MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights – Week Nine

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, October 30, 2010 | 12:00 AM

Win and you're in. A simple enough concept, especially for teams facing such a scenario in Week 9 of the WPIAL football season. There were players who put up bigger numbers on Friday none, but none that made more of an impact for their team than these players, whose clutch performance helped their teams clinch a ride on the Highway to Heinz.

Bre Ford – Bethel Park

The two time defending Quad-A Great Southern Conference champions knew a loss would likely knock them out of the playoff chase and there was no guarantee that a win would clinch a postseason berth. But Bethel Park took care of business thanks to senior running back Bre Ford, who rushed for 222 yards and four touchdowns in the Black Hawks clinching 28-7 win over the Baldwin Highlanders.

Andrew Erenberg – Peters Township

Last year, Peters Township started fast at 5-0, only to have a conference slide keep them home for the postseason. Friday night, they made sure history would not repeat as Andrew Erenberg rushed for 127 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Indians into the Quad-A playoffs for the first time in school history with a 35-13 triumph over the Canon-McMillan Big Macs.

Andy Borgen – Pine-Richland

Winning only twice in your first eight games is not a recipe for how to make the playoffs. However if both of those win come in the conference and you can shine bright on the road in Week 9, then…Pine-Richland quarterback Andy Borgan completed 10 of 16 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown as the Rams earned their first Quad-A playoff berth with a 19-14 victory over the Shaler Titans.

Chris Zdinak and C.J. Lutz – Plum

Plum took to the air on a chilly final Friday night with a Big East Conference playoff berth on the line against Kiski Area and the payoff was handsome. Quarterback Chris Zdinak completed 17 of 26 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown, with eight of those completions to teammate C.J. Lutz for 117 yards as the Mustangs flew to a 23-14 victory over the Cavaliers and a second straight trip to the playoffs.

Chad Barton – Hollidaysburg

One of the newest members of the WPIAL decided to keep it all in the family to qualify for the District 7 playoffs. Hollidaysburg quarterback Chad Barton, son of head coach John Barton, completed 14 of 22 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns as the Golden Tigers clinched a spot with a 40-13 victory over the Derry Trojans.

Matt Naylor – Belle Vernon

Belle Vernon entered Week 9 in search of a playoff spot. What they earned with a win on Friday was not only a Class AAA postseason spot, but also, home field in the opening round thanks to quarterback Matt Naylor, who completed a near perfect 7 of 8 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns as the Leopards cruised to a 35-20 victory over the Elizabeth Forward Warriors.

Seth Goheen – Highlands

A year after losing their first nine games of the season only to finish 1-9, Highlands was one victory away from a winning regular season and more importantly, a return to the Class AAA postseason. The Golden Rams leaned on quarterback Seth Goheen, who connected on 10 of 15 passes for 117 yards and touchdown tosses of 33 and 7-yards in a 31-20 victory over the Hampton Talbots.

Matt Bradford – Central Valley

This Central Valley team has done what no other team has ever done in school history and thats make the playoffs…of course this is the first year in school history. Quarterback Matt Bradford tossed four touchdown passes, including two to Chad Phillis as the Warriors bombed the Ambridge Bridgers 42-13 to capture the final playoff spot out of the tough Class AAA Parkway Conference.

Gino Ceriani – Ellwood City

On the coldest Friday night of the regular season, Ellwood City quarterback Gino Ceriani picked a great night to be red-hot. Ceriani ended up 16 of 20 passing for 278 yards and three touchdowns, including a 17-yard strike to Kyle Crawford with two minutes left in regulation to provide the winning points in a 24-21 victory over the Riverside Panthers giving the Wolverines their first playoff berth in ten years.

Jon Krall – Carmichaels

The old saying is you have to crawl before you walk was ignored by Carmichaels as they decided to Krall to a Class A Tri-County South playoff berth. Jon Krall was a perfect 3 of 3 passing for 72 yards with two of those three completions going for touchdown on passes of 28 and 33 yards as the Mighty Mikes clinched with a 46-0 shutout of the Mapletown Maples.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Bethel Park, Carmichaels, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Highlands, Hollidaysburg, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Plum