WPIAL football championships primer: Can Steel Valley extend its win streak to 27?

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 24, 2017 | 6:48 PM

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Class 2A

No. 1 Steel Valley (11-0) vs. No. 2 Washington (12-0)

6 p.m. Saturday, Robert Morris' Joe Walton Stadium

On the air: Tribhssn.triblive.com

Winner plays: The winner of Saturday's PIAA quarterfinal between District 9 champion Clarion (12-0) and District 10 champion Wilmington (12-0). The winners will play in the PIAA semifinals Dec. 1 or 2.

What to watch

• Can the Ironmen limit Washington's running game?

Senior Nick Welsh is second in the WPIAL in rushing with 1,979 yards, trailing only Seton LaSalle's Lionel Deanes (2,112), and the Little Prexies will rely on him Saturday.

Steel Valley's defense has allowed 14.1 points per game and was rarely challenged this season with the exception of an early season game against South Allegheny (31-27) and last week's 13-10 semifinal win over Riverside.

• Can Washington end the streak?

Steel Valley has won 26 consecutive games, including a 15-0 mark last season, which ended with a 49-7 win over Southern Columbia in the PIAA championship game. Steel Valley topped Neshannock, 49-14, in last season's WPIAL Class 2A final at Robert Morris.

• Will Steel Valley run to victory?

The Ironmen rolled through the first three playoff games behind the running of Kameron Williams and Trevon Adams, who combined for nearly 600 yards and eight TDs this postseason.

Players to watch

• Amonte Strothers, Steel Valley: A Division I cornerback recruit with offers from Syracuse, Kent State, Toledo, Delaware, Georgetown and Duquesne, Strothers (6-2, 178) has caught 18 passes for 495 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

• Trey Karfelt, Steel Valley: The 5-11, 175-pound quarterback, who was injured earlier this season, has thrown for 578 yards and nine scores.

• Daniel Walker, Washington: Walker (6-1, 185), a Division I recruit, caught two passes for 20 yards in last week's semifinal win over Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, but one went for a 15-yard touchdown to start the scoring. He has 25 catches for 514 yards and 10 scores this season.

• Isaiah Schoonmaker, Washington: Schoonmaker (6-2, 200), a Miami (Ohio) linebacker recruit, scored on a 61-yard run in the third quarter of last week's semifinal victory.

Stat leaders

Passing: SV: Ronnell Lawrence, 36-78-722 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs; W: Zack Swartz, 86-143-1,765 yards, 26 TDs, 0 INTs

Rushing: SV: Kameron Williams, 133-1,017, 19 TDs; W: Nick Welsh, 162-1,979 yards, 27 TDs

Receiving: SV: Trevon Adams, 22-536 yards, 16 TDs; W: Isaiah Schoonmaker, 30-692 yards, 12 TDs

By the numbers

All-time records: SV: 277-199-12 W: 685-365-56

Last title: SV: 2016; W: 2001

WPIAL titles: SV: 4; W: 6

Did you know?

• Steel Valley junior linebacker Todd Hill, who has offers from Cincinnati and Robert Morris, among others, has scored six touchdowns this season from his fullback position.

• Washington's female kicker, Lilly Christy, has connected on 36 extra points this season.

• Washington's Walker grew up in Washington before moving to Georgia, where he played the past two seasons before returning to play this year for the Little Prexies.

Prediction

Steel Valley, 28-21

Class A

No. 3 Jeannette (12-1) vs. No. 4 Imani Christian (11-2)

Noon Saturday, Robert Morris' Joe Walton Stadium

On the air: Tribhssn.triblive.com

Winner plays: The winner of Saturday's PIAA Class A quarterfinal between District 9 champion Ridgway/Johnsonburg (10-2) and District 10 champion Farrell (10-2). The winners will play in a PIAA semifinal Dec. 1 or 2.

What to watch

• Can Jeannette ground the Imani air attack?

Imani Christian's passing attack has been among the WPIAL's best. Quarterback Tawan Wesley has elite targets in Sam Fairley, Rahmon Hart and Ray Jackson, as well as a talented backfield presence in Asante Watkins. The first-team group has produced more than 2,500 yards through the air.

• Will cooler heads prevail?

These teams had a Week 4 matchup at Graham Field in Wilkinsburg halted with 4 minutes, 30 seconds left when officials felt it wasn't safe for the game to continue, mostly because of fans entering the field area and rising tension between the players.

Imani Christian was reprimanded by the WPIAL for fan behavior and players leaving the sideline.

Both coaches said they don't expect similar issues this time.

• What role will experience play?

Many Jeannette players experienced the championship game atmosphere at Robert Morris last season, and some even stepped on Heinz Field for the 2015 title game, both losses to Clairton. That familiarity could factor into a quick start.

Players to watch

• Seth Howard, Jeannette: Howard (6-1, 170) has stepped into the quarterback role in the playoffs and has excelled, completing 14 of 24 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns. He also has run for 339 yards and 10 scores this season.

• Tre Cunningham, Jeannette: One of the top players for the WPIAL champion Jeannette baseball team, Cunningham (6-3, 165) has been a reliable receiver with 21 catches for 308 yards and five touchdowns. He also has contributed 45 extra points as the team's kicker.

• Rahmon Hart, Imani Christian: A Division I recruit with offers from Buffalo, Howard, Temple and Toledo, Hart (6-3, 200) has 56 catches for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

• Sam Fairley, Imani Christian: Fairley (6-1, 170), who has offers from Miami (Ohio), Army, Robert Morris and Columbia, had four catches for 171 yards and a 66-yard score in the first meeting with Jeannette, which the Jayhawks won 54-36.

Stat leaders

Passing: J: Robert Kennedy, 77-139-1,264 yards, 23 TDs, 0 INTs; IC: Tawan Wesley, 166-270-2,581 yards, 33 TDs, 11 INTs

Rushing: J: Kennedy, 123-978 yards, 22 TDs; IC: Asante Watkins, 133-1,117 yards, 21 TDs

Receiving: J: Marcus Barnes, 25-446 yards, 9 TDs; IC: Sam Fairley, 68-1,282 yards, 22 TDs

By the numbers

All-time records: J: 733-315-48 IC: 22-20

Last title: J: 2007; IC: N/A

WPIAL titles: J: 8; IC: 0

Did you know?

• The Jayhawks can tie New Castle for most wins in WPIAL history (734) with a victory Saturday in the championship game.

• Led by Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette won the 2006 and '07 WPIAL Class 2A championships. The Jayhawks lost three times in the finals since, in 2011 to Aliquippa and in 2015 and '16 to Clairton.

• Imani Christian had to cancel its season in 2013 because it didn't have enough players to field a team. The Saints returned last season to finish 5-6 and reach the WPIAL quarterfinals.

Prediction

Jeannette, 35-31