These fearless prognostications were in trouble after two weeks, when a scant 7-5 record forced an ultimatum - start picking winners or else. Last week, a strong response was issued with a solid 5-1 week. Talk about clutch.
My overall record stands at 12-6, a .667 win percentage.
Considerable room for improvement remains.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic (3-0) at Woodland Hills (1-2)
After a respectable showing against national power Manatee (Fla.), Woodland Hills was shutout by North Hills. As expected, the Wolverines notched their first win last week against Plum. Pittsburgh Central Catholic has been far more impressive, with only Bethel Park playing the Vikings within three touchdowns. This prognosticator loves teams on a roll. Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 24-10.
Greensburg-Salem (3-0) at Ringgold (3-0)
Joe Montana Stadium should be buzzing for this key Keystone Conference game. The winner puts itself in great position. The loser should still be among the conference's top four teams. Greensburg-Salem has often been overlooked because of its conference affiliation. Ringgold has added life to the oft-maligned conference. The Rams want a track meet and it's tough to pick against speed. Ringgold, 35-27.
North Allegheny (3-0) at Erie McDowell (3-0)
It's still difficult imagining Erie McDowell as a WPIAL member but its offense is good enough for any district in Pennsylvania. One bugaboo is a defense that yielded 36 points to Baldwin. Imagining North Allegheny giving up 36 points to any team is near impossible. The Tigers have allowed just seven so far. North Allegheny, 28-14.
Trinity (2-1) at Central Valley (2-1)
The Hillers' defense took a few punches in a loss at Belle Vernon. Trinity's offense needs to start throwing a few, particularly in the passing game. Central Valley crushed a strong New Castle team last week and plays this non-conference game at home. After two tough Big Eight games against Chartiers Valley and BVA, Trinity might need to rest players with bumps and bruises for the important games. Central Valley, 26-10.
Washington (1-2) at South Fayette (3-0)
The Prexies are experiencing significant growing pains as the underclassmen have yet to adjust to full-time life at the varsity level. There's nothing like a rivalry to bring out the best and there's not much love lost between the Prexies and Lions from their intense basketball rivalry. Washington plays better in this one but the Prexies aren't ready to match South Fayette's talent and experience. South Fayette, 35-21.
Monessen (3-0) at California (2-1)
There was a time when this "rivalry" was as one-sided as Penn State' non-conference football schedule. California has leveled the playing field to a degree in recent years but the Greyhounds don't lose games in the Tri-County South very often. Neither team played its best last week, but Monessen found a way to win at Carmichaels, while California lost at Riverview. Monessen, 34-17.
21 comments:
I don't think you can read too much into New Castle because they haven't really played champion level opposition for their record. Ambridge and Butler are who New Castle has played and they are both winless. New Castle had come into week 3 basically there for the taking with a padded record. Central Valley's biggest achievement has been a close(30-27) loss to West Allegheny. 26-10 may sound reasonable but nobody should be shocked if it's alot closer or THS comes out on top.
Sorry, one other thing: Ringgold is going to get smashed by Greensburg-Salem! I predict: Greensburg Salem- 40 Ringgold-7
CLAIRTON 63, CHARTIERS HOUSTON 0
STAMP IT.
Sorry, one other thing: Ringgold 14 Greensburg Salem 7. Ostara, which lottery numbers should I play tomorrow?
Howd that pick work out for you Ostara?
Hats off to the Geibel and Avella football programs. Looks like both are headed in the right directions. Avella just might sneak into the playoffs if they upset Char Houston. After Clairton next week they got Bentworth, Carlyton, Char Houston, and Serra left on their schedule. I think they can win those games if they play the way they did tonight. Holding a decent Brentwood team to 7 first half points is remarkable. Congrats to tiny Geibel for being .500 this far into the season. They could also sneak into the playoffs. It would be a great story if they both made it. I have my doubts but this is definitely a feel good story for this 2010 season.
HC Terry Fetsco had some glorious things to say about Clairton last night. My thoughts are as is, the backup QB needs to get some work in 2, he's one snap away from being the starting QB. If Char Houston actually blew out a team or 2 themselves they'd know this fact. And then he proceeded to say that Clairton is beatable and Rochester is better. Ok, Rochester may be better than Clairton and may just beat the Bears. But your team just got whooped 48-0. Spouting off about how Clairton isn't that good just makes your team look that much worse than they already are. I'm usually the guy that try's my best to be civil on this board, but come on man. There's times where its better to shut up and take the loss to the chin. Apparently Fetsco doesn't know how to do that.
bears 48 bucs 0...just as good.
@ Keith Taylor and Anon @ 11:51, I actually came back to say I was wrong. Gotta love the the sarcasm of pittsburgh people though. What position(s) were you guys playing on the field last night in the win against GS? Right after the game you posted even, wow, Bigger rams fans than Steeler fans huh? I forgot about the sarcasm when I traded it to live on the beach.
Mike, My man, you were about as close as you could get to the scores. My hat's off to you! Great job!
THIS JUST IN: NOBODY GIVES A RAT'S BEHIND ABOUT CLAIRTON FOOTBALL.
YAWN!
Keep crying cry babies. WHAYH (refer to an earlier blog post for the definition of this word) we dont like Clairton, WHAYH. Clairton keeps beating us, WHAYH. We have to cry to the newspapers about clairton running up the score on us, WHAYH.
PATHETIC. Simply PATHETIC. Chartiers Houston and Fort Cherry are two of the biggest cry baby teams I have ever seen. you cant beat Clairton, you dont have the talent or athletes to beat Clairton, Deal with it. Keep crying to the papers, keep blackballing our team from all conference honors and we'll just keep winning conference, wpial, and state titles...how does that sound? sound fair? All of you are a joke.
I live very close to the HS so I was able to get home quickly.
Dang, someone stuck that assistant coach from Clairtons nerve. Someone says something bad about the bears and all of a sudden he lets all his emotions show. I guess only Clairton can put people down. the minute someone says that Clairton isn't that good, and this guy freaks out. Keep proving it on the field not behind your computer. Only an assistant coach would put that crap on there about all conference.
OK, we're going to shut down the Clairton vs. Chartiers-Houston talk after I have a final say on the matter.
Bears fans, feel free to come back to The Varsity Letters. I appreciate your input and enthusiasm. Your team has earned the right to walk the walk until someone finds a way to beat them, but understand we will be moving on.
Bucs fans, you are also always welcome here. Again, understand we will be moving on.
Now for my two cents.
I read Josh Yohe's article in the Daily News of McKeesport on the CH at Clairton game, which the Bears won easily, 48-0.
First, as a journalist, Chartiers-Houston coach Terry Fetsko's comments are the type we rarely get in this business. I would have put them just as high in my story as Yohe did and I'm sure my colleague couldn't have been happier to get them.
Maybe it's sour grapes, frustration, whatever. No matter how many times CH loses to Clairton, Fetsko is entitled to an opinion whether it's a popular one or not. I don't think I would have said those things publically but I'm not a high school football coach.
During last night's Wash High at South Fayette game, Bob Gregg of WJPA and I had a brief conversation about Clairton. What are the Bears to do in these situations? It's not like they have much of a second string to put in the game. And there's no reason for that second string to take a knee or run dive plays in the sake of sportsmanship.
Finally, I will say some of the bad feelings probably spill over from the game at Chartiers-Houston a couple years ago. I was on the field postgame when Clairton players circled the CH postgame huddle near midfield and started doing push-ups. In fact, I was standing about 10 yards away. When the Bucs coaches asked the Clairton coaches to get their kids away from the huddle, a few Clairon assistants ran over and waving WPIAL championship rings around, said, "Who got the ring? Who got the ring?"
Beth Center put 75 on Mapletown...I didnt hear anyone complaining about being bad sportsmen or running up the score. Jeanette hung 75 on someone last night...again I havent heard anything about that. Clairton scores 48...48 POINTS...and we have to hear that we are bad sports and running up a score. This gets old Mike...it gets old in a hurry. After our last touchdown, our backup quarterback took a knee on the conversion so we didnt score anymore. I mean what else do these people want from us? Im sorry, but this is beyond frustrating. I would like to play in AA just to get away from Chartiers Houston and Fort Cherry.
Keith, I'm just kidding buddy. I would have called me out as well. I thought for sure GS would smash Ringgold. Congrats to Ringgold. They are getting it together. Mike called it right down the middle. I thought he was wrong, but then again that's why he's the professional and I'm just some guy typing the wrong outcomes. LOL
Good game Char Houston, good luck the rest of the way.
Clairton Alum,
I share your frustrations. Stuff like this takes the fun out of being a fan. What can we do about it ya know.
MORE BREAKING NEWS: NOBODY GIVES A RAT'S BEHIND ABOUT CLAIRTON FOOTBALL.
YAWN!
You don't have to care about Clairton. You could hate Clairton. Thats cool. You have a right to your opinion. Good luck to whoever your team is, until they play Clairton.
I would have to assume that Mr. I dont care about Clairton Anonymous is from Chartiers Houston, Fort Cherry, or some other podunk town that we have destroyed and left on the roadside somewhere...
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