Mr. High School Sports would like to extend a belated congratulations to Peters Township and Shady Side Academy on capturing gold in the 2009 WPIAL Field Hockey Championships Nov. 2. Peters defeated Norwin 3-1 in the Class AAA Semifinals to earn a trip to Fox Chapel, where the Indians triumphed over the Foxes 1-0 to capture their first ever WPIAL field hockey title, thanks to Julianne Femiani's goal with under two minutes remaining in overtime. In the Class AA Semifinals Shady Side squeaked by Winchester Thurston 3-2, and in overtime of the Finals Gina Cunningham scored 1:18 into the extra session for a 2-1 Indians victory over the Ellis School, thus avening last year's sudden-death championship loss to the Tigers. For Shady Side Academy this was their fourth championship in five years and tenth in school history, which ties a WPIAL record.
Kudos to the Indians--both of them--on their gold medals...and be sure to check back with Mr. High School Sports next week as he brings you wrap-ups of the WPIAL soccer and girls' volleyball championships, plus a complete recap of the First Round of the WPIAL Football Playoffs!
WPIAL Football Playoff Preview - First Round
Here in western Pennsylvania one of the most watched events of the scholastic sports season is about to kick off: the 2009 WPIAL Football Playoffs. Starting this week 64 teams across four classifications will begin their quest to play for gold medals at Heinz Field. Here is a glance at all 32 First Round contests...
CLASS AAAA:
(1) Gateway vs. (16) Plum - Rob Kalkstein and the Gators will take to the air against the Mustangs' secondary, while Plum quarterback Chris Zdinak, who has shown some promise, will have to work like crazy to keep up.
(8) Upper St. Clair vs. (9) Penn Hills - In one of the most even-looking First Round matchups, quarterback Alex Park of the Panthers must find a way to pick apart a stubborn Indians defense with plenty of Division I talent.
(4) North Allegheny vs. (13) Latrobe - The Wildcats have shown they can put more than their share of points on the board, but will their offense be enough to neutralize the two-headed monster of Grant Huckestein and Alex Papson?
(5) McKeesport vs. (12) North Hills - The Tigers have been a frequent postseason stumbling block for the Indians, whose defense will have to really elevate its game to contain McKeesport's flex-bone offense, led by Ty-Meer Brown.
(2) Woodland Hills vs. (15) Baldwin - Woodland Hills tailback Dom Timbers can pose a lot of problems for an unproven defense, so the Highlanders must show the same mettle they did against USC a few weeks ago.
(7) Pgh. Central Catholic vs. (10) Seneca Valley - Central will rely on the running of Damion Jones-Moore and new QB Perry Hills to get to round two, while the Raiders are hoping the versatility of QB Donny Holl keeps them alive.
(3) Bethel Park vs. (14) Penn-Trafford - The defending champs look like a contender again thanks to the running of Bre' Ford, and the Warriors are hoping quarterback Zach Emerick still has some magic left against the Hawks' D.
(6) Shaler vs. (11) Mount Lebanon - This could very well come down to who can run the ball most effectively: Jesse DellaValle, Shaler's multi-faceted tailback, or the Blue Devils' tandem of Luke Alberts and Luke Hagy.
CLASS AAA:
(1) Thomas Jefferson vs. (16) Laurel Highlands - The TJ defense, which has become notorious for shutouts, will prey upon Mustangs quarterback Carmen Congelio, who may be their best hope of keeping this game close.
(8) Franklin Regional vs. (9) Montour - Between Phil Peckich of Montour and Chad Bowman of Franklin Regional, both teams can run exceptionally well, so the x-factor might be Panthers quarterback Steven Liberatore.
(4) West Allegheny vs. (13) Knoch - The Knoch defense showed a lot of heart throughout the regular season, but West A has a decided edge with Mike Caputo and the wildcat, so the onus is on fleet-footed Kyler Kenyon.
(5) Greensburg-Salem vs. (12) New Castle - Salem has every reason to be confident with its D and with a healthy Matt Adams leading its O, but if John Matarazzo can show accuracy, the Red Hurricane can pull off the upset.
(2) Hopewell vs. (15) Derry - Rushel Shell, the WPIAL's leading rusher at over 2,000 yards, is suspended for this game for violating school rules, but the Trojans' secondary will still have a tough time with QB Matt Hundenski.
(7) Mars vs. (10) Trinity - The Hillers have had some trouble against the run, so they'd better bring their best against the Planets' Austin Miehle, and they'd better hope their own running back, Eric Richards, still has a big game left.
(3) Chartiers Valley vs. (14) Hampton - Backup quarterback Rob LaMonde has played beautifully for the Colts in Wayne Capers' absence, but Char Valley needs to worry about containing Andrew Bly, who can do it all for the Talbots.
(6) Uniontown vs. (11) Belle Vernon - The Keystone Conference hasn't won a playoff game since 2000, and the Red Raiders hope Arnold Walker can help break that streak, but don't count out BV's own running game with Matt Green.
CLASS AA:
(1) South Fayette vs. (16) Beaver - Quarterback Christian Brumbaugh has brought the Lions from out of nowhere to one of their best seasons ever, but before more hype they have to get by Sam O'Neill and the Bobcats' run game.
(8) McGuffey vs. (9) Aliquippa - Be very wary of the Highlanders' defense, one of the best in the class, but they drew a tough card in the Quips, who have a bevy of talented running backs, not to mention "Mr. Everything," Troy Jeter.
(4) Beaver Falls vs. (13) Steel Valley - Cody Cook, one of the top running backs in the WPIAL, leads the Tigers against the Ironmen, who have designs on an upset with their own dangerous tailback, Delrece Williams.
(5) Shady Side Academy vs. (12) Sto-Rox - This game has upset potential written all over it with Brian Nickel and the Indians' vaunted defense facing perhaps their biggest challenge yet against Paul Jones, one of PA's elite QB's.
(2) Mount Pleasant vs. (15) Kittanning - Neither of these teams should be taken lightly; running back Bryce Allen has helped the Vikings turn some heads, while quarterback Ross Harmon leads a feisty Wildcats bunch.
(7) Keystone Oaks vs. (10) Burrell - Running backs Jordan Maddox and Matt McCann give the Golden Eagles a lot of power on offense, though the Buccaneers can hurt you a lot of ways too with Camren Nelson at the trigger.
(3) Center vs. (14) Washington - With QB Preston Dawson calling the shots, and a stellar defense and special teams, the Trojans have the look of a champion as they face Marquis Brown and the Little Prexies, who never say die.
(6) Freeport vs. (11) Greensburg C.C. - The Yellowjackets are a confident bunch after capturing win number 500 all-time and sharing a conference title, but containing David Miller might be the toughest thing they've had to do.
CLASS A:
(1) Rochester vs. (16) Carmichaels - Trey Johnson leads the number one defense in the WPIAL against 1,000-yard rusher Antoine Farrar and the Mighty Mikes, as the Rams try to take step one toward ending their title drought.
(8) Fort Cherry vs. (9) Brentwood - Despite a couple tough losses, the Rangers can still be a dark horse if Tanner Garry is on his game and their various tailbacks run well, while Spartans QB Cory Bauer has also come a long way.
(4) North Catholic vs. (13) Jefferson-Morgan - Quarterback Martin Long will be the focal point of the Trojans' offense as usual, so the Rockets' balanced offense needs to get up on North Catholic and force Long to make plays.
(5) Monessen vs. (12) Springdale - With the 1-2 punch of quarterback Terrance Stepoli and running back Brett Crenshaw the Greyhounds have found ways to win, but so have versatile QB Brian Shemanski and the Dynamos.
(2) Laurel vs. (15) Burgettstown - The Spartans' bevy of running backs have made them one of the teams to beat in Class A, and they should coast if their defense can keep Blue Devils quarterback Dylan Bonjiorni off balance.
(7) Beth-Center vs. (10) Serra Catholic - If you can stop Rob Heatherington you can stop Serra, but the thing is, few teams have been able to do that, so the Bulldogs need some big plays from Sal Faieta to avoid an early exit.
(3) Clairton vs. (14) South Side Beaver - Tailback Deontae Howard has helped the Bears eat teams alive, and the Clairton defense has shut down some great runners, so Luke Shaffer and the Rams have their work cut out for them.
(6) Avonworth vs. (11) Monaca - This showdown of top-notch running backs has a lot of intrigue, with Jimmy Zubik of Avonworth trying to keep Joe Colangelo and the Indians from prolonging the permanent end of Monaca football.
Top Teams Cruise into Playoffs in Week 9
It looks like Mr. High School Sports has some explaining to do. He forecast plenty of seesaw battles in the final week of the WPIAL football regular season, and sure, there were a couple nail-biters here and there, but instead, some of the top teams in the area steamrolled to victory and made bold statements about their chances in the postseason. Ah well, nobody's perfect...except for Gateway, Thomas Jefferson, South Fayette, and Rochester. Anything can happen in the field of 64, trite though that may sound, but it's pretty obvious after Week Nine who the teams to beat will be in round one, including the aforementioned top seeds. Here are some of the more powerful statements made around the WPIAL in Week Nine by the various playoff participants...
CLASS A:
North Catholic 17, Avonworth 7 - It took an arm and a leg for the Trojans (7-0, 7-2) to dethrone Avonworth as Eastern Conference champions...that is, the arm and legs of Martin Long. The North Catholic quarterback completed eight passes for 160 yards, including a pair of touchdown passes from 21 and 23 yards out, while the North Catholic defense held the 'Lopes (5-2, 7-2) to two receptions for 30 yards and forced two interceptions.
Clairton 39, Serra Catholic 7 - The defending WPIAL champions used their not-so-secret weapon, running back Deontae Howard, and their amazing, dominant "D" to repeat as Black Hills Conference champions. Howard found the end zone four times for the Bears (7-0, 8-1), including once on a 56-yard scamper, and racked up 175 rush yards on 18 carries, punctuating his night with a 43-yard TD pass on a gadget play to key a surprisingly easy victory over the visiting Eagles (5-2, 7-2), who were held to their lowest point total of the season.
Monessen 50, California 21 - In a meeting of arguably the top two signal-callers in the Tri-County South Conference, Moneesen QB Terrance Stepoli stepped up his game and outshined D.J. Martinak and the Trojans (3-4, 4-5), while his teammates collectively put forth a spectacular effort to help the Greyhounds (7-0, 7-2) wrap up the conference title. Stepoli ended up 8-of-11 for 137 yards and a touchdown, while also scrambling for two early scores of eight and 26 yards.
Rochester 28, Monaca 0 - The final Battle of the Bridge before the Monaca-Center merger was one to forget for the playoff-bound Indians (5-2, 6-3), but it was quite the opposite for Big 7 Conference champion Rochester (7-0, 9-0), which avenged last year's loss thanks to the running of Trey Johnson. One of Class A's yardage leaders, Johnson bolstered his total with an 83-yard touchdown run and ended the day with 163 yards on just 13 attempts and helped the Rochester defense pitch its fifth shutout of the year and fourth in conference play.
CLASS AA:
Greensburg C.C. 49, Jeannette 18 - At the beginning of the year Mr. High School Sports suspected the most talented ball carrier in Class AA, regardless of his final yardage total, might just be GCC tailback David Miller, and against their Interstate Conference arch-rivals, Miller did nothing to dissuade him from his opinion. A 65-yard touchdown run set the tone for a night for the ages, and a 51-yard score put the exclamation point on it, as Miller destroyed the Jayhawks' defense with 344 yards on 23 carries and five TD's, and the playoff-bound Centurions (7-2) ended Jeannette's (5-4) WPIAL-best streak of 15 straight playoff berths.
Kittanning 23, Ford City 22 (OT) - Another frequent playoff participant, this time coming out of the always-tough Allegheny Conference, will be staying home for the month of November for the first time since 2002, thanks to the play of Wildcats quarterback Ross Harmon. Down 15-0 Harmon got Kittanning (6-3) on the board with a 32-yard TD pass to Bo Bowser, who finished with 114 yards on six catches, scored on a one-yard run, hit Bowser from ten yards out in the first overtime period to cap off a 10-of-16 night for 159 yards, then ran in a two-point conversion to get the Wildcats to the postseason and knock out the Sabers (6-3).
McGuffey 14, Washington 12 - The McGuffey defense flew under the radar for a lot of the season, probably in part because of the numbers put up by high-profile schools like Rochester, TJ, Gateway, and so forth, but the Highlanders (7-2) are making sure any potential playoff foe will take them seriously. The Little Prexies (6-3) were held scoreless for three quarters, then McGuffey clinched a spot out of the Interstate Conference by stopping a potential game-tying two-point conversion with no time left in regulation.
Center 23, Beaver 14 - On the night of the final regular season home game in Center football history Luca Campos did all the necessary leg work--pun intended--to give the Trojans (7-1, 8-1) a victory over the Bobcats (5-4) and earn a share of the Midwestern Conference championship with Beaver Falls and Aliquippa. Center's kicker converted two extra points, and Campos then gave the Trojans the lead for good with a 41-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter, then tacked on field goals of 35 and 37 yards for insurance.
CLASS AAA:
Mars 7, Knoch 3 - With Austin Miehle gone after suffering a minor leg injury, the Mars offense struggled, but the Mars defense certainly picked up the slack in this low-scoring struggle for playoff positioning in the Greater Allegheny Conference. Running back Seth Geyer supplied the winning points on a one-yard scoring plunge in the 2nd quarter, then the Planets' D dug in the rest of the way, making a great goal-line stand midway through the 4th quarter and forcing a late turnover to clinch a share of the conference title.
Uniontown 40, Laurel Highlands 22 - The Keystone Conference championship may belong to Greensburg-Salem, but the Red Raiders (5-1, 6-3) definitely improved their postseason stead by defeating the Mustangs (3-3, 3-6) and thereby clinching second place. Running back Arnold Walker carried the ball 25 times for 207 yards and two TD's, including a 61-yarder, and backfield mate Jake Forysthe contributed 157 yards and two more touchdowns to help Uniontown earn a home playoff game.
Trinity 24, Ringgold 10 - Led by running back Eric Richards the Hillers (3-3, 4-5) finally punched their ticket to the postseason with an all-important Big Seven Conference triumph over the host Rams (1-5, 3-6). Richards scored all three Trinity touchdowns on short runs, and by the end of this Week 9 contest he had toted the rock 32 times for a season-high 240 yards, as the Hillers eliminated Ringgold from playoff contention.
West Allegheny 35, Montour 22 - At this point Mr. High School Sports is convinced that the Indians (5-1, 7-2) are a sleeper in Class AAA, as long as that wildcat offense remains as scary as it was prior to Halloween. Once again, Mike Caputo did his best Steve Slaton impression in this pre-playoff tune-up for both Parkway Conference teams; the West Allegheny tailback caught a touchdown pass, ran for two late scores, and racked up 207 yards on 39 attempts. In addition, with the Spartans (3-3, 5-4) a simple footstep away from taking the lead, Caputo forced a fumble inches shy of the goal line that preserved West A's advantage in the 3rd quarter.
CLASS AAAA:
Upper St. Clair 21, Mount Lebanon 14 - This South Hills rivalry brought the best out of both squads as they jockeyed for playoff positioning in the Great Southern Conference, but ultimately it was quarterback Alex Park and the visiting Panthers who enjoyed the last laugh in Week 9. Park struggled for just 47 yards in the air, but he ran for a game-winning two-yard TD in the 4th quarter, while running back Jacob Siwicki romped for 155 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, as USC (3-2, 6-3) edged Lebo (3-2, 5-4) to clinch a first-round home game.
Gateway 35, McKeesport 14 - Heading into the playoffs Gateway (6-0, 9-0) is truly the number one team in Class AAAA, and Rob Kalkstein and the Gators proved that by going into the South Hills and taking the Foothills Conference title in the Tigers' (5-1, 7-2) backyard. The Gateway QB finished 16-of-24 for 193 yards and one touchdown pass, while finding the end zone twice on the ground, as Kalkstein's team finished the regular season undefeated for the second time in a row.
Penn-Trafford 38, Norwin 17 - Elsewhere in the Foothills Conference, the final playoff spot was at stake, and the Warriors (3-3, 3-6) put on quite a show at home to clinch their seventh consecutive playoff appearance. Tailback Manny Simpson rushed for 121 yards on 15 carries, including a 51-yard score; not to be outdone, receiver Ryan Austin caught a 49-yard TD pass and took a kickoff 89 yards for six more to help P-T put away the Knights (2-4, 4-5).
North Allegheny 28, North Hills 3 - For the fourth time in five years the North Bowl belongs to the team in black and gold, which easily overpowered the "Big Red" the same way it has overpowered other teams: putting the ball in Alex Papson's hands. The NA tailback broke the ice and got the home crowd going with a 72-yard touchdown run, and after his ten-yard score the Indians (2-3, 4-5) never threatened on a night that saw Papson accumulate 156 yards on 20 carries for the Tigers (5-0, 8-1).
CITY LEAGUE:
Oliver 22, Peabody 14 - The Bears (7-1) did ultimately win their fourth in a row to clinch a share of the City League title, but give the struggling Highlanders (3-5, 3-6) credit, because they had plenty of fight in them till the final gun. Oliver trailed 8-6 heading into the 4th quarter and needed wide receiver Martise Smith to throw a 22-yard TD pass and later haul in a 24-yard score of his own from Dante Jeter in order to avoid the upset.
Champs New and Old Crowned in Cross-Country
Mr. High School Sports would like to congratulate North Allegheny, Norwin, and Quaker Valley on winning team gold, and he would also like to congratulate Ryan Gil of North Allegheny, Evan Miller of Laurel, Jenna Gigliotti of Norwin, and Sarah Miller of Quaker Valley on capturing individual gold at the 2009 WPIAL Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country Championships at Cooper's Lake Campground in Slippery Rock Oct. 29.
For the North Allegheny boys the win meant an amazing fifth team title in a row for NA, with Baldwin, North Hills, and Plum also earning berths in the PIAA Boys' and Girls' Cross-Country Championships at the Giant Eagle Complex in Hershey Nov. 7. Gil won the Boys' Class AAA race on the 5K course with a time of 15:30.
Last year Natalie Bower of Latrobe made history by becoming the first distance runner on record to win four straight WPIAL individual cross-country championships. This year, with Bower having graduated, the time finally came for Bower's and Latrobe's rivals. Gigliotti won the Girls' Class AAA race with a time of 18:26, and Norwin ended Latrobe's run as girls' team champion, with North Hills, North Allegheny, and Butler also punching their tickets to states.
In the Boys' Class AA race Evan Miller upset the reigning individual champion, Omar Hyjek of Quaker Valley, with a winning time of 16:33. However, Hyjek still contributed to a repeat team championship for the Quakers, with Beaver, Greensburg C.C., and Shady Side Academy also earning a trip to the state meet.
Sarah Miller took the Girls' Class AA individual crown with a winning time of 19:30, taking down defending champion Katrina Jueng of Shady Side Academy and helping the Quakers also take back the team championship in Class AA from the Indians. Still, Shady Side made it to the PIAA Final, and joining them and Quaker Valley will be OLSH and Northgate.
Mr. High School Sports salutes all the aforementioned runners and teams on a great 2009 season and wishes them best of luck in Hershey!
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