdowns. Both Vinny Emanuele and Brian Totten have both gone over 500 yards rushing on the year as Central prefers to keep it on the ground.

Quarterback Mike Navarro has completed 44 of 64 passes for 578 yards and 11 scores. There is no rush to get the ball in the air for Central. When they do throw look for Petrishen to be on the other end he leads the team with 18 catches for 354 yards.

The Vikes defense gets after it, they have posted five shutouts on the season. Defensive back Bryan Glover leads them with 68 total tackles.

The defense as good as it has been has only totaled four sacks and no one player has more than a single sack. They need desperately to get after DiNucci in this game.

The Vikings have been ball hawks in the secondary with 17 interceptions including four each for Bricen Garner and Damar Hamlin.

AAA:
#1 Central Valley Warriors (12-0) vs #3 West Allegheny Indians (11-1) Friday November 21^st at 8:00 pm @ Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Sam Hall and Mike Azadian, also Broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WKPL 92.1 FM by Rob Matzie and Johnny Lee, also broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WBVP AM 1230 and WMBA AM 1460 by Bob Barrickman and Kerry Lacey, also broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WJPA-FM 95.3 by Bob Gregg and Mark Uriah

How do you make a “rivalry”? The answer is you don’t, a rivalry makes itself, and this has become a great rivalry in five short years. These clubs are meeting for the seventh time since Central Valley became a school and for the second time in the WPIAL Championship game. Each team has won three games so far with West Allegheny winning the championship game last year over the Warriors 16-6. The series scoring edge goes to Central as they have outscored the Indians 109-98 in the six previous match-ups.

Central Valley seeks their second WPIAL Championship, with the other coming in their first year of existence, 2010.

West Allegheny looks for their third title in a row and their eighth overall. The Indians won championships in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2012 and 2013. Bob Palko was the head coach for all those championships.

Central has been using a pair of quarterbacks all season, junior Chris Callaghan has done more throwing than senior John George. Callaghan has completed 73 of 116 passes for 1266 yards and 12 touchdowns and thrown a pair of interceptions. George does throw, completing 49 of 73 passes for 879 yards and 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. George will also hurt you running as he has rushed for 256 yards and six touchdowns.

The Warriors go to runner though is University of Pittsburgh recruit Jordan Whitehead who has carried the ball 96 times for 1412 yards, Whitehead also has 13 catches for 206 yards. He has amassed 2404 all-purpose yards and scored a total of 23 touchdowns. His touchdowns have come in quite a variety of ways. Whitehead has 16 rushing scores, one receiving score, one interception return for a touchdown, three punt returns for scores and two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Bottom line, if he gets the ball he is looking to score.

Senior B.J. Powell leads Central Valley’s receiving corps with 38 catches for 720 yards and nine touchdowns. Wingback Dante Lucci has 29 catches and six touchdowns, Kurt Reinstadler has 23 catches for 459 yards.

Central Valley is allowing just under 15 points per game defensively, senior linebacker and captain Rocco Martini has a phenomenal 109 total tackles on the year. Preston Johnson another captain and linebacker has 80 tackles. Martini has five of the teams 19 sacks for the year. Whitehead has five of the Warriors 12 interceptions.

West Allegheny gave TJ a taste of their own medicine in the semi-finals, using the “Wildcat” formation the Jags have pummeled teams with all season, the Indians rushed for 242 yards and rolled the Jags 41-7.

West Allegheny for the bulk of the season had been using more of a pro-style offense with senior quarterback Andrew Koester completing 66 of 115 passes for 1211 yards and 15 scores, but they have gone back to the “Wildcat” here in the playoffs beginning with the quarters.

Danny Guilfoil and Sean Orsini share the team lead in receptions with 16 actches each they have totaled 557 yards and eight touchdowns between them.

On the ground Chayse Dillon, Whitney White and Terence Stephens lead the way for the defending champions. Dillon has 916 yards and a team-high 18 touchdowns while Stephens has 837 rushing yards and 17 scores. White has chipped in with 652 yards and 10 scores. Add those numbers up and you are looking at a very prolific rushing attack of 2405 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Defense is always a calling card for any Bob Palko team, the 2014 Indians are no different allowing just over 12 points per game. Armand Dellovade and Sean Orsini have combined for 246 tackles and nine sacks on the year. Dellovade also has three interceptions.

AA:
#1 South Fayette Lions (12-0) vs #2 Aliquippa Quips (12-0) Friday November 21st at 5:00 PM @ Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Josh Rowntree and Adam Hoerner, also broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WMBA-AM 1460 and WBVP-AM 1230 by Tom Hays and Bruce Frey, also broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WJPA-FM 95.3 by Bob Gregg and Mark Uriah, also broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WKPL 92.1 FM by Mike Sackley and Sean Meyers

The coverage is certainly warranted for this re-match of a fantastic 2014 championship game won by South Fayette at Heinz Field 34-28.

Both teams have been totally dominant throughout the season in fact they have been 1-2 since the August 26^th Countdown-to-kickoff AA pre-season top ten hit the MSA Sports website. This is the game that proves we know what we are doing at the Network!

Brett Brumbaugh leads the Lions into the rematch as the all-time record holder for passing yards and touchdowns in the history of the WPIAL. He has thrown for 2927 yards and 35 touchdowns on the season, and, if the Lions can make a run to another PIAA title it is very realistic he could become the all-time yards passing leader in the entire state of Pennsylvania.

The Lions are in search of their fifth WPIAL championship, winning previously in 1936, 1964, 2010, and 2013.

The Quips return to Heinz Field for the SEVENTH consecutive season. Aliquippa is looking for championship number 16 with previous wins in 1952, 1955, 1964, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2011, and 2012.

Brumbaugh has spread it around to the Lion receivers; six of whom, have 13 catches or more on the year.

Nick Ponikvar leads the club with 45 catches for 874 yards and nine touchdowns. Tight end Logan Sharp has 42 catches, 755 yards and a dozen touchdowns.

South Fayette can grind it out as well, Hunter Hayes has rushed for 1280 yards and 24 touchdowns on the year.

The offensive numbers are so distracting it is easy to forget about how fantastic the Lions defense is. They swarm to the football led by Sharp at outside linebacker and have allowed just over 12 points per game on the year.

The Quips have been just as impressive with an average margin of victory at 38.90 points per game.

Senior quarterback Darrien Fields has completed 62 of 93 passes for 1459 yards and 18 touchdowns, giving the Quips a bit more of  a passing game than we have been used to seeing them have.

Patrick Anderson and Anthony Barton have combined for 32 catches and 616 yards in that passing game.

They don’t have Dravon Henry and Terry Swanson anymore but there is a fantastic pair of running backs in Kaezon Pugh and DiMantae Bronaugh. Pugh has 1510 yards and 25 touchdowns on 132 carries. Bronaugh has 1245 yards and 24 touchdowns on the exact same amounts of carries.

A:
#5 Avonworth Antelopes (11-1) vs #2 Clairton Bears (12-0) Friday November 21^st at 11:00 am @ Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Paul Paterra and Lou Rood

These teams are polar opposites in terms of their championship game history. The ‘Lopes got a share of the WPIAL title in 1959 splitting with Union after a tie, while the Bears are back in the championship game looking for their seventh championship since 2006. Clairton has won 10 championships in the WPIAL they came in 1929, 1931, 1954, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

The Bears are fast and strong and now, battle tested after having to beat Neshannock in overtime 48-42 in the semi-finals.

Clairton, like Aliquippa seems to have added the dimension of a great passing game to their usual style of play under first year head coach Wayne Wade.

Ryan Williams has completed 108 of 200 passes for 2232 yards and 27 touchdowns. Even better as far as coach Wade is concerned Williams has taken great care of the football only tossing four interceptions all season. The yardage number for Williams is good for fourth overall in the WPIAL for the year.

Aaron Matthews and Jimmy Hines are the go-to receivers for Williams. Matthews has 32 catches for 598 yards and has scored a total of 12 touchdowns on the year. Hines, fantastic in the open-field, has 27 catches for a team-high 731 yards and he has found pay dirt 10 times on the season.

As good as the passing game is the running game still might be a little better. Sophomore Lamont Wade should come with a warning label. This kid has 2128 yards and 39 touchdowns on 136 carries, he is a big-play waiting to happen and a beast on the defensive side of the ball as well. Wade’s interception ended Neshannock’s overtime possession and he then scored on a 10-yard run to win the semi-final for the Bears. Harrison Dreher is a beast in the rush attack as well, despite missing time due to injury Dreher has 679 yards and 16 touchdowns on the year.

Avonworth knocked off their nemesis Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic to reach the championship game 28-21. The ‘Lopes have overcome a lot this season in terms of injuries, they lost one of the top quarterbacks in the WPIAL in week three as Zach Chandler went down for the year. Then in week seven their star running back Jamal Hughley suffered, what appeared to be an ankle injury against North in the ‘Lopes only loss of the year a 28-0 stumble at J.C. Stone Field.

Hughley is back and seems 100% for this game. Josh Drwal has taken over at quarterback and been very solid passing and running the football. Drwal has completed 61 of 103 passes for 615 yards and six scores. He has also rushed for 452 yards and another five touchdowns on the year.

The ‘Lopes will need a big game from the junior running back in Hughley to win the championship though, the 6’2’’ 200 pound Hughley will run from the “I” and also work as a receiver in the slot. He has 779 rushing yards and 449 receiving yards and has scored 17 touchdowns on the year.

Paul Heflin and Chris O’Malley will contribute in the passing game and Brandon Wasko will get the tough yards on the ground for Duke Johncour’s team.

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Tags: Aliquippa, Avonworth, Central Valley, Clairton, West Allegheny