Big Game Hunting for Week Eleven

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 | 6:25 PM

Call it what you like, redemption Friday, redo Friday, rematch Friday, every single game in the three largest classifications this Friday night is a game that was already played at some point during the regular season. We prefer to call it the semi-finals, and there is no better time to go Big Game Hunting! The suddenness with which the semi-finals jump up on us in 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A is a little unnerving. But hey, we got a new President recently, let’s find out if we are going to get some new champions as well.

6 A:
#1 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (10-1) vs #5 Pine-Richland Rams (7-4) Friday November 11^th @ 7:30 PM at Newman Stadium on the campus of North Allegheny high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Sam Hall and Johnny Lee

Central knocked off Pine in week five 48-35 at Highmark. That game the Rams lost more than the scoreboard would indicate as Phil Jurkovec suffered the thumb injury that has him sidelined going into this semi-final match-up.

The good news for the Rams is Max DeVinney has done a great job filling in for Jurkovec. The Rams are 3-2 since DeVinney took over and the passing game has continued to be very strong. DeVinney has completed 91 of 166 passes for 1296 yards and eight touchdowns.

Ray Falcone and Jordan Crawford have been a dynamic duo in the receiving corps for the Rams on the year they have combined for 99 catches and 1685 (1229 of those for Falcone) yards and 28 touchdowns. 

Crawford is also the leading rusher for the Rams with 723 yards on the ground Jesse Macker has chipped in with 426 yards and five scores on the ground. This is an area where the Rams sorely miss Jurkovec whose ability to run with the ball was so incredible.

The Rams got a game-winning 27 yard field goal from Vito Orsini to knock-out Bethel Park 35-32 in the quarterfinals. Central just rolled Norwin 48-0 behind Troy Fisher’s four touchdown passes. Fisher is also a big contributor in the Vikes run game with 450 yards on the ground.

Fisher for the year now has completed 61 of 106 passes for 1230 yards and 17 scores.

Justice Evans has 18 catches for 552 yards and he caught three scores in the opening round win over Norwin.

 J.J. Younger has rushed for 1037 yards and scored a team-high 22 touchdowns on the year for Terry Totten’s club.

5 A:
#1 West Allegheny Indians (10-0) vs #4 Woodland Hills Wolverines (9-2) Friday 11^th @ 7:30 PM at Baldwin high school broadcast on the Woodland Hills Sports Network and the MSA Sports Network by Adam Gusky and Fred Guy

Week eight saw this game played at the Wolvarena and it was not close the Indians blocked two Woodland Hills punts and rolled the Wolverines 52-13.

West Allegheny cruised in their opening round win over North Hills 41-21, while Woody High won a defensive struggle with Franklin Regional 17-3.

These are two great defenses which may explain why special teams played such a big role the first time they met. Woody High allows less than 18 points per game, and West Allegheny allows less than 12.

West Allegheny quarterback Nick Ross has completed 102 of 160 passes for 1695 yards and 11 scores.

Brandon Lipford has been his main target with 37 catches for 659 yards and 10 touhdowns scored on the season. Mateo Vandamia has 22 catches for 385 yards.

On the ground The Indians have six players who have rushed for 100 yards or more this year, led by Kenny White who has 116 carries for 888 yards and has scored 16 touchdowns.

The fluid situation at Woodland Hills quarterback seems to have settled down on the shoulders of Danny Jones, who has completed 33 of 83 passes for 766 yards and three scores, he has tossed four interceptions for the year.

Avram Abramovitz is the leading receiver for the Wolverines with 21 catches for 502 yard, he has scored a total of five touchdowns.

Saeed Holt has rushed for 749 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Wolverines, Ja’Juan Hill has contributed in the run game as well with 120 carries for 741 yards and 11 scores.

4 A:
#2 Ringgold Rams (8-2) vs #6 New Castle Red Hurricane (7-4) Friday November 11^th @ 7:30 PM at Mars Athletic Center on the campus of Mars high school broadcast on WKST AM 1200 and the MSA Sports Network by Ken Hlebovy and Rob Gregory

These two clubs met in week eight with Ringgold recording a 41-27 win at New Castle but don’t be deceived by that score this was a tie game in the fourth quarter and Ringgold was able to capitalize on a pair of fourth quarter fumbles by the Red Hurricane.

The Rams beat Mars 42-31 in round one on the strength of George Martin’s arm AND legs, Marting threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores in the win.

New Castle pulled the shocker of the post season so far jumping out to a big lead against the South Fayette Lions and then holding on for a 51-43 victory. Geno Stone threw four scoring passes and rushed for two more touchdowns in that game.

Rams quarterback Martin has hooked up on 125 of 214 passes for 2062 yards and 20 touchdowns. Max Maciejewski and Dalton Holt are the main targets for Martin.

Maciejewski has 51 catches for 839 yards and has scored ten touchdowns. Holt has added 52 catches for 329 yards and another five scores.

Brendan Small has a team-high 11 touchdowns in the running game, carrying the ball 104 times for 822 yards. Tyrese Youngblodd has been strong in the Rams rushing attack as well with 329 yards on the ground here in 2016.

Expect this to be another high-scoring affair, the Rams allow more than 23 points per gam, the Red Hurricane allow more than 25 points per game on the season.

Geno Stone is the guy the Red Hurricane will try to get the football in the hands of is much is possible, the quarterback has thrown for over 1000 yards and rushed for over 500 yards.

Look for Marcus Hooker to be his go to receiver he leads the red hurricane in receptions on the year and is also their leading scorer with nearly 20 touchdowns

Garrett Farah contributes big time in the passing game as well.

On the ground aside from Stone Lorenzo Gardner will get the bulk of the carries for New Castle.

3 A:
#2 Beaver Falls Tigers (9-1) vs #3 Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles (9-1) Friday November 11^th @ 7:30 PM at Ambridge high school broadcast on WBVP – AM 1230 and the MSA Sports Network by Bob Barrickman and Kerry Lacey

Beaver Falls knocked off Mount Pleasant in the opening-round 42-14. The Tigers racked up nearly 400 yards of total offense in the win.

 Keystone Oaks kept rolling as well dropping Apollo-Ridge 56-20.  Alex Smith through for four  touchdowns and rushed for three more.

 Smith leads the entire WPIAL in passing completing 173 of 272 passes for 2885 yards and 32 touchdowns. He is a tremendous runner of the football as well, he has rushed for 985 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.

 Nick Hrivnak is the leading receiver for the Golden Eagles with 60 catches 847 yards, he has scored 10 touchdowns.

 Dylan Knorr is a big-time play maker in the slot with 42 catches for 704 yards and six scores.

In the rush game keep an eye on Devin Thomas 55 rushes fpr 365 yards. He is a threat to catch the ball as well out of the backfield and has scored eight touchdowns on the year. 

Quran Powe has become a huge difference maker on the defense and offensive side of the ball for Keystone Oaks.

The Golden Eagles defense is allowing 19.2 points per game but that number is heavily skewed by their only loss when they allowed 77 points to Beaver. A game they played without Q Powe and linebacker Dan Black. This is one of the best defenses in the league in its’ current formation.

The Tiger defense is solid as well, allowing just 15.7 points per game and playing in the best conference in the entire WPIAL while doing so.

Quarterback Austin French has completed 48 of 96 passes for 822 yards and nine scores.

Derrell carter is one of four Tigers with over 100 yards receiving on the season. He leads that group with 15 catches, Malik Shepherd leads Beaver Falls in receiving yards with 195.

Shepherd is the leading rusher for the Tigers as well, he has 742 yards rushing and has scored a total of nine touchdowns.

2 A:
#2 Washington Little Prexies (10-0) vs #7 Brentwood Spartans (8-2) Friday November 11^th @ 7:30 PM at Big Mac Stadium in Canonsburg broadcast on WJPA – AM 1450 and the MSA Sports Network by Bob Gregg

Connor Bedillion threw for three touchdowns in the opening-round for Washington as they roll by South Side Beaver 35-13.

Brentwood had no trouble with Frazier 46-19 the final there.  Austin Veatch scored four touchdowns. Dorian Bowie rushed for 105 yards threw for a touchdown and ran for another.

Brentwood quarterback Mike Trent has completed 64 of 119 passes on the season for 1057 yards and 11 touchdowns.

His top receivers are Bowie and Veatch who have combined to catch 64 balls for 1048 yards, while totaling 23 touchdowns.

Bowie is also the leading rusher for the Spartans with 535 yards on the ground. Look for Evan Vickless to get a bunch of touches as well, he has 65 rushes for 435 yards and eight scores.

Brentwood has great team speed on both sides of the ball they allow just over 19 points per game defensively. Washington can match speed with anyone in the WPIAL. The Prexies defense has been amazing allowing eight points per game.

Their “O” has been tough as well putting up 42 points per game.

Bedillion has thrown for almost 1000 yards at 57 of 105 for 968 yards and 19 touchdowns.

A pair of Isaiah’s catch the bulk of Bedillion’s throws. Robinson (28 catches for 502 yards) and Perry has 13 catches for 200 yards, the duo has scored 14 touchdowns, 13 of those by Isaiah Robinson.

The Prexies have six players who have rushed for more than 200 yards on the season, leading the way is Lyle Webb with 468 yards and seven touchdowns.

1 A:
#4 Northgate Flames (9-1) vs #5 Bishop Canevin Crusaders Friday November 11^th @ 7:30 PM at Hampton high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Cory Campano and Brandon Showers

Northgate blanked Mapletown 37-0 in the opening-round. How about this for Mike Allen the senior wide out threw for touchdown, ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and, returned a punt for a touchdown.

Meanwhile Canevin rolled over California 56-21 Maleik Hemingway 329 yards rushing on the ground and five touchdowns for the Crusaders.

The quarterback for Northgate is Stephan Adams who has thrown for 1400 yards and rushed for another 285 yards.

Stephan has scored seven touchdowns, his brother Surron Adams is the leading rusher for Northgate with 83 carries for 950 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Keep an eye on Mike Allen in the receiving game with 26 catches for 943 yards he has scored 17 touchdowns.

He will obviously contribute running the football as well.

For the Crusaders Austin Scott has completed 37 of 71 passes for 475 yards. Scott os a threat to run as well, he has thrown for four scores and rushed for seven on the season.

His leading receiver is Kellen Gustine with 23 catches for 494 yards Gustine has scored five touchdowns.

Maleik Hemingway will run in the wildcat and out of the backfield, he has rushed for 1384 yards and scored a team high 27 touchdowns on the year.

Look for Zach Trusky and Tyrese Jennings to be a big part of the Canevin team that shows up here in the quarterfinals.

Tags: Beaver Falls, Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Keystone Oaks, Washington, West Allegheny, Woodland Hills