Big Game Hunting for Week Eight 2016

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 | 11:56 PM

Week eight brings with it the answer to a question put forth here back in week one. How will I personally feel about the change to six classifications after seeing it for a season? The answer now, is the same as it was for me at first blush. I hate it, hate it with the fiery passion of 1000 suns, not to put too fine a point on it. It does nothing to accomplish any of the goals it portends to. It is going to exclude some very good teams, possibly great teams from the playoffs and include some very bad teams. Not to mention we are only in week eight and little is left that matters in terms of games of import in the largest classification. Nonetheless, we are nothing if not intrepid here at BGH, so let’s go Big Game Hunting!

6 A Non-Conference:
#2 North Allegheny Tigers (6-2) vs Hempfield Spartans (4-4) Friday October 21^st at 7:00 PM @ Hempfield high school broadcast on the North Allegheny Sports Network and the MSA Sports Network by Randy Gore and Rick Meister also broadcast on WHJB FM 107.1 and the MSA Sports Network by Mike Zappone and Jimmy Lee Santorella

To further emphasize the point of my opening paragraph, this non-conference tilt is literally the only broadcast in 6A for this coming weekend.

Since a week two loss at Central the Tigers have rattled off five straight wins and climbed comfortably into the number two spot in the MSA Top Ten in 6 A.

Since starting 3-0 the Spartans meanwhile have struggled losing four of their last five games including getting rolled by Penn Hills last week 55-37.

Tiger quarterback Ethan Maenza has completed 44 of 74 passes for 782 yards and seven scores, he has also rushed for 817 yards and 14 scores on the year.

Maenza’s number one target is Niko Mermigas with 29 catches for 567 yards and eight scores on the season.

In addition to Maenza on the ground the Tigers get tough yards from Mike Pope who has carried 87 times for 470 yards and six touchdowns.

The Spartans have secured a playoff spot but are looking for a signature win that will give them a boost heading into the seedings.

In fact they have a decent shot at getting into a tie for 2^nd place in the Southeastern conference.

For this week though, they need to focus on a Tiger Defense that is holding opponents under 20 points per game on the year and has improved that number to just 11.4 points per game allowed in their five game winning streak.

The Spartan defense is not having the same type of success, Hempfield is allowing a fourth-worst in 6 A 33.4 points per game, they will have to fix that quickly to knock off the Tigers or go on a run in the playoffs.

Hempfield likes to throw the ball with Justin Silwoski completing 116 of 205 passes for 1567 yards and 13 scores, he has thrown ten picks on the season, and needs to improve on that number for the Spartans to get where they want to go.

Nick DiAndreth is the leading receiver for Hempfield with 37 catches for 564 yards and six scores. Five other Spartans have reached double figures in receptions on the season so Silwoski does a nice job spreading the ball around.

Jordan Kempka gets the rushing attempts for the Spartans with 175 attempts for 1150 yards and six scores on the season.

5 A Allegheny Nine Conference:
#1 West Allegheny Indians (6-0)(7-0) vs #2 Woodland Hills Wolverines (6-0)(7-1) Friday October 21^st at 7:30 PM @ The Wolvarena in Turtle Creek broadcast on the Woodland Hills Sports Network and the MSA Sports Network by Adam Gusky and Fred Guy

This is the de facto championship game for the Allegheny Nine although the winner will still have some work to do to gain the crown outright.

Since a week three loss to Penn-Trafford (that seems more surprising with each successive loss from PT during this stretch run) the Wolverines have won four in a row including a 31-27 squeaker over Moon last week.

Daniel Jones and Michael Whitherse have both seen significant time at quarterback for the Wolverines this season, Jones has completed 18 of 46 for 476 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Whiteherse is 22 of 53 for 283 yards and a score. The duo has had trouble with interceptions, four for Whiteherse and three for Jones.

The West Allegheny defense has the same amount of interceptions on the season with seven.

On the ground Woody High has a nice 1-2 punch in Ja’Juan Hill and Saeed Holt, Hill has 88 carries for 622 yards and 10 touchdowns, Holt has 60 carries for 446 yards and 11 scores.

Woody High’s defense has been good allowing just 15.1 points per game.

West Allegheny senior quarterback Nick Ross has completed 73 of 114 passes for 1153 yards and has thrown just three picks to go along with six touchdowns.

Junior Brandon Lipford leads the Indians with 20 catches for 259 yards and three scores.

On the ground junior running back Kenny White has 76 carries for 576 yards and 10 touchdowns.

So their offense is solid and balanced but, the Indians are choking teams out with a dynamic and suffocating defense. West A has allowed a 2^nd best in the WPIAL 4.7 points per game on the year (Jeannette is allowing exactly 3.0 ppg).

Junior middle linebacker Anthony Dellavade, senior defensive ends Matt Holmes and Kieran Firment have combined for 142 tackles on the season.

The Indians have produced 12.5 sacks on the season led by senior Cam Cornell’s four on the year.

4 A Big Nine Conference:
#6 West Mifflin Titans (5-1)(7-1) vs #5 Belle Vernon Leopards (6-1)(6-1) Friday October 21^st at 7:30 PM @ Belle Vernon high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Josh Rowntree and Kevin Zielmanski this is also out video stream game of the week with Scott Majesky working the camera  

Both these teams come into this game off disappointing losses last week. West Mifflin blew a late lead falling to Ringgold 29-26, and Belle Vernon got throttled by Thomas Jefferson 55-0 in a battle of unbeaten. Now with just eight teams making the playoffs in 4 A the first round home playoff game ends up meaning you are playing on your home field with a chance to go to the semi-finals in your first post season game.

This game ends up being a very serious battle for that first round home game and it is huge.

The Titans Gary Galiyas has completed 20 of 43 passes on the year, for 547 yards and 11 touchdowns while tossing three interceptions.

No Titan has reached double digits in receptions but Darnell Carey leads them with nine catches for 254 yards and five touchdown catches.

Junior Howie Reid is the leading rusher for West Mifflin with 876 yards and 16 scores on the season in hi 73 carries. Senior Russell Tyree has 46 carries for 385 yards and seven touchdowns.

Senior Maryce Johnson leads the defense for the Titans with three of their eight sacks, another senior, Darnell Johnson has four of the Titans 12 interceptions on the season.

For the Leopards, making their unprecedented third straight trip to Big Game Hunting in a regular season, seniors Mike Fine and Nick Hall are the heart and soul of a team that will have to dig deep and put a heartbreaking loss behind them in a hurry.

Fine has completed 50 of 83 passes for 684 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. Fine is also a monster running the football with 386 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

Tim Labuda and Logan Pfrogner form the two top targets for Fine’s throwing efforts. The duo has combined for 38 catches, 466 yards and five touchdowns on the year.

Hall on the ground is one of the toughest kids to get to the ground in the entire WPIAL. He has 66 rushes for 689 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.

Linebacker Ben Cole leads the Leps in tackles with 41, the defense has caused 13 turnovers with 10 fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

3 A Interstate Conference:
Elizabeth Forward Warriors (4-2)(4-3) vs South Park Eagles (3-2)(3-4) Friday October 21^st @ 7:00 PM at South Park high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Sam Hall and Johnny  Lee

Both Elizabeth Forward and South Park remain alive for the very valuable and rare 3 A playoff spot.

The Warriors have won four of five to get in this spot including a 39-0 thumping of Southmoreland last weekend.

South Park has rebounded from a four-game-losing streak to win two in a row including a hard-fought 13-7 victory over McGuffey on the road last Friday night.

Through week six (get those stats in people) the Warriors Zach Benedek had completed 32 of 68 passes for 417 yards and seven scores and thrown seven interceptions.

Only one EF receiver has caught more than three passes all season long and that is Jonathan Devine who leads the club with 19 catches for 327 yards and four scores.

Steve Mayernik (59 attempts, 437 yards, five touchdowns) and Brian Malloy (65 attempts, 299 yards and four scores) get the bulk of the work in the rushing game for the Warriors.

South Park stats are up-to-date and they are pretty impressive for the Eagles offense. Quarterback Jordan Kmonk, has completed 80 of 129 passes for 992 yards and seven touchdowns while tossing just two interceptions.

Kmonk spreads the ball around a lot. Five Eagles have reached double digits in catches, led by Devin Turner (20 for 362 yards), Nolan Genilla (17 for 216) and Aaron Walker (16 for 126 yards), that trio has scored a combined four touchdowns.

On the ground Kmonk has rushed for 124 yards and four scores. Isaiah Mack leads the Eagles with 273 yards and five touchdowns in the rushing attack.

2 A Midwestern Athletic Conference:
South Side Rams (2-4)(2-5) vs #7 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans (3-2)(4-3) Friday October 21^st @ 7:00 PM @ J.C. Stone Field in North Park broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Cory Campano and Greg Kuntz

Five teams remain alive for the final two playoff spots in the Midwestern conference. Both of these teams would dearly love to get one of those. A win in this game would be huge for their chances of getting it.

The Rams will have quarterback Ryan Heberle at the helm but they don’t throw much. Heberle has completed 19 of just 57 passes on the season, for 223 yards and a score.

What they want to do is get the football into the hands of A.J. Crider, Crider has rushed the ball 148 times for 945 yards on the year while scoring eight touchdowns.

Both Matt Roach (46 carries for 330 yards), and Cole Campbell (46 carries for 191 yards) will also contribute, the duo has combined for five touchdowns.

CWNC looks to rebound from a disappointing loss at Riverside last week 28-26. Through six weeks quarterback Ryan Maziarz had completed 35 of 82 passes for 400 yards and five touchdowns on the year without throwing an interception.

Jack Cassidy and Joey Porter are the go-to receivers for Maziarz with 25 catches for 381 yards and nine touchdowns split very evenly between the two.

On the ground Mario Latronica continues to be the workhorse with 111 carries for 897 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns.

1 A Big Seven Conference:
#10 Shenango Wildcats (3-3)(3-4) vs #8 Our Lady of Sacred Heart Chargers (4-2)(5-2) Friday October 21^st @ 8:00 PM at Joe Walton Stadium on the campus of Robert Morris University broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Ed Troup and James Dotson

The Chargers and Wildcats in a big one note the late start if you are going to listen, or heading over,or in a perfect world, both!

After an 0-4 start the Wildcats have responded with their backs against the wall by winning three games in a row.

The Chargers have won five of six and maybe the best game they played was the loss in that span to unbeaten Rochester in a tight game 28-12.

OLSH’s defense has been allowing just 17.6 points per game on the season. The Charger offense has been putting up over 37 points per game on the offensive side of things. Their turnaround is one of the best stories in the WPIAL this season.

Tyler Bradley is the signal caller for the Chargers and he is having a great year throwing the football. He has completed 82 of 142 passes for 1304 yards and double digits in touchdowns.

Marcus Jenkins leads the Chargers in receiving with 17 catches for 311 yards and five scores.

Matt Schmarre contribute in both the passing game (13 catches 188 yards) and is also the leading rusher for the Chargers with 413 yards on 46 carries and he has scored a team-high 14 touchdowns on the season.

The Wildcats stats go through week six and quarterback Maxwell Reamer 43 of 93 passes for 519 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Matt McMillen has 11 catches for 144 yards and a score to lead the ‘Cats in receiving.

On the grounds Braden Smiley has 83 rushes for 417 yards and five touchdowns.

Lou Domenick is another contributor in both the passing and rushing attacks for Shenango, he has nine catches for 127 yards and has rushed 25 times for 105 yards and scored a total of five touchdowns on the season.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Elizabeth Forward, Hempfield, North Catholic, West Allegheny, West Mifflin, Woodland Hills