Games of the Week

Beth-Center at California
When California is solid, which certainly appears to be the case, this is a heated rivalry. These schools have a history of disliking one another, but, on the football field, things have been decidedly Beth-Center since the Bulldogs move to the Tri-County South. Beth-Center has quietly gone about its business, rolling up three consecutive blowout wins. California is battle-tested, with tough games already played against Riverview and Monessen.

Washington at Keystone Oaks
Washington, behind a dominating performance from the offensive and defensive lines, firmly placed itself in the WPIAL Class AA playoff picture with last week's win over South Fayette. Things rarely get easier in the Century Conference and, tonight, the Prexies travel to Dormont Stadium to face Keystone Oaks, which has a 2-0 conference record. The Golden Eagles are always solid, but getting a read on them this year has been difficult. They lost to Ambridge and beat Quaker Valley by seven.

Brentwood at Fort Cherry
The Spartans edged the Rangers last year in a game that Fort Cherry held the statistical advantage, particularly in average yards per rush. Brentwood is 4-0 and yet to be tested. Could that record be deceiving? The combined record of the teams Brentwood has faced is 0-16. Repeat, 0-16. This game is critical for Fort Cherry, which plays Serra Catholic and Bentworth the next two weeks. A win here and the Rangers could take a 6-1 record into a Week 8 game against Clairton.

Monessen at North Catholic
The Greyhounds faced some adversity last week against California. One, Monessen allowed its first points of the season. Two, the Greyhounds trailed by 13 points before rallying to win. Undefeated and the fourth-ranked Class A team by the Observer-Reporter, Monessen can use to win at always tough North Catholic to bolster its portfolio come playoff time. It would also be a nice win for the Tri-County South Conference.


I'll be providing occasional updates from tonight's Brentwood at Fort Cherry game, live from Jim Garry Stadium. Follow me on Twitter @TheMikeKovak.

Twitter Thursday

Didn't get as many opportunities to check tweets this week from the OBX, but here's a few I enjoyed.

Don't forget, follow me on Twitter @TheMikeKovak.

Chris Dugan, O-R sports editor

@CDuganOR

Sept. 23

"Wash High's biggest need: bulbs for the scoreboard. #HSFB"

Maceo Saunders, Trinity cross country/basketball

@Maceo22

Sept. 26

"When ppl try to bring me down it never works cause I'm impeccable"

Pat Zedreck, Clarion U basketball, reigning O-R Player of the Year

@PZedreck

"sunday should be renamed steelerday"

Vincent Magnone, Wash High football

@vinnieboy18

Sept. 29

"S/O to all you #beautiful ladies that follow me :)"

State football rankings

From the Patriot-News of Harrisburg.

CLASS AAAA -- Record -- Previous rank
1. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) -- 4-0 -- 1
2. North Allegheny* (7) -- 4-0 -- 2
3. LaSalle College HS (12) -- 3-1 -- 3
4. Upper St. Clair (7) -- 3-1 -- 4
5. North Penn (1) -- 2-2 -- 6
6. Council Rock South (1) -- 4-0 -- 7
7. Cumberland Valley (3) -- 4-0 -- 10
8. Woodland Hills (7) -- 3-1 -- 8
9. Coatesville (1) -- 4-0 -- NR
10. Whitehall (11) -- 4-0 -- NR

Teams to watch: Abington (1) 4-0, Downingtown East (1) 3-1, Father Judge (12) 3-1, Gateway (7) 3-1, McDowell (10) 3-1, Nazareth (11) 4-0, Neshaminy (1) 3-1, Penn-Trafford (7) 4-0, Wyoming Valley West (2) 4-0.

CLASS AAA -- Record -- Previous rank
1. Archbishop Wood (12) -- 3-1 -- 1
2. Central Valley (7) -- 4-0 -- 2
3. Hopewell (7) -- 4-0 -- 4
4. Grove City (10) -- 4-0 -- 3
5. Montour (7) -- 3-1 -- 5
6. Bishop McDevitt (3) -- 2-2 -- 6
7. Cathedral Prep (10) -- 3-1 -- 10
8. Valley View (2) -- 4-0 -- 7
9. Susquehanna Twp. (3) -- 3-1 -- 9
10. West Allegheny (7) -- 2-2 -- NR

Teams to watch: Allentown C.C.* (11) 2-2, Cardinal O’Hara (12) 2-2, Clearfield (9) 4-0, Franklin Regional (7) 4-0, Greater Johnstown (6) 4-0, Knoch (7) 4-0, Thomas Jefferson (7) 2-2.

CLASS AA -- Record -- Previous rank
1. Aliquippa (7) -- 4-0 -- 1
2. Lancaster Catholic (3) -- 4-0 -- 2
3. West Catholic* (12) -- 1-3 -- 3
4. North Schuylkill (11) -- 4-0 -- 4
5. Seton-La Salle (7) -- 4-0 -- 5
6. Mount Carmel (4) -- 4-0 -- 6
7. Trinity (3) -- 3-1 -- 7
8. Lewisburg (4) -- 3-1 -- 8
9. Greensburg C.C. (7) -- 4-0 -- 9
10. Beaver Falls (7) -- 3-1 -- 10

Teams to watch: Beaver Area (7) 4-0, Bloomsburg (4) 3-0, Hickory (10) 4-0, Jeannette (7) 4-0, Northern Lehigh (11) 4-0, Pen Argyl (11) 4-0, Pine Grove (11) 4-0, Wilmington (10) 4-0.

CLASS A -- Record -- Previous rank
1. Clairton* (7) -- 4-0 -- 1
2. Southern Columbia (4) -- 4-0 -- 2
3. Sto-Rox (7) -- 4-0 -- 5
4. Dunmore (2) -- 4-0 -- 4
5. Rochester (7) -- 3-1 -- 3
6. Pius X (11) -- 4-0 -- 6
7. Bishop McCort (6) -- 4-0 -- 7
8. Mercyhurst Prep (10) -- 4-0 -- 8
9. Line Mountain (4) -- 3-1 -- 9
10. Lackawanna Trail (2) -- 4-0 -- NR

Teams to watch: Bishop Canevin (7) 4-0, Juniata Valley (6) 4-0, Mahanoy Area (11) 3-1, Monessen (7) 4-0, North Star (5) 4-0, Riverside (2) 2-2, Sharpsville (10) 3-0, Springdale (7) 3-1.

Fear the beard, Fort Cherry style

Thanks to one unruly beard that made Deadheads across the nation jealous, Steelers defensive lineman Brett Keisel certainly saw his profile raise as Pittsburgh played its way to the Super Bowl last year.

Fort Cherry senior Corey Garry, one of the area's more entertaining personalities on Twitter, is adopting the bearded lifestyle this season.

And the running back/middle linebacker is developing a fan following.

Week 4 thoughts

The wait is finally over.

Washington notched a signature win.

It came Friday night at Wash High Stadium as the Prexies rushed for 258 yards during a 33-14 win over south Fayette that was nothing short of impressive.

Earlier in the week, South Fayette coach Joe Rossi said that no team in the Century Conference – not even high-powered Seton-La Salle – boasted a backfield with the talent of Washington's. And South Fayette sure saw a lot of Jaylin Kelly, Shai McKenzie and Joe Phillips.

Kelly rushed for 103 yards; McKenzie scored three touchdowns; and, Phillips help wear down the defense. Washington was far from one-dimensional as Josh Wise threw a pair of touchdowns, one to talented receiver Ethan Gordon, who sometimes gets lost in the Prexies' run-oriented attack.

Maybe the most impressive fact of the win – the Prexies trailed 7-0. Granted, that's not a significant deficit, but they've clearly played their best playing with a lead in the past.

I'm calling it Washington's best win since the 14th-seeded Prexies shutout Aliquippa, 7-0, in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs in 2005. That win, coincidentally, remains the High's only postseason win since winning the PIAA Class AA championship in 2001.

* Ringgold senior Mike Beveridge is an absolute menace as a defensive end, and his disrupting presence plays a significant factor in the Rams' fun-to-watch 42-41 win at Greensburg-Salem.

Beveridge might be this area's most disruptive defensive lineman since some fella named Dan Mozes helped Washington win that state title.

* If I'm a local Division II football coach, I'm recruiting Ringgold's Quad Law. Like right now.

* Former Fort Cherry standout Mike Vernillo held the WPIAL career rushing record for 12 years before Hopewell's Rushel Shell broke it Friday night.

Shell, who regularly faces some of the toughest teams around, has an opportunity to put the record where it may not be touched for decades.

* Mapletown snapped a 15-game win streak with a 22-12 win over West Greene. It's always a little easier coming to practice after a win, and it's a nice reward for all the players who have hung around throughout the streak.

* I always thought the one thing that hurt Beth-Center during the postseason was the lack of a playmaker with the speed to hang with players on elite teams. Say 'Hello' to Cody Durant.

Durant is averaging around 15 yards per carry ans scored four times against Carmichaels.

Durant and the Bulldogs face a tough test this week against neighboring rival California. The Trojans' held a double-digit lead at Monessen, but lost 20-13.

* I'm guessing that Tanner Garry's 99-yard touchdown pass to Koltan Kobrys is not only a school record, but a WPIAL and PIAA record as well. Heck, add the National Federation of High Schools to that list as well.

Observer-Reporter WPIAL football rankings

Class AAAA
1. Pittsburgh C.C. 4-0, def. Woodland Hills 31-13
2. North Allegheny 4-0, def. Erie McDowell 49-14
3. Upper St. Clair 3-1, def. West Allegheny 41-27
4. Penn-Trafford 4-0, def. Gateway 16-14
5. Woodland Hills 3-1, lost to PCC 31-13

Class AAA
1. Hopewell 4-0, def. Mt. Lebanon 27-20
2. Central Valley 4-0, def. Trinity 49-12
3. Franklin Regional 4-0, def. Hollidaysburg 28-9
4. Montour 3-1, def. Canon-McMillan 52-19
5. West Mifflin 4-0, def. Peters Township 43-10

Class AA
1. Aliquippa 4-0, def. Freedom 59-14
2. Seton-La Salle, def. Quaker Valley 35-0
3. Jeannette 4-0, def. Southmoreland 51-6
4. Greensburg C.C. 4-0, def. Yough 49-0
5. Beaver 4-0, def. Ellwood City 24-7

Class A
1. Clairton 4-0, def. Chartiers-Houston 36-0
2. Sto-Rox 4-0, def. Rochester 48-27
3. Bishop Canevin 4-0, def. Frazier 48-6
4. Monessen 4-0, def. California 20-13
5. Rochester 3-1, lost to Sto-Rox 48-27

Quick hits

Tonight could be the best night of the regular season.

Ringgold at Greensburg-Salem
South Fayette atWashington
California atMonessen
Clairton at Chartiers-Houston
Central Valley atTrinity
Burgettstown atSteel Valley

All six games I find intriguing for different reasons.

Can Ringgold win a big road game and put Demetrius Louis in the same type of playmaking positions they found for him last week? Louis is a dynamic talent.

South Fayette took Steel Valley's best shot last Friday and survived. Will they absorb Washington's best punches this week? The key to this game could be the first quarter. Wash High plays better from the front.

California is getting it done with ball control and defense. Monessen has not allowed a point. Which defense stands tallest and leads its team to a key Tri-County South win?

Like most opponents who play Clairton, Chartiers-Houston will try to shorten the game and limit the Bears' touches. How competitive the Bucs are could be an indicator or what type team they'll be come playoff time.

Central Valley is one of the top teams in Class AAA. It will be interesting to see how Trinity bounces back from a tough home loss in a game that has no impact on their postseason chances.

Word from Burgettstown is that Steel Valley canceled this weekend's JV game. Hmmmmmmm ... are forces aligning in the Blue Devils' favor?

* A key matchup in the California-Monessen game will be Trojans linebacker Brenden Wright against Greyhounds multi-purpose quarterback Chavas Rawlins. So far, they've been two of the better players in ClassA.

* Washington senior Joe Phillips recently added an offer from Division I-AA Youngstown State. According to Prexies coach Mike Bosnic, Ohio University is extremely interested. Bowling Green already offered Phillips.

* I will send updates via Twitter from tonight's Ringgold at Greensburg-Salem game. Follow me @TheMikeKovak.

* We'll also be twittering from South Fayette-Washington, California-Monessen and Clairton atChartiers-Houston.

* Please follow @sportsOR, @kipapens (this guy literally has nothing else to do but Twitter), @buccos12 and @CDuganOR.

Twitter Thursday

Follow me on Twitter @TheMike Kovak. If you're a local athlete or coach and actually tweet, I'll follow back. Still wondering when a football player will tweet during halftime.

On to this week's tweets.

Ed Dalton, Trinity football coach
@edalton2
Sept. 16
"If u hate losing u have a chance to get better, we hate losing we will get better, write that down"

John Laschinsky, Trinity football/frequent tweeter
@John12Las
Sept. 21
"@Taylored_JET30 you're Mt. Miyagi and Im the karate kid. We grind hard together #swagthroughtheroof"

Quad Law, Ringgold football /track
@TheRealQuad_Law
Sept. 21
"Can't stop thinkin about dis Friday! #ProvinAPoint"

Josh Wise, Wash High football/basketball/track
@jlwise_whs11
Sept. 19
"when adversity hits you have to hit harder! #warrior"

Finally,
Brandon McGavitt, Trinity football
@Bmac_62395
Sept. 22
"Life style switchin"

Players suspended from Hickory-Sharon brawl

SHARON, Pa. (AP) — Members of two Pennsylvania high school football teams have been suspended after a brawl prompted officials to end their game early.
Officials at Sharon and Hickory high schools say additional penalties are also planned for more than a dozen players involved in the rumble during the fourth quarter of Friday’s game at Sharon.
Video of the fight that ended the 43-7 Hickory win was posted online and drew thousands of views.
Hermitage Superintendent Daniel Bell says one Hickory player was thrown off the team and seven others suspended for Friday’s game. Sharon Superintendent John Sarandrea says his suspended players will also receive in-school suspensions.
No one was seriously hurt in the brawl.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association has scheduled an Oct. 5 meeting at which the schools could face penalties.