Only three weeks remain to the WPIAL football regular season. Playoff races remain open in most conferences, particularly in the Class AA Interstate. Six teams are separated by two games.
Canon-McMillan (1-1, 3-3) at Mt. Lebanon (1-1, 3-3)
Chances are the winner of this finishes third in the Great Southern Conference. Last week, Mt. Lebanon scored on a variety of big plays at Peters Township. The Indians defense had no solution for running back Luke Hagy.
Canon-McMillan evened its conference record against Baldwin last week and are in search of a signature victory. The Big Macs three wins have come against teams (Trinity, Butler and Baldwin) with a combined two wins. How quickly linebacker Mike Hull and the rest of the defense get to Hagy could key their chances.
McGuffey (4-2, 4-2) at Charleroi (5-1, 5-1)
The power offenses of these two Interstate Conference playoff-contenders along with the weather means a healthy dose of running, and then a few more carries.
Which offensive line will dictate? Can McGuffey open holes for Nick Shuman, Trenton Bedillion and company or will the Cougars, behind Zach Hooks, soften a tough McGuffey defense for sensational sophomore Quentin Briggs, who is closing in on a second 1,000-yard season.
Both teams have played like playoff teams to date but the loser could be in trouble. McGuffey still has Wash High on the schedule. Charleroi still has Wash High and first-place Mt. Pleasant.
Jeannette (5-1, 5-1) at Washington (4-2, 4-2)
Wash High has yet to beat a team with more than one victory. The Prexies need to break that trend soon to bolster their playoff chances. Junior Zach Barnes is developing into a feature running back and when Washington finds ways to involve Bryan Thomas in the offense, they produce points.
Jeannette is one of the few teams in the Interstate Conference who can match Wash High's athleticism and speed at the skill positions. Jayhawks runner Toddy Harris is coming off a monster game against McGuffey.
California (3-1, 4-2) at Beth-Center (3-1, 4-2)
As previously stated on The Varsity Letters, topping the intensity in this rivalry, which was heightened when Beth-Center joined the Tri-County South Conference, is difficult.
California took a big hit during last week's loss to Carmichaels. Quarterback D.J. Martinak, who has had a hand in 17 touchdowns, is doubtful. So is receiver Wade Stinnett and running back Mike Evans.
The Trojans must find some way to match Beth-Center's intensity because scoring points on the Bulldogs is tough. They've allowed 53 points, lowest in the conference.
40 comments:
I was at Wash High's stadium yesterday, it was absolutely terrible. This game is going to be a dogfight. Look for speed not to be a huge factor in this game. It is going to be won between the tackles. I think its going to come down to the fourth quarter and the team with the least amount of turnovers wins. MUDBOWL 2009
I was at Wash High Stadium last night and that place is a travesty. Speed will not be a factor in this game, but ball control/security will. Look for the team who can securely move the ball between the tackles to come out on top in this contest. MUDBOWL 2009!
I saw Wash High Stadium yesterday and it is a travesty. After tonight's game there will be no grass left between the hashes. Speed will not play a factor in this one but ball control and ball security will. Whomever commits the least amount of turnovers wins. MUDBOWL 2009!
The field at Burgettstown is a mess. They had the sprinklers on when I went to Bimbos to get my copenhagen this morning. If they try that push - up crap at Hill Memorial they might tip the bus in the sulfur crick.
Interesting thought on Burgettstowns field. Too bad I can't go to that one. I'm sick as a dog.
I heard a Clairton janitor got some texts down in the school boiler room from a Burgettstown janitor, talking trash.
Hope that doesn't cause a ruckus.
Once again Canon Mac is playing a decent AAAA opponent on the road and are an embarrassment. Half time score Mt.Lebo 21 CM 7.
I'm sure coach will use the excuse that Mike Hull is sick and not playing but this has been the history for CM over the past few years.....CM cannot beat good AAAA teams and can not win on the road.
The wheels have come off the CM program ...... they look unprepared & disorganized.
2 minutes into the second half and the carnage of CM continues...Mt.Lebo 27 -- CM 7.
Next week CM gets to be humiliated by Bethel Park which will guarantee a losing record of at best 4-5 if they beat Peter's or 3-6 if they don't.
It's time for the CM faithful to start thinking of our signature sport......WRESTLING!!!!
Amen to that
Clairton wins quite easily yet again. Good luck to Burgettstown the rest of the way.
i told everyone wash high had the athletes. wow, can we get a little respect now. i dont want to hear the field conditions blah blah blah. we had the athletes to match jeanettes athletes. we are starting to become a football team. these kids can make plays.again the next 2 games will depend on how well our line plays both sides of the ball. they did a great job against jeannette.
Burgettstown was a classy host so there were no post game push ups. As usual Clairton didn't run up the score by taking knees in the first half and playing the JV's in the second. Just like the FC game when Clairton took several knees at the end when they could have scored again. Good thing Clairton doesn't play the starters the whole game and score 80 but I'm not sure others would be as kind.
Clairton 53
Bgstown 0
laugh now. go ahead, make a joke...type something funny. Clairtons making a joke out of this entire conference. I pray next year clairton is put into a different conference.
Still can't bring yourself to mention Trinity, can you Kovak. Your bias shines through like a 100W bulb.
Anon @ 8:38/9:07, do you feel better now that you've waxed with your weekly attack on the Big Mac program? Where were you last week when they beat what has proved to be a talented Baldwin team?
For your info pal, there were no excuses made about who played and didn't play. The boys were anything but an embarrassment, they in fact did us proud. They were ravaged with illness all week and had numerous good players unable to play, but they played their hearts out and actually outgained Mt.Lebo. We just had some costly turnovers.
My son plays and I'm at practice almost everyday and you are out of your mind if you use the terms unprepared and disorganized. I'll meet you down the stadium this week and you can see for yourself how unbelievably well-prepared they are. We have the smallest line in probably all of Quad or Triple A, but the line coaches have done a great job with them and they battle every week!
You are simply a vindictive person who either your kid didn't play enough or you get some feeling of grandeur by attacking others who are well-respected. You are actually pathetic.
Mention Trinity? You Trinity fans really want to hear about their 2-5 record?
Amazing.
to bad for clairton its such a bad place live they have no class give me a break put the bears somewhere else and they will do the same. O by the way all you wash county posters that talked all that trash on BALDWIN maybe you can go watch them in the playoffs not peters or cm something about 51south from clairton to HEINZ. I hear theres a nice christmass display at wash county fairgrounds the rest of us will be at the championships at Pittsburgh.
anon 9:43
Don't wish things like that because we could end up in the Tri County South.
I'm glad someone else said it. You people think the Clairton Bears are just a bunch of thugs that go and do what they did at Fort Cherry everywhere. They dont do that kind of stuff against most teams they play, only the ones that want to talk and provoke them. Fort Cherry provoked them and they got what they got (even though clairton showed mercy by taking a knee). Last week Char-Houston #71 threw several punches at desimon green, should have been ejected, caused a fight, and clairton put 63 on them. Avella will be a very subdued game, you wont see any problems until the Serra game when those two rivals go at it for the black hills conference title. clairton is going to destroy serra but serra is going to run their mouth in the week leading up to that game and during pre-game like they always do.
i want clairton to leave their starters in for an entire game, not take a knee and put 70 or 80 on someone in this terrible conference. id like to see them play in the big 7 but that will never happen.
Blah,blah, blah. Clairton, blah, blah blah. No one around these parts really cares about Clairton and we've already established that no one around here will be rooting for them come playoff time. So quit talking about them like they're the second coming of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty.
No one cares.
clairton needs to move up to aa. they would still be a force. look at jeannette. they could play single a but they dont. 53-0 is a little crazy. i dont see clairton having alot of bad years playing A ball.too many athletes.
Anon October 17, 2009 12:53 PM,
You can't be serious man. I don't want to see our starters in an entire game and put 80 points on an oppenent. What does that prove other than risking an injury to one of our starters? We're bout to have a long playoff run and can't afford a Ball, Weatherspoon, Howard hurt because we want to downright emberrass a team. No matter how bad we beat Avella and Serra the next 2 weeks Laurel and Rochy are going to give us the games of our lives before states, if we make it past those 2. Who cares what Serra has to say before the game. Fort Cherry hung up 42 points on them. They have to be more worried about our offense than we need to be worried about them. Anything can happen BTW. Thats why they play the games.
@ Anon 12:53.....
Clairton doesnt need to play in the Big 7 to test their skills - schedule a home and home with TJ as part of its non-conference schedule- its close - if you want to see how you would stack up with the bigger schools....I doubt Cherpak would back down...He could even teach the Bears a lesson in class and respect.
The last comment made about Clairton always getting provoked to make a fool of themselves is extremely funny. Its been proved time and time again that your team makes the most amount of trouble in the W.P.I.A.L. You don't see a team like FC, Serra, or Char Houston acting like they do against Clairton to anyother team. And that's simply because those teams have class and respect for the other teams in their conference. If Clairton would have any class, they would be welcomed into every stadium with respect. Instead, when they walk in everyone knows they will cause trouble because they have done it so many times before. Look what you said already, "i hope the Bears leave their starters in the game the whole time and run the score up to 70 against Serra." There is one great example, Serra has done nothing at all and you guys are already talking trash, and ready to show 0% class in front of another black hills conference team.
Sarcastic Sword
The Big 7 Clairton should play in isn't the one that has TJ, Char Valley, and Trinity in it. Its the one that has Rochester, Laurel and the other Beaver County schools. Clairton would get murdered playing TJ, Trinity and Char Valley.
I would miss a Ringgold game to go to TJ vs Clairton.
Could you imagine if TJ and Clairton merged someday?
It seems like every year someone around Clairton starts saying that TJ and Clairton may be forced to merge at some point because of how cash strapped Clairton is; so if that did happen, alot of the kids playing at Clairton would have to play for Cherpak.
TJ is a low end / middle of the road AAA school as far as boys enrollment in their high school goes so the Clairton boys likely wouldn't move them up into AAAA either if that actually happened.
Hypothetical question posed to the blog based on anon 10/20-09....
If Clairton merged with TJ, how difficult would it be for the Bears players to play for Bill Cherpak?
The level of class and respect that TJ shows yer after year is night and day compared to Clairton. Cherpak is a "my way or the highway" type of coach....Just ask the QB from last yr (Wehner)...Cherpak kicked him off the team in mid-season in 2007 when he was a junior and starting QB - and TJ didnt miss a beat.....
every stadium clairton plays in is there house lets get that strait.nobody likes a winner thats why all of you wash. county people are happy with the exep.of wash high we own you get used to it and when we come to your town go sit with the band and enjoy the halftime show by then the game will be over
in the past i would i have said that clairton would get blown out by tj, but after watching tj against char valley im not so sure. i still think tj would win the game just because of their size, but outside of hasis and giansante i dont know that tj would kill them. i think it would be a close game. i think tj would have a difficult time containing some of clairtons skill guys. i really do. lets take out of consideration all of the stuff clairton does, the trash talking, the dumb penalties and just compare these teams football player for football player and i think it would be a lot closer than people think.
hahahaha Baldwin won't make it to Heinz Field. Sorry to ruin your dreams. Your just as full of yourself as Clairton, I hope you like cheering for them to because Baldwin making it to Heinz is a joke. Looks like you did your research on the Washington County Fairgrounds Christmas Display, most likely because you were trying to figure out what to do without Baldwin playing in a Championship.
I don't think TJ & Clairton will ever merge. If the Clairton District is having financial problems, the state will probably do a Duquesne on them. Put the High School kids into two or more other districts and keep the elementary school in Clairton. I think if TJ had any interest in a merger with CLairton, it would happened by now.
Chuck
TJ/Clairton merger would only take place if the state forced it. Otherwise it will always be a "what if" scenario. Trust me...
First issue at hand. Clairton vs TJ would be a good matchup for a half. It would be up to Clairton to score as many points as possible in the first half. In the 2nd half TJ's depth and skill would wear the smaller Bears team down. And we'd start to see the Jaguars pulling away for a 10-14 point win, if not more.
As for a Clairton-TJ merger. Its not going to happen. If Clairton gets shut down I see 1/3 going to EF, 1/3 going to TJ and the other 1/3 going to SA. Where our athletes end up I have no idea. Theres too many politics involved for TJ and Clairton to have a full fledged merger. Much similar to Wash and Trinity.
If Clairton would merge with TJ you would see TJ kids in catholic school. Just like when Duquesne merged with East Allegeheny, a bunch of kids went to Serra Catholic and alot didn't get in because it created a waiting list. Maybe Clairton could merge with Monessen, There struggling and I don't think no neighboring district wants them.
I heard that Californias Quarterback and receivers played against Beth Center and will be finishing the season. Some think it was all bluff. Anyone know?
I know that Clairton and TJ wont be merging - if you read it, I said it was a hypothetical question......I dont need told it wont happen - I just wish you guys would read and comprehend before replying.
I've heard this alot lately - that TJ isn't that impressive because of the Chartiers Valley game - I think that's kind of ridiculous.
1st - Charties Valley is very good. Before the Capers injury; they were every bit as good as Hopewell. If you took Schell away from Hopewell - they become extremely average too.
2nd - The Colts defense is easily one of the best in AAA; they did a very nice job against TJ; their offense just couldn't help them out.
3rd - I've heard alot of coaches talk about how playing on Thursday nights is great for the schools, but no so much for the teams themselves. Face it, these kids are used to a routine, and playing a day sooner changes their entire week's schedule.
4th - you can't ignore the weather - it was a windy, rainy mess. I thought that both teams did a great job of minimizing it's effect on them.
TJ's most powerful team in recent years was in 2007. That year they beat CV 3-0 on a last second FG. That game actually made them stronger the rest of the way. I'm not sure that because they beat a good team on their home field by 20 points on a rainy Thursday night means that they aren't very good this year. It might mean that CV was better than alot of people first thought. (By the way - TJ beats Clairton going away, let's get real.)
I was at TJ's opening game this year. HD Woodson from Washington DC is a much bigger and faster version of Clairton and TJ beat them 38-0.
Woodson won the DC city schools championship last year - they have 4 or 5 legitimate D-1 kids on that roster and TJ really had no problem with them.
Lets not take away from Chartiers Valley. They're a good team that always seems to give TJ a game. They also lose their star before that game. This year Capers, last year, Santino Coury.
Still, TJ is a really good football team. They know how to win. Any good team runs into a pesky opponent like TJ saw with Uniontown. Uniontown comes within a score of overtime.
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