Pennsylvania high school football rankings from The Patriot-News of Harrisburg for the week of Tuesday, Nov. 8, with school’s district in parentheses, followed by the school’s record and last week’s ranking. NR means not ranked. Honorable mention teams listed alphabetically. (P)-2010 PIAA champion.
CLASS AAAA
Team Rec Pvs
1. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) 10-0 1
2. North Allegheny (P) (7) 10-0 2
3. LaSalle College HS (12) 9-1 3
4. Upper St. Clair (7) 9-1 4
5. North Penn (1) 8-2 5
6. Penn-Trafford (7) 10-0 6
7. Gateway (7) 8-2 7
8. Council Rock South (1) 9-1 9
9. Nazareth (11) 9-1 10
10. Central Dauphin (3) 9-1 NR
Teams to watch
Abington (1) 9-1, Bayard Rustin (1) 9-1, Cumberland Valley (3) 9-1, Downingtown East (1) 8-2, Parkland (11) 8-2, Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1) 8-1, West Chester Henderson (1) 8-2, Wilson (3) 9-1.
CLASS AAA
Team Rec Pvs
1. Archbishop Wood (12) 9-1 1
2. Central Valley (7) 10-0 2
3. Grove City (10) 9-0 3
4. Bishop McDevitt (3) 8-2 4
5. Montour (7) 8-2 5
6. Cathedral Prep (10) 8-2 6
7. Franklin Regional (7) 10-0 7
8. Hopewell (7) 7-3 8
9. Knoch (7) 10-0 9
10. Valley View (2) 9-1 10
Teams to watch
Clearfield (9) 9-1, Dallas (2) 9-1, Greater Johnstown (6) 9-1, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 9-1, Thomas Jefferson (7) 7-3, West Mifflin (7) 9-1.
CLASS AA
Team Rec Pvs
1. Aliquippa (7) 10-0 1
2. Lancaster Catholic (3) 10-0 2
3. West Catholic (P) (12) 7-3 3
4. North Schuylkill (11) 10-0 4
5. Seton-La Salle (7) 10-0 5
6. Mount Carmel (4) 9-1 6
7. Lewisburg (4) 8-2 7
8. Trinity (3) 8-2 8
9. Jeannette (7) 10-0 9
10. Greensburg C.C. (7) 9-1 10
Teams to watch
Forest Hills (6) 8-2, Hickory (10) 8-1, Northern Lehigh (11) 9-1, Pen Argyl (11) 10-0, Pine Grove (11) 9-1, Wilkes-Barre GAR (2) 9-1, Wilmington (10) 9-1.
CLASS A
Team Rec Pvs
1. Clairton (P) (7) 10-0 1
2. Southern Columbia (4) 9-1 2
3. Sto-Rox (7) 10-0 3
4. Dunmore (2) 10-0 4
5. Rochester (7) 9-1 5
6. Bishop Canevin (7) 10-0 6
7. Pius X (11) 9-1 7
8. Line Mountain (4) 9-1 8
9. Sharpsville (10) 9-0 9
10. Avonworth (7) 9-1 10
Teams to watch
Bellwood-Antis (6) 8-1, Brentwood (7) 9-1, Fort Cherry (7) 7-3, Mercer (10) 7-2, Mercyhurst Prep (10) 9-1, Minersville (4) 9-1, Penns Manor (6) 8-1, Youngsville (10) 10-0.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sites set for WPIAL quarterfinals
A pair of teams from Washington County (Ringgold and Washington) face top seeds. Two schools with a McDonald mailing address (Fort Cherry and South Fayette) are No. 11 seeds that scored first-round victories.
All WPIAL quarterfinal games are Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Class AAA
No. 8 Ringgold (8-2) vs. No. 1 Central Valley (10-0) at West Allegheny
Class AA
No. 8 Washington (8-2) vs. No. 1 Aliquippa (10-0) at Chartiers Valley
No. 11 South Fayette (7-3) vs. No. 3 Seton-La Salle (10-0) at Peters Township
Class A
No. 11 Fort Cherry (7-3) vs. No. 3 Bishop Canevin (10-0) at Chartiers-Houston
For complete WPIAL football brackets, please click here.
All WPIAL quarterfinal games are Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Class AAA
No. 8 Ringgold (8-2) vs. No. 1 Central Valley (10-0) at West Allegheny
Class AA
No. 8 Washington (8-2) vs. No. 1 Aliquippa (10-0) at Chartiers Valley
No. 11 South Fayette (7-3) vs. No. 3 Seton-La Salle (10-0) at Peters Township
Class A
No. 11 Fort Cherry (7-3) vs. No. 3 Bishop Canevin (10-0) at Chartiers-Houston
For complete WPIAL football brackets, please click here.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
A few thoughts from the first round
The cliche has a few variations, but it goes a little something like this, "Big-time players make big plays in big games."
Over the last two weeks, no player from the Observer-Reporter coverage area has made more plays than Fort Cherry senior Tanner Garry.
And there's been plenty of competition.
Garry has been the best football player on the field in Fort Cherry victories at Chartiers-Houston and at Beth-Center. The latter made Fort Cherry the third-place team in the Black Hills Conference, which represented itself well in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs. The latter came in the first round.
Need big-time completions? Garry has thrown for 400 yards the past two games, and three touchdowns (all against Beth-Center).
Looking for a quarterback who can break the big run? Garry has rushed for more than 330 yards and five touchdowns against a pair of defenses that stuffed the run for most of the season.
He's even intercepted a couple passes.
Thanks, in part, to Garry's play, Fort Cherry (7-3) finds itself in the quarterfinals against Bishop Canevin (10-0), which rallied for a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat Chartiers-Houston.
Fort Cherry suddenly looks like a team capable of making a postseason run. Garry is playing the best football of his career, the Rangers run defense is punishing, as is the offensive line. And Garry has catapulted himself into the Player of the Year picture.
* There's little doubt that Aliquippa deserves the No. 1 ranking in WPIAL Class AA and the top seed in the playoffs.
After Beaver and Beaver Falls made an early exit from the playoffs, anyone else wondering if the Quips didn't face much competition during the regular season?
* Zach Challingsworth may be one of the more under-appreciated players in Class AA.
The South Fayette junior caught a pair of touchdowns in the Lions' first-round win at Beaver Falls and helped a defensive effort that forced five turnovers, which helped the 11th seed advance.
He's a consistent presence, and has been since the beginning of his sophomore season.
* If you're South Fayette head coach Joe Rossi, what do you do if senior quarterback John Lerda is healthy enough to play against Seton-La Salle in the quarterfinals?
Lerda was a 1,000-yard passer before missing the last two games. His replacement, freshman Brett Brumbaugh, is 2-0. He's completed 27 of 36 passes in those games, though Beaver Falls did force him into four interceptions.
* Washington senior Eric Ellis is having the type of season that lands a player on the all-state team.
Ellis, a defensive end, has a single-season Prexies record 18 sacks . He had 3 1/2 against Mt. Pleasant. Ellis has also been in on a handful of turnovers, recovering fumbles throughout the season and even an interception against the Vikings.
* Unless you're Clairton or Aliquippa or Pittsburgh Central Catholic, winning in the postseason can be difficult.
It's particularly tough when you're a program without a postseason win since 1999.
But Ringgold broke a seven-game postseason skid with a 14-10 win against Highlands at Joe Montana Stadium. Highlands deserves credit for the defensive job it did against Ringgold's run game, but Quad Law made a couple big plays passing to help the Rams advance.
Learning how to win in the postseason is a big step.
Over the last two weeks, no player from the Observer-Reporter coverage area has made more plays than Fort Cherry senior Tanner Garry.
And there's been plenty of competition.
Garry has been the best football player on the field in Fort Cherry victories at Chartiers-Houston and at Beth-Center. The latter made Fort Cherry the third-place team in the Black Hills Conference, which represented itself well in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs. The latter came in the first round.
Need big-time completions? Garry has thrown for 400 yards the past two games, and three touchdowns (all against Beth-Center).
Looking for a quarterback who can break the big run? Garry has rushed for more than 330 yards and five touchdowns against a pair of defenses that stuffed the run for most of the season.
He's even intercepted a couple passes.
Thanks, in part, to Garry's play, Fort Cherry (7-3) finds itself in the quarterfinals against Bishop Canevin (10-0), which rallied for a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat Chartiers-Houston.
Fort Cherry suddenly looks like a team capable of making a postseason run. Garry is playing the best football of his career, the Rangers run defense is punishing, as is the offensive line. And Garry has catapulted himself into the Player of the Year picture.
* There's little doubt that Aliquippa deserves the No. 1 ranking in WPIAL Class AA and the top seed in the playoffs.
After Beaver and Beaver Falls made an early exit from the playoffs, anyone else wondering if the Quips didn't face much competition during the regular season?
* Zach Challingsworth may be one of the more under-appreciated players in Class AA.
The South Fayette junior caught a pair of touchdowns in the Lions' first-round win at Beaver Falls and helped a defensive effort that forced five turnovers, which helped the 11th seed advance.
He's a consistent presence, and has been since the beginning of his sophomore season.
* If you're South Fayette head coach Joe Rossi, what do you do if senior quarterback John Lerda is healthy enough to play against Seton-La Salle in the quarterfinals?
Lerda was a 1,000-yard passer before missing the last two games. His replacement, freshman Brett Brumbaugh, is 2-0. He's completed 27 of 36 passes in those games, though Beaver Falls did force him into four interceptions.
* Washington senior Eric Ellis is having the type of season that lands a player on the all-state team.
Ellis, a defensive end, has a single-season Prexies record 18 sacks . He had 3 1/2 against Mt. Pleasant. Ellis has also been in on a handful of turnovers, recovering fumbles throughout the season and even an interception against the Vikings.
* Unless you're Clairton or Aliquippa or Pittsburgh Central Catholic, winning in the postseason can be difficult.
It's particularly tough when you're a program without a postseason win since 1999.
But Ringgold broke a seven-game postseason skid with a 14-10 win against Highlands at Joe Montana Stadium. Highlands deserves credit for the defensive job it did against Ringgold's run game, but Quad Law made a couple big plays passing to help the Rams advance.
Learning how to win in the postseason is a big step.
Observer-Reporter WPIAL football rankings
Class AAAA
1. Pittsburgh C.C. 10-0
2. North Allegheny 10-0
3. Upper St. Clair 9-1
4. Penn-Trafford 10-0
5. Gateway 8-2
6. Erie McDowell 8-2
7. Seneca Valley 8-2
8. Mt. Lebanon 7-3
Class AAA
1. Central Valley 10-0
2. Franklin Regional 10-0
3. Knoch 10-0
4. Montour 8-2
5. West Mifflin 9-1
6. Hopewell 7-3
7. Ringgold 8-2
8. Thomas Jefferson 7-3
Class AA
1. Aliquippa 10-0
2. Seton-La Salle 10-0
3. Jeannette 10-0
4. Greensburg C.C. 9-1
5. Washington 8-2
6. South Fayette 7-3
7. Ellwood City 7-3
8. Shady Side Academy 8-2
Class A
1. Clairton 10-0
2. Sto-Rox 10-0
3. Bishop Canevin 10-0
4. Rochester 9-1
5. Avonworth 9-1
6. Brentwood 9-1
7. Fort Cherry 7-3
8. Springdale 8-2
1. Pittsburgh C.C. 10-0
2. North Allegheny 10-0
3. Upper St. Clair 9-1
4. Penn-Trafford 10-0
5. Gateway 8-2
6. Erie McDowell 8-2
7. Seneca Valley 8-2
8. Mt. Lebanon 7-3
Class AAA
1. Central Valley 10-0
2. Franklin Regional 10-0
3. Knoch 10-0
4. Montour 8-2
5. West Mifflin 9-1
6. Hopewell 7-3
7. Ringgold 8-2
8. Thomas Jefferson 7-3
Class AA
1. Aliquippa 10-0
2. Seton-La Salle 10-0
3. Jeannette 10-0
4. Greensburg C.C. 9-1
5. Washington 8-2
6. South Fayette 7-3
7. Ellwood City 7-3
8. Shady Side Academy 8-2
Class A
1. Clairton 10-0
2. Sto-Rox 10-0
3. Bishop Canevin 10-0
4. Rochester 9-1
5. Avonworth 9-1
6. Brentwood 9-1
7. Fort Cherry 7-3
8. Springdale 8-2
Conference breakdown
The first round of the WPIAL playoffs proved the conferences believed to be superior are superior.
The won-loss records for conferences.
Class AAAA
Northern Seven 3-1
Greater Southern 2-2
Foothills 2-2
Big East 1-3
Class AAA
Parkway 3-1
Keystone 2-2
Big Eight 2-2
Greater Allegheny 1-3
Class AA
Century 3-1
Midwestern 2-2
Interstate 2-2
Allegheny 1-3
Class A
Black Hills 3-1
Eastern 3-1
Big Seven 2-2
Tri-County South 0-4
The won-loss records for conferences.
Class AAAA
Northern Seven 3-1
Greater Southern 2-2
Foothills 2-2
Big East 1-3
Class AAA
Parkway 3-1
Keystone 2-2
Big Eight 2-2
Greater Allegheny 1-3
Class AA
Century 3-1
Midwestern 2-2
Interstate 2-2
Allegheny 1-3
Class A
Black Hills 3-1
Eastern 3-1
Big Seven 2-2
Tri-County South 0-4
Friday, November 4, 2011
Picking the winners, WPIAL football playoffs
Class AAAA
North Allegheny over Fox Chapel, Seneca Valley over Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford over Bethel Park, Gateway over Shaler, Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Peters Township, Woodland Hills over Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair over Connellsville, Erie McDowell over McKeesport
Class AAA
Central Valley over Laurel Highlands, Ringgold over Highlands, West Mifflin over Mars, Montour over Chartiers Valley, Franklin Regional over Belle Vernon, Hopewell over Indiana, Knoch over West Allegheny, Thomas Jefferson over Greensburg-Salem
Class AA
Aliquippa over Steel Valley, Washington over Mt. Pleasant, Ellwood City over Freeport, Greensburg Central Catholic over Ford City, Jeannette over Burrell, Beaver over Shady Side Academy, Seton-La Salle over East Allegheny, South Fayette over Beaver Falls
Class A
Clairton over Cornell, Springdale over Monessen, Rochester over Northgate, Avonworth over California, Sto-Rox over Frazier, Brentwood over Western Beaver, Bishop Canevin over Chartiers-Houston, Beth-Center over Fort Cherry
North Allegheny over Fox Chapel, Seneca Valley over Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford over Bethel Park, Gateway over Shaler, Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Peters Township, Woodland Hills over Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair over Connellsville, Erie McDowell over McKeesport
Class AAA
Central Valley over Laurel Highlands, Ringgold over Highlands, West Mifflin over Mars, Montour over Chartiers Valley, Franklin Regional over Belle Vernon, Hopewell over Indiana, Knoch over West Allegheny, Thomas Jefferson over Greensburg-Salem
Class AA
Aliquippa over Steel Valley, Washington over Mt. Pleasant, Ellwood City over Freeport, Greensburg Central Catholic over Ford City, Jeannette over Burrell, Beaver over Shady Side Academy, Seton-La Salle over East Allegheny, South Fayette over Beaver Falls
Class A
Clairton over Cornell, Springdale over Monessen, Rochester over Northgate, Avonworth over California, Sto-Rox over Frazier, Brentwood over Western Beaver, Bishop Canevin over Chartiers-Houston, Beth-Center over Fort Cherry
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Twitter Thursday
Thinking about renaming this "High school students say the darndest things."
Mike Beveridge, Ringgold football
@MikeBeveridge44
Oct. 28
"Time flies. My three years of varsity football is about to be over. Time to make the most of what's left.... #seniornight"
Casey Guernsey, Char-Houston volleyball
@caseguerns
Nov. 2
"someone tweet something funny so i can put you in the school newspaper"
Jason Van Kirk, Trinity football
@VanKirk13
Nov. 2
"Bobby Jones sighting before 12? What's going on!"
Andrew Sweat, Ohio State linebacker/Trinity grad
@asweat42
Nov. 2
"Just saw a rat under my car #scared"
Chavas Rawlins, Monessen football
@C_DoesitAll_3
Nov. 3
"Pumped for the game tomorrow, super pumped for my visit on Saturday. #playoffs #hailtopitt"
Quad Law, Ringgold football
@TheRealQuad_Law
Nov. 3
"@C_DoesitAll_3 yes it is!! My ankle feels soo good!!!!"
Tweet of the Week
Matt Venanzi, Peters Township soccer
@Matt34Venanzi
Nov. 1
"Imma hit up this night like its my last"
Venanzi later scored a game-tying goal with 1.1 seconds remaining in the Indians' WPIAL Class AAA semifinal against Pittsburgh Central Catholic. PT went on to win in a shootout, 2-1. Venanzi scored in that too.
Mike Beveridge, Ringgold football
@MikeBeveridge44
Oct. 28
"Time flies. My three years of varsity football is about to be over. Time to make the most of what's left.... #seniornight"
Casey Guernsey, Char-Houston volleyball
@caseguerns
Nov. 2
"someone tweet something funny so i can put you in the school newspaper"
Jason Van Kirk, Trinity football
@VanKirk13
Nov. 2
"Bobby Jones sighting before 12? What's going on!"
Andrew Sweat, Ohio State linebacker/Trinity grad
@asweat42
Nov. 2
"Just saw a rat under my car #scared"
Chavas Rawlins, Monessen football
@C_DoesitAll_3
Nov. 3
"Pumped for the game tomorrow, super pumped for my visit on Saturday. #playoffs #hailtopitt"
Quad Law, Ringgold football
@TheRealQuad_Law
Nov. 3
"@C_DoesitAll_3 yes it is!! My ankle feels soo good!!!!"
Tweet of the Week
Matt Venanzi, Peters Township soccer
@Matt34Venanzi
Nov. 1
"Imma hit up this night like its my last"
Venanzi later scored a game-tying goal with 1.1 seconds remaining in the Indians' WPIAL Class AAA semifinal against Pittsburgh Central Catholic. PT went on to win in a shootout, 2-1. Venanzi scored in that too.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Two area football coaches resign
Waynesburg High School and Bentworth will begin searches for new head football coaches following the resignations of Joe Kuhns and Lou Rood.
Kuhns confirmed Wednesday via email that he resigned as the football coach at Waynesburg following a 3-6 season. The Raiders remaining in WPIAL Class AA playoff contention until a loss at Mt. Pleasant in Week 8 of the regular season.
Rood adopted the task of rebuilding Bentworth football. The Bearcats struggled but broke a 20-game losing streak with a win against Avella Friday night.
Check Thursday's Observer-Reporter for more details.
* In other coaching news, Peters Township athletic director Brian Geyer said the district plans to hire a softball coach at its November meeting.
Kuhns confirmed Wednesday via email that he resigned as the football coach at Waynesburg following a 3-6 season. The Raiders remaining in WPIAL Class AA playoff contention until a loss at Mt. Pleasant in Week 8 of the regular season.
Rood adopted the task of rebuilding Bentworth football. The Bearcats struggled but broke a 20-game losing streak with a win against Avella Friday night.
Check Thursday's Observer-Reporter for more details.
* In other coaching news, Peters Township athletic director Brian Geyer said the district plans to hire a softball coach at its November meeting.
WPIAL Class A playoffs preview
Top seeds: 1. Clairton (9-0), 2. Sto-Rox (9-0), 3. Bishop Canevin (9-0), 4. Rochester (8-1)
Defending champion: Clairton
Best first-round game: No. 11 Fort Cherry at No. 6 Beth-Center
Sleeper: Winner of Fort Cherry/Beth-Center game
Players to watch: Sal Faieta (Beth-Center) pictured, Jake Sofran (Beth-Center), Tanner Garry (Fort Cherry), Ryan Babirad (Fort Cherry), Daniel Lis (Chartiers-Houston), Javone Hairston (Chartiers-Houston), Chavas Rawlins (Monessen), Jalen Madison (Monessen), T.D. Conway (California), Skyler Dickinson (California), Jon Girvin (Northgate), Rock Vargo (Frazier), Lenny Williams (Sto-Rox), Deaysean Rippy (Sto-Rox), Mike Giampole (Avonworth), Capri Thompson (Clairton), Tyler Boyd (Clairton), DeAndre Moon (Rochester)
Noteworthy: Strange as it sounds, the Fort Cherry at Beth-Center game would be better served played on turf. Both teams run multiple formations on offense and an artificial surface would suit the skill players. B-C coach Ed Woods said there was no chance of getting a change in venue.
Fort Cherry debuted a single-wing formation against Chartiers-Houston, and it worked to near perfection. The Rangers really found ways to include Koltan Kobrys in the offense.
Beth-Center features an advantageous defense, but the Bulldogs score points in bunches. Their 412 points tops all local teams.
California enters the playoffs with a 7-2 record and four-straight wins. The Trojans have allowed 14 points the past four games and notched back-to-back shutouts of Jefferson-Morgan and Frazier.
Chartiers-Houston and Monessen each enter the playoffs with identical 6-3 records and look to shake off disappointing performances to end the regular season. The Bucs were stymied at home by Fort Cherry, while the Greyhounds lost at Frazier.
Quotable: "There's a lot of similarities with us and Fort Cherry. We know each other pretty well, especially with us being in the Black Hills Conference before," B-C coach Ed Woods said. "Tim (Garry) and I know each other well and this game is great for both schools. We're looking forward to Fort Cherry coming to our place."
Championship: Clairton over Sto-Rox
Defending champion: Clairton
Best first-round game: No. 11 Fort Cherry at No. 6 Beth-Center
Sleeper: Winner of Fort Cherry/Beth-Center game
Players to watch: Sal Faieta (Beth-Center) pictured, Jake Sofran (Beth-Center), Tanner Garry (Fort Cherry), Ryan Babirad (Fort Cherry), Daniel Lis (Chartiers-Houston), Javone Hairston (Chartiers-Houston), Chavas Rawlins (Monessen), Jalen Madison (Monessen), T.D. Conway (California), Skyler Dickinson (California), Jon Girvin (Northgate), Rock Vargo (Frazier), Lenny Williams (Sto-Rox), Deaysean Rippy (Sto-Rox), Mike Giampole (Avonworth), Capri Thompson (Clairton), Tyler Boyd (Clairton), DeAndre Moon (Rochester)
Noteworthy: Strange as it sounds, the Fort Cherry at Beth-Center game would be better served played on turf. Both teams run multiple formations on offense and an artificial surface would suit the skill players. B-C coach Ed Woods said there was no chance of getting a change in venue.
Fort Cherry debuted a single-wing formation against Chartiers-Houston, and it worked to near perfection. The Rangers really found ways to include Koltan Kobrys in the offense.
Beth-Center features an advantageous defense, but the Bulldogs score points in bunches. Their 412 points tops all local teams.
California enters the playoffs with a 7-2 record and four-straight wins. The Trojans have allowed 14 points the past four games and notched back-to-back shutouts of Jefferson-Morgan and Frazier.
Chartiers-Houston and Monessen each enter the playoffs with identical 6-3 records and look to shake off disappointing performances to end the regular season. The Bucs were stymied at home by Fort Cherry, while the Greyhounds lost at Frazier.
Quotable: "There's a lot of similarities with us and Fort Cherry. We know each other pretty well, especially with us being in the Black Hills Conference before," B-C coach Ed Woods said. "Tim (Garry) and I know each other well and this game is great for both schools. We're looking forward to Fort Cherry coming to our place."
Championship: Clairton over Sto-Rox
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