Frisco's state rankings

Bethel Park was a big mover in Class AAAA, while Clairton moved into the top spot in Class A. For some reason, the version of Blogger this site is on won't permit a file download so here's the copy and paste version of Rod Frisco's state rankings.

For more Frisco, visit www.RodFrisco.com

RODFRISCO.COM 
PENNSYLVANIA SCHOLASTIC FOOTBALL RANKINGS
CLASS AAAA
      Previous
Rank School (District)  Record  Ranking Last week's
result   Next opponent
1. Ridley (1)   1-0  2  W,Coatesville, 27-20   Lower Merion (0-1), Friday, home
Comments: Definitely did not have that No. 1 sheen in a tight win
over Coatesville.  But it might turn out that Coatesville is a pretty decent
team. Up to No. 1 . for now.
2. Cumberland Valley (3)  1-0  4  W,Red Lion, 45-6   Central York (0-1), Friday, away
Comments: Plays the part of state-ranked team quite well with more
than 400 yards of offense, outmuscling inferior foe.
3. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7) 1-0  5  W,Akron (O.) Buchtel, 35-6  AAAA No. 5 Bethel Park (1-0, Friday,
away)
Comments: Two blocked punts by Louis Taglianetti leads to Central
Catholic scores and surprisingly easy win over Buchtel. Road trip to Bethel
a test.
4. La Salle College HS (12)  1-0  7  W, Lansdale North Penn, 27-14  Bergen (NJ) Catholic (0-0),
Saturday, away
Comments: Superb 2nd half effort by Explorers (outscored North Penn
21-0 for 27-14 win). Another big test upcoming against Bergen Catholic and
QBTrevor McEvoy.
5. Bethel Park (7)   1-0  8  W,Kiski Area, 48-20   AAAA No. 3 Pittsburgh Cent. Cath.
(1-0, Friday, home)
Comments: Three touchdown runs by star Bre' Ford gives Bethel Park a
good start and a jump to No. 5.  Win sets up serious WPIAL second-week
showdown.
6. Easton (11)   1-0  NR  W,Pennsbury, 34-13   Nazareth (1-0), Friday, home
Comments: Easton QB Justin Pacchioli accounts for 290 yards and
rushedsfor three touchdowns . and he's going to college for baseball.
7. Lansdale North Penn (1)  0-1  1  L,La Salle College HS, 27-14  Lansdale Catholic (1-0), Friday,
home
Comments: Four turnovers and some really disturbing mental mistakes,
including some from the sideline for NP.  But there's still plenty to like
about the Knights.
8. Woodland Hills (7)  0-1  3  L,Manatee (FL), 39-16   AAAA HM North Hills (1-0), Friday,
away
Comments: Can't beat up the Wolverines too much.  Has
nationally-ranked team on ropes for a while, then loses top player Lafayette
Pitts.
9. Downingtown East (1)  0-1  6  L,Allentown Central Catholic, 30-21 Norristown (1-0), Friday, away
Comments: Downingtown East gins up a nice rally after falling behind
24-7, but ACC closes out Cougars.  Still a 1-AAAA threat, IMHO.
10. Wilson (3)   1-0  9  W,
Governor Mifflin, 21-14  AAA No. 8 Manheim Central (1-0), Friday,
home
Comments: Oops. Bulldogs show some flaws, need a last-play
interception to secure win over scrappy Mifflin. Must play cleaner on
Friday.

Honorable mention: Bayard Rustin (1) 1-0, Central Dauphin (3) 1-0, Freedom
(11) 1-0, Gateway (7) 0-1, George Washington (12) 0-1, Harrisburg (3) 1-0,
McDowell (7) 1-0, McKeesport (7) 0-1, Neshaminy (1) 1-0, North Allegheny
(7)1-0, North Hills (7) 1-0, Roman Catholic (12) 1-0, St. Joseph's Prep (12)
1-0.

CLASS AAA      Previous
Rank School (District)  Record  Ranking Last week's
result   Next opponent
1. Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt (3) 1-0  1  W,Gateway, 23-0   AAAA HM Central Dauphin (1-0), Friday, away
Comments: The preseason focus was on McDevitt's Division I
backfield.  We should have been focused on that defensive front 7. Gateway
net yardage: 94.
2. Allentown Central Catholic (11) 1-0  2  W,Downingtown East, 30-21  AAAA HM Freedom (1-0), Saturday, home
Comments: There's a reason ACC junior QB Brendan Nosovitch gets a
lot of notice: 362 yards of offense against a quality AAAA team in this
case.
3. Archbishop Wood (12)  1-0  4  W,Quakertown, 38-23   Chestnut Hill Academy (0-0),
Saturday, away
Comments: How about Brandon Peoples rushing for more yards (130)
than the more famous Desmon Peoples (74 yards) in win over the Q?
4. Abington Heights (2)  1-0  6  W,Hazleton, 51-7   Wyoming Valley West (1-0), Saturday, home
Comments: Sweet Mother of Mary! Heights yields opening score after
fumbling opening kick , then mashes Hazleton like a tortilla. 522 yards for
Comets.
5. Montour (7)   1-0  9  W,Chartiers Valley, 35-28  AAA HM Hopewell (1-0), Friday, home
Comments:  Looks like that transfer of Julian Durden from North
Catholic is working out well: Four touchdowns and 174 yards. Montour led
35-7 before CV rally.
6. Pottsgrove (1)   1-0  8  W,Jules Mastbaum, 49-6   Pope John Paul II (0-1), Friday,
home
Comments: "Our tackling was terrible, our fundamentals were
terrible," said Pottsgrove HC Rick Pennypacker. That would make Mastbaum
terrible-er.
7. West Allegheny (7)  1-0  3  W,South Park, 41-0   Central Valley (1-0), Friday, home
Comments: I swore I wouldn't say anything about WA's Mike Caputo
this week. Then he dislocates and fractures his left ankle 8 minutes into
the season. Sigh.
8. Manheim Central (3)  1-0  NR  W,Lower Dauphin, 47-10   AAAA No. 10 Wilson (1-0), Friday,
away
Comments: Wasn't sure exactly where Barons stood. A 37-point win
over OK LD team helps. A win over Wilson would help even more.
9. Berwick (2)   1-0  NR  W,Crestwood, 32-14   AAA HM North Pocono (1-0), Friday,
away 
Comments: Berick trails Crestwood in the middle of the third
quarter, turns on jets after that. Needs a more consistent effort against
dangerous North Pocono.
10. Chartiers Valley (7)  0-1  7  L,Montour, 35-28   Washington Trinity (1-0), Friday, away
Comments: Slow start against Montour dooms Char Valley, but CV QB
Wayne Capers still chucks it for 339 yards. Colts remain dangerous.

Honorable mention: Cardinal O'Hara (12) 1-0, Berwick (2) 1-0, Cathedral Prep
(10) 0-1, Clearfield (9) 1-0, Hopewell (7) 1-0, Interboro (1) 1-0, Monsignor
Bonner (12) 1-0, New Castle (7) 1-0, Oil City (10) 1-0, Susquehanna Twp. (3)
1-0, Thomas Jefferson (7) 0-1, West York (3) 1-0, Wilson Area (11) 1-0.


CLASS AA      Previous
Rank School (District)  Record  Ranking Last week's
result   Next opponent
1. Lancaster Catholic (3)  1-0  1  W,Camp Hill Trinity, 35-7  Landisville Hempfield (0-1), Friday,home
Comments: Catholic QB John Roda, replacing the spectacular Kyle
Smith, complets his first 11 passes for 202 yards and 4 TDs. Then he misses
his last 11.
2. Greensburg Central Catholic (7) 1-0  3  W,Waynesburg Central, 48-0  Southmoreland (1-0), Saturday, home
Comments: GCC picks up where it left in WPIAL play, blasting
Waynesburg and getting 149 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Andy Biros.
3. West Catholic (12)  0-1  2  L,Roman Catholic, 23-14   AAA HM Monsignor Bonner (1-0),
Friday, neutral
Comments: A slow start (down 21-0) dooms the Burrs down in Wildwood.
Saw photos of the game on West's website.  Looks like they played in
someone's back yard.
4. Aliquippa (7)   1-0  4  W,Laurel, 31-6    AA HM Beaver Falls (1-0), Friday,
home
Comments:  Aliquippa veteran QB Mikal Hall goes 10-of-13, 3 TDs, 146
yards. Qup boss Mike Zmijanic sez: "If he's not good, I'm playing the wrong
guy." We love Smee.
5. North Schuylkill (11)  1-0  5  W,Shenandoah Valley, 43-0  Minersville (0-1), Friday, away
Comments: Spartans enact the mercy rule early third quarter, should
continue trend against outmanned Minersville on Friday.
6. South Fayette (7)  1-0  7  W,West Mifflin, 28-6   Summit Academy (1-0), Saturday, away
Comments: The steady hand of QB Christian Brumbaugh leads Lions
again: 17 of 28 for 240 yards and three of SF's four touchdowns..
7. Forest Hills (6)   1-0  8  W, Bedford, 41-6    Richland (0-1), Friday, away
Comments: Forest Hills QB Justin Gdula cranks out four touchdown
passes against the baffled Bisons.
8. Tyrone (6)   1-0  9  W, Tyrone, 36-13    Lewistown (0-1), Friday, home
Comments: The Backyard Brawl goes to the Golden Eagles, extending
its series lead over Bellwood-Antis to 50-26-1. If only BA can win its next
24 games vs. Tyrone.
9. Northern Lehigh (11)  1-0  NR  W,Notre Dame, 42-0   AAA HM Wilson Area (1-0), Saturday,
away
Comments: The Bulldogs didn't expect to have problems with Notre
Dame and didn't.  Now Wilson Area . that's a different story..
10. Keystone Oaks (7)  1-0  NR  W,Ambridge 34-7   Burrell (1-0), Friday, home
Comments: Keystone Oaks leads by just a touchdown going into the
fourth quarter, then dumps 20 straight points on Ambridge. Voila! "Easy"
win.

Honorable mention: Beaver Falls (7) 1-0, Bloomsburg (4) 1-0, Brockway (9)
1-0, Delone Catholic (3) 1-0, General McLane (10) 0-1, Hickory (10) 1-0,
Lewisburg (4) 1-0, Loyalsock Township (4) 1-0,  Martinsburg Central (6) 0-1,
Mount Carmel (4) 1-0, Wilmington (10) 1-0.

CLASS A      Previous
Rank School (District)  Record  Ranking Last week's
result   Next opponent
1. Clairton (7)   1-0  2  W,Washington, 41-0   Western Beaver (1-0), Friday, home
Comments: From the Pittsburgh Trib: "I just don't know who is going
to beat that team," Washington coach Mike Bosnic said. "Wow." Prexies has 0
first downs.
2. Dunmore (2)   0-1  1  L,North Pocono, 10-8   E.L. Meyers (1-0), Friday, away
Comments: Sure, Dunmore loses on a last-minute fied goal. But the
Bucks go toe-to-toe with a AAA stud, and in these rankings, that means
something.
3. Rochester (7)   1-0  3  W,Serra Catholic, 35-0   Fort Cherry (0-1), Friday, home
Comments: Re Coach Bosnic's comments above: Well, on second thought,
maybe Rochester.
4. Southern Columbia (4)  1-0  4  W,Line Mountain, 49-20   Montoursville (1-0), Friday, away
Comments: A 20-0 first-quarter deficit means nothing to Southern
Columbia.  The Tigers laugh at 20-0 deficits!
5. Steelton-Highspire (3)  1-0  5  W,Halifax, 33-22    Middletown (0-1), Friday, away
Comments: A win is a win, but Rollers acknowledge some concern after
Halifax, which has lost 16 of last 17, stays with Rollers. 255 rushing for
Clayton McNair, though.
6. Springdale (7)   1-0  6  W,Pittsburgh North Catholic, 20-6 Avonworth (0-1), Friday, away
Comments: 75-year-old Springdale HC Chuck Wagner just keeps on
coaching and keeps on winning.
7. Sharpsville (10)   1-0  7   W, Eisenhower, 60-0   Seneca (1-0), Friday, home
Comments:  Sharpsville lives up to its name, racking up 527 yards
against a dead president.  Wait, that's just juvenile and completely
unoriginal.
8. Taylor Riverside (2)  1-0  8  W,West Scranton, 32-19   Holy Cross (0-1), Friday, home
Comments: Last week's game was never close - Riverside led 32-7 -
and we doubt that this week's game will be any different.
9. Mercyhurst Prep (10)  1-0  10  W,Mercer, 24-0    Iroquois (0-1), Saturday, home
Comments: Yeah, the Lakers weren't too happy about Mercer ending
their season last year early in playoffs.  So only a shutout would do.
10. Farrell (10)   1-0  NR  W,Sharon, 24-7    Kennedy Catholic (0-1), Friday, home
Comments: No first downs in the first half, yet a 12-0 lead. No
extra-point conversions. One pass completion.  And Farrell swats archrival
Sharon by 17. Love this sport.

Honorable mention: Bellwood-Antis (6) 0-1, Coudersport (9) 1-0, Farrell (10)
1-0, Line Mountain (4) 0-1, Marian Catholic (11) 1-0, North Catholic (7)
0-1, North Star (5) 1-0, Schuylkill Haven (11) 1-0

Observer-Reporter WPIAL football rankings

Class AAAA
Team Record
1. Pittsburgh C.C. 1-0, beat Akron (Ohio) Buchtel 35-6.
2. Woodland Hills 0-1, lost to Manatee (Fla.) 39-16.
3. Mt. Lebanon 1-0, beat Pine-Richland 34-22.
4. Bethel Park 1-0, beat Kiski Area 40-22.
5. North Allegheny 1-0, beat State College 42-7.

Class AAA
Team Record
1. West Allegheny 1-0, beat South Park 41-0.
2. Montour 1-0, beat Chartiers Valley 35-28.
3. Thomas Jefferson 0-1, lost to Cocoa (Fla.) 43-7.
4. Hopewell 1-0, beat Belle Vernon 14-7.
5. New Castle 1-0, beat Butler 25-0.

Class AA
Team Record
1. Greensburg C.C. 1-0, beat Waynesburg 48-0.
2. Aliquippa 1-0, beat Laurel 31-6.
3. South Fayette 1-0, beat West Mifflin 28-6.
4. Keystone Oaks 1-0, beat Ambirdge 34-7.
5. Beaver Falls 1-0, beat Mohawk 41-6.

Class A
Team Record
1. Clairton 1-0, beat Washington 41-0.
2. Rochester 1-0, beat Serra Catholic 35-0.
3. Beth-Center 1-0, beat Frazier 33-0.
4. Sto-Rox 1-0, beat South Allegheny 35-14.
5. Springdale 1-0, beat North Catholic 20-6.

Texas power scores 80

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The No. 1 high school football team in Texas scored 80 points at Cowboys Stadium — again.
Euless Trinity routed six-time Arkansas state champion Shiloh Christian 80-26 on Monday. Both schools are among the nation’s top high school teams. They played in the first of four Labor Day games at the NFL home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Last November at Cowboys Stadium, Trinity beat Flower Mound won 80-27 in a first-round playoff game and went on to capture its third state title in five years.
That was the most points by an 11-man team in the Texas prep playoffs since 1941. The record is 124 by Waco in a 1927 game.
Trinity had 708 total yards against Shiloh and scored on all but one possession. The Trojans had 10 rushing touchdowns, including two each by Terrence Tusan and Tevin Williams.
Tusan and Williams both ran for more than 100 yards even without carrying the ball after halftime, when Trinity led 53-20.

Week In Review, Opening Weekend

Team of the Week – Burgettstown
Coming off back-to-back 4-6 seasons the past two years in Class A, Burgettstown made the move up to Class AA this year with tempered expectations, a scant 28 players on its roster and only four seniors.

The Blue Devils opened their season Friday night at home against neighboring rival South Side Beaver, which always contends for a Class An playoff spot and a team that beat Burgettstown in the past two season openers.

The Rams took a 7-0 lead with eight seconds left in the third quarter on Luke Shaffer's six-yard run and that lead held up into the final three minutes of the game.

Many young teams with limited rosters might fold, Burgettstown rallied.

Mike LaRocka, a 6-1 junior running back and a first-year starter, got the Blue Devils with 7-6 after a 23-yard run with 2:14 left but the conversion failed.

With time running out, Burgettstown was at its own 15 and went 985 yards in only four plays, capped by LaRocka's 22-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Dupain with 14 seconds left.

Runner-up – Trinity

Starting 11
Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette
Mike Cleveland, Trinity
T.D. Conway, California
Mykel Dorsey, Chartiers-Houston
Sal Faieta, Beth-Center
Derrick Fiore, Ringgold
Mike LaRocka, Burgettstown
Kyle McWreath, Trinity
Zach Mundell, Carmichaels
Jeff Tarley, Beth-Center
Derrick Whipkey, McGuffey
First sub
Josh Patterson, South Fayette

Game of the Week – McGuffey 20, Laurel Highlands 16
Like Burgettstown, McGuffey faced a move up in classification this year after losing 18 seniors who contributed heavily to the Highlanders' second-place finish in the Interstate Conference a year ago.

One player McGuffey returned was quarterback Derrick Whipkey, and the shifty runner scored three touchdowns to give the Highlanders a road win against a Class AAA team. Whipkey's 42-yard run with 2:34 remaining put McGuffey ahead to stay. He rushed for 136 yards on 13 carries.

Weird, wild stuff – Anyone else think that the graduation of Thomas Hairston would mean the Chartiers-Houston pass rush would take a hit? The Bucs finished with five quarterbacks sacks in a win at Union. … Charleroi led Mt. Pleasant in a key early season game in the Interstate Conference before Quentin Briggs and Kyle Shannon were injured. The Vikings rallied to win, 20-13. … Clairton was not penalized for a personal foul in its win at Washington.

Friday night thoughts, first edition

Thoughts on the first Friday night of high school football as I wipe egg off my face ...

Clairton's 41-0 win at Wash High was the most physically dominating and brutal performance I've witnessed in any sport. I watched it and I'm still not sure it's sunk in that Wash High failed to get a first down or generate positive yards.

Wash High could literally do nothing. Every play was swarmed by Clairton's suffocating defense.

Amazing. And a first in my career.

* Desimon Green, Clairton's excellent quarterback/defensive end and a Pitt recruit, expressed his genuine surprise after the game at the tilted results but, as he put it, "We may only have 30 guys and they probably have 60, but, out on the field, it's our 11 against their 11."

Even a few Clairton people who spoke with my colleague Josh Yohe of the McKeesport Daily News were a bit stunned at the lopsided victory.

* If Clairton did this to Washington, what's that mean for the Black Hills Conference?

Prediction? Pain.

Before Clairton goes all Clubber Lang on the rest of its regular season schedule, it's time to consider something one anonymous poster typed this morning.

Someone suggested Clairton might not give up a point during the regular season. Unbeaten and unscored upon has only happened a handful of times in WPIAL history (if memory serves, I believe Wash High did so back in the 1920s or 1930s, historians help me out here).

There's no reason to think Clairton doesn't have a chance to accomplish this rare feat, no matter how difficult it will be.

I just don't see how any Class A team in the Western side of Pennsylvania has a chance against Clairton.

* After the opening week, time to temper expectations for three teams - Peters Township, Washington and Fort Cherry.

* I didn't cover Trinity as much last year as I have in previous seasons but I can't remember hearing Mike Cleveland's name until basketball season.

After Cleveland tore through Canon-McMillan with a brilliant offensive/defensive/special teams performance, anyone else wondering how this 6-6 senior wasn't a featured player before?

* Speaking of the Hillers, if this truly is Ed Dalton's last season as coach, something Dalton has said on the record because he believes he'll be fired, expect Trinity to have a blast.

Dalton has his share of detractors but the vast majority of his players, past and present, are fiercely loyal. When I interviewed Ohio State linebacker Andrew Sweat last week, he mentioned how he'll continue to show up for any Dalton rallies if needed and called the coach "a second father figure."

Following Trinity's win at Canon-Mac, the Hillers ran over and rang the bell at Memorial Stadium. Dalton, the rare head coach who has earned the label of "go-to guy" in the media, joined in on the jog to the bell.

* Go-to guys are the ones reporters always look to talk to after a game or for a story. Dalton follows in the tradition of people like former Steelers safety Lee Flowers. You just never know what's going to be said and chance are it's going to be honest and funny.

* Three of the area's top players - South Fayette's Christian Brumbaugh, Ringgold's Derrick Fiore and Beth-Center's Jeff Tarley - got off to fantastic starts.

* Nice last-minute wins for Burgettstown and McGuffey. Not sure how either team will fare moving up in classification this year but there's plenty of reason to celebrate in both communities this weekend.

Games of the Week - Week 1

College football kicked off tonight (currently watching Andrew Sweat and Ohio State beat Marshall) and the WPIAL season starts Friday. For some, that means the start of the conference season. For others, it means a non-challenging non-conference game. For Wash High, it means Clairton.

Clairton at Washington, Wash High Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

The most typed-about game at The Varsity Letters this week is also the best the area has to offer to kick off the 2010 season.

There's going to be athletes everywhere. Clairton's Desimon Green, a Pitt recruit, plays quarterback and defensive end with some of the same results Terrelle Pryor enjoyed at Jeannette. Carvan Thompson, Brandon Small and Josh Page are just a small handful of talented players at Clairton. Washington counters with Zach Barnes, Julien Anderson, Austin Phillips and Joe Phillips among others.

And, by the way, Clairton is 30-2 the past two years and are defending Class A state champs.

Trinity at Canon-McMillan, Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

This annual clash usually generates more hype but the absence of Big Ten Conference recruits on the field won't take away from the way these rivals look at each other.

Canon-McMillan, with alumnus Tim Sohyda in his first year as head coach, has just eight returning lettermen. One of them is receiver Alec Schram, who torched the Hillers a year ago. No matter how many new faces the Big Macs have, they always seem to play their best against Trinity.

Hillers head coach Ed Dalton found himself in the headlines throughout the offseason, now Dalton, in his 12th year at Trinity, hopes his players make their own. Some of those players did at the end of 2009 when Trinity rebounded from a 1-5 start to win its final three and make the playoffs.

Mt. Pleasant at Charleroi
These two teams concluded the 2009 regular season against each other and start this year's Interstate Conference slate this year.

There might be more familiarity if Mt. Pleasant had more than one returning starter. The lack of experience doesn't mean the Vikings won't be competitive. Most believe Mt. Pleasant, with its wing-T offense, will make a return to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

Charleroi just missed the postseason last year as it lost to Washington and Mt. Pleasant in consecutive weeks. Quarterback Tommy Thorpe, running backs Quentin Briggs and Cory Altemara along with the versatile Kyle Shannon give the Cougars are strong base to make its first playoff appearance since 2004.

Week 1 Picks

The Varsity Letters searched throughout the WPIAL – from the Alle-Kiski Valley to Western Beaver to West Greene to Laurel Highlands, – and beyond looking for someone willing to make fearless predictions on the top games throughout the district.

TVL couldn't find anyone with a catchy nickname like The Rumbler or The Wedgebuster or The Jolt.

Saturated Fats, the long-time, anonymous prognosticator for the Observer-Reporter, asked for too much money then wanted a lifetime membership to Cici's Pizza. Both requests were denied.

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was approached but he wanted to delegate writing responsibilities to his assistant coaches while still getting the byline.

Finally, after weeks of searching, TVL found its man. Yours truly. Each week, we'll offer up a serving of Kovak's fearless prognostications.

Conference games
Mount Pleasant at Charleroi – The Vikings won the rugged Interstate Conference a year ago and took a 10-0 record into the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals before Keystone Oaks knocked them out. Mt. Pleasant returns one starter from that team. Charleroi returns Quentin Briggs, Kyle Shannon and Cory Altemara. Charleroi, 21-3.

North Catholic at Springdale – According to readers of this blog, I overrated North Catholic in my WPIAL Class A preseason rankings, while publishers of statewide rankings overrated Springdale. The Dynamos have the experience. Always take experience early in the season (except for a game yet to be mentioned). Springdale, 19-14.

Non-conference games
Chartiers Valley at Montour – Colts quarterback Wayne Capers is back and CV always plays well early in the season. Montour returns a ton of talent from a team that went 5-5. I'm going with Capers. Chartiers Valley, 28-20.

Clairton at Washington – Remember the adage "always take experience early in the season?" Well, Clairton returns a loaded team that won the PIAA Class A title last year. This year's Bears might be better. With only five seniors, Washington will rely on unproven underclassmen at several key positions. Something tells me that Washington won't be the least bit intimidated by Clairton and something tells me the Bears are in for an upset. Washington, 17-12.

State College at North Allegheny – State College reached the PIAA Class AAAA title game out of District 6 a year ago. The Little Lions always seem to find their way into the state tournament. NA has some injuries, but the Tigers are in the conversation for WPIAL championship contenders. North Allegheny, 28-10.

Saturday
Manatee (Fla.) at Woodland Hills – Woody High should be the class of the WPIAL once again but did anybody see Manatee manhandle Plant on national television last weekend? I did. Manatee 35, Woodland Hills 7.

AP story on Mike Caputo

The Associated Press sports wire is overflowing with bios and short stories on various senior football players throughout the country. This is the first I came across about a WPIAL player.

ALLEGHENY (AP) — When Mike Caputo transferred to West Allegheny from a rival school before his junior year, he was joining a team that didn’t qualify for the playoffs the prior season.
The Indians promptly won a district Class AAA title and made a state semifinal appearance.
As much as Caputo’s 2,615 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns had to do with that, West Allegheny coach Bob Palko said the 6-foot-1 1/2, 205-pound running back/linebacker’s intangibles were just as instrumental in the team’s turnaround.
“One of his best qualities is raising the level of play and raising expectations,” Palko said. “He’s gotten the kids to buy into things and believe in things they didn’t before.”
Caputo said he wants to try to get everyone to buy into becoming a team and working toward accomplishing the same goal.
Caputo, on The Associated Press East Region 25 list of top recruits, chose Wisconsin over Ohio State, Penn State and Pitt. He was recruited as an athlete and was told he will ultimately play at strong safety. Initially, Caputo’s skills lend themselves as an ideal special teams player.
The Badgers, No. 12 in the Top 25 preseason poll, are getting a back who has developed a reputation as a heady player with a toughness that allows him to play bigger than his size.
“I like competition; I like seeing how far I can go,” Caputo said. “If somebody’s doing something I think I can do myself, I want to go out and do that. I want to go see how fast I can do that, how high I can jump. I just like to compete.”
Palko gushed over the way Caputo conducts himself off the field, mentioning his work with the Special Olympics, for example. On the field, it’d be hard to top his junior season be it the district title or the run at 3,000 rushing yards.
“The neatest thing about him is it’s not about him; it’s just about West Allegheny,” Palko said. “He isn’t worried about the individual stuff he knows that will take care of itself. When you talk about a kid off the field, he’s very special. Now you’re talking about the total package. It’s kind of cool to be around.”

Legends of the Fall, Chapter 4

Born just before 1946 became 1947 and raised in Langeloth, Barry Alvarez was an outstanding football player at Burgettstown High School in the early 1960s under the direction of head coach Pat McGraw.

Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this year and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, Alvarez is probably the only Burgettstown graduate with an ice cream flavor "Berry Alvarez" named after him.

Alvarez played for legendary Bob Daleny at Nebraska where he was a guard and linebacker from 1965-67, then worked as an assistant under Hayden Fry at Iowa and Lou Holtz at Notre Dame. Alvarez even coached high school football but made his biggest impact as head football coach at Wisconsin.

When he arrived in Madison in 1990, the Badgers hadn't been to a Rose Bowl since 1963 and the football program was losing money and games (36 over the previous four seasons) at an alarming rate.

In 1994, Alvarez snapped Wisconsin's long Rose Bowl drought and led the Badgers to a 21-16 victory against UCLA. He added two more Rose Bowl victories in 1999 and 2000 and took on the role of athletic director in 2004. After two years of handling both duties, Alvarez stepped down as coach with a record of 118-73-4.