Trib HSSN don’t-miss high school football matchups for Week 1

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, September 10, 2020 | 9:32 PM

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Class 6A

Canon-McMillan (3-8) at No. #1 Central Catholic (12-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Graham Field in Wilkinsburg

Coaches: Mike Evans, Canon-McMillan; Terry Totten, Central Catholic

Players to watch: Ryan Angott, Canon-McMillan (Jr., 5-10, 185, RB); Edward Tillman, Central Catholic (Sr., 5-8, 165, RB)

Four downs:

1. Junior Ryan Angott will lead the ground attack for Canon-McMillan. The junior led the Big Macs in rushing last season with 896 yards on 166 carries with eight touchdowns.

2. After nine years of missing out on the postseason, the Big Macs are trending in the opposite direction now. Canon-McMillan has qualified for the district playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

3. Central Catholic is loaded with talent coming into the season and a favorite in the classification. However the Vikings were dealt some bad news when camp began when one of the top linemen in the district, Elliot Donald, opted out of his senior year because of covid-19 concerns. The nephew of NFL great Aaron Donald is following in his uncle’s footsteps and heading to Pitt.

4. Senior running back Eddy Tillman will once again lead the run-happy Vikings. The diminutive running back rushed for 2,047 yards on 277 carries for an average of 7.4 yards per tote. He also led the team in scoring in 2019 with 26 touchdowns.

Extra point: Fresh off the school’s seventh WPIAL football championship last fall, all coming in the last 17 years, Central Catholic was set to play its home games this year next door to the high school at Carnegie Mellon and at Rooney Field at Duquesne University. However, with both schools closing those venues, the Vikings will call historic Graham Field in Wilkinsburg home for its four home games. One of the oldest venues in Western Pennsylvania, it was recently renovated and also plays home to Imani Christian games.

Class 5A vs. Class 6A Non-Conference

Penn Hills (10-2) at 6A No. 2 North Allegheny (10-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday, Newman Stadium at North Allegheny HS

On the air: Video and audio at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Coaches: Jon LeDonne, Penn Hills; Art Walker, North Allegheny

Players to watch: Noel Roach, Penn Hills (Sr., 6-2, 185, WR); Khalil Dinkins, North Allegheny (Sr., 6-4, 216, WR/LB)

Four downs:

1. With so much depth in Class 5A this season, there has been very little talk about the 2018 WPIAL and PIAA champion Indians. Penn Hills was undefeated Northern Conference champions a year ago and lost to McKeesport in the quarterfinals. The Indians have won 14 straight conference games.

2. Noel Roach is one of the leaders on this Penn Hills team after a big junior season on both sides of the ball. Roach led the Indians with six interceptions, plus he averaged 17.4 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns.

3. This marks the 10th anniversary of the Tigers’ 2010 championship season, the first of three straight for North Allegheny from 2010-12. However, NA hasn’t won a district crown since and has lost its first playoff game in each of the last two seasons.

4. Hoping to bring gold back to North Allegheny before he graduates is senior Khalil Dinkins, one of the top recruits in the WPIAL and across the state. His size and speed give him a huge advantage over many opposing defensive backs. He is the son of former Schenley, Pitt and New Orleans Saints tight end Darnell Dinkins.

Extra point: These Class 6A and 5A powers were not scheduled to play each other this season. However, when both Seneca Valley and Kiski Area had to postpone conference games against North Allegheny and Penn Hills due to coronavirus issues, the Tigers and Indians found each other as new opening week dance partners. Their last meeting happened in 2017 when host North Allegheny beat Penn Hills, 27-16.

Class 4A Big Eight Conference

No. 1 Thomas Jefferson (16-0) vs. West Mifflin (0-11)

7:30 p.m. Friday, West Mifflin Stadium

On the air: Video on TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Players to watch: DeRon Van Bibber, Thomas Jefferson (Sr., 6-0, 180, RB/DB); Nahki Johnson, West Mifflin (Sr., 6-3, 235, DE/OL)

Four downs:

1. Thomas Jefferson has had many wonderful seasons in Bill Cherpak’s 25 years as head coach. Last year might have been one of his best teams as the Jaguars swept district and state gold with a perfect 16-0 record. Many key players graduated, and while TJ is still one of the favorites, how those new faces handle the high expectations this program has will determine if the Jaguars reach the WPIAL finals for a sixth straight season.

2. DeRon Van Bibber is one of the few starters back for the 2020 season. He missed out on the double celebration as a knee injury cost him the second half of his junior campaign. He was averaging 7.6 yards per carry and had scored eight touchdowns when his season ended.

3. West Mifflin actually finished with a 5-6 record after an opening-round playoff loss to South Fayette. However the Titans were forced to forfeit those five victories when it was discovered that a clerical mistake led to a player participating when he actually was ineligible for the 2019 season. The district also ruled that West Mifflin could not participate in the 2020 playoffs; however, the PIAA has not heard the appeal on that decision, so the Titans’ playoff eligibility hopes remain in limbo.

4. The Titans tout one of the best linemen in the state in Pitt recruit Nahki Johnson. He is a force on both sides of the ball in the trenches that opposing coaches will be double- and triple-teaming in an effort to handle his explosiveness.

Extra point: This game has become a late October staple of games to watch in the final week of the regular season in the WPIAL with at least a share of the conference championship usually up for grabs. However, this has been a one-sided rivalry as Thomas Jefferson has won eight straight. The last West Mifflin victory was 27-14 on Oct. 28, 2011.

Class 3A Northwestern-6 Conference

Quaker Valley (2-7) vs. Avonworth (15-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Avonworth Stadium

On the air: Video on TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Coaches: Ron Balog, Quaker Valley; Duke Johncour, Avonworth

Players to watch: Patrick Cutchember, Quaker Valley (Jr., 6-0, 200, QB); Drew Harper, Avonworth (Sr., 6-0, 195, WR/LB/S)

Four downs:

1. A year removed from a magical 2017 WPIAL and PIAA championship run, Quaker Valley struggled last season, finishing 2-7 overall. However, the offense improved in a 2-2 finish. The Quakers scored 98 points in the final four games after scoring only 28 points in the first five games, which included three shutouts.

2. The Quakers are one of the youngest teams in the district with only three seniors on their roster. The team’s leading passer and rusher returns in junior Patrick Cutchember. He combined for 721 yards from scrimmage as a sophomore in 2019.

3. Avonworth won the school’s first football crown by winning a WPIAL Class 2A championship last season. However, the Antelopes won’t get a chance to win back-to-back 2A titles as the program moved up to Class 3A. The ‘Lopes have been placed in the same Northwestern 6 conference as 2019 WPIAL Class 3A champion Central Valley.

4. Antelopes head coach Duke Johncour plans to double his opponent’s misery this season by unleashing the Harper brothers. Drew Harper is a four-year starter at wide receiver and linebacker. He registered 55 tackles and 8½ sacks last year while averaging 13.2 yards per catch. Sophomore brother Nate Harper will take over at quarterback for the graduated Park Penrod, who threw for 2,188 yards and 31 touchdowns a year ago.

Extra point: Both teams enjoyed similar title runs. In 2019, Avonworth was undefeated when it beat Washington with a strong defensive effort in the WPIAL finals, 28-6. The ‘Lopes then reached the state title game after a win over District 10 champion Wilmington before losing to state power Southern Columbia to finish 15-1. In 2017, Quaker Valley also had only one loss, but that came in Week 7 against Aliquippa. The Quakers defense came up large at Heinz Field as they blanked the Quips in the title game, 2-0, before beating District 10 champ Sharon to advance to Hershey where they defeated Middletown to win state gold.

Class 2A Century Conference

No. 2 Washington (7-4) vs. No. 3 McGuffey (11-0)

7 p.m. Friday, McGuffey Highlanders Stadium

On the air: WJPA-FM 95.3 and on TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Coaches: Mike Bosnic, Washington; Ed Dalton, McGuffey

Players to watch: Brandon Patterson, Washington (Jr., 6-3, 180, WR/DB); McKinley Whipkey, McGuffey (Sr., 5-11, 195, FB/LB)

Four downs:

1. Washington said goodbye to an outstanding senior class last year that helped the Prexies win the 2018 WPIAL 2A championship. In their four years at Wash High, the Prexies were 47-5 overall and 27-1 in conference.

2. With only a couple of starters back for Washington, they will lean on the likes of junior Brandon Patterson on both sides of the ball. Patterson averaged 21.5 yards per catch with 13 receptions, plus he had four interceptions.

3. Ed Dalton says this is his most talented Highlanders team in his nine years at McGuffey. The Highlanders have raced out of the gates the last two seasons but have stumbled down the stretch run. McGuffey was 7-0 two years ago before finishing 1-3 to end up 8-3. Last year, they started the season with eight straight wins before again dropping three of their final four games to finish 9-3.

4. Dalton feels his team is so deep in its ground attack, if health is not an issue, McGuffey could end up with three 1,000-yard rushers. Seniors McKinley Whipkey, Nate Yagle and Jared Johnson are the three-headed monster for the McGuffey running game. Whipkey led the team in rushing last year with 817 yards on only 129 carries.

Extra point: While these two teams battle on opening night this season, they have closed the regular season the last two years in Week 9 with contests that were for at least a share of the Century Conference championship. Washington outslugged McGuffey in 2018, 42-36, on its way to a district crown. Last year, the Prexies were triumphant again, 36-14. This will be the first game played on the new grey turf playing surface after major renovations to McGuffey Stadium this offseason.

Class A Big 7 Conference

Union (3-7) vs. No. 2 Shenango (6-4)

7 p.m. Saturday, Frank Bongevingo Field at Glenn ‘Pop’ Johnson Stadium

On the air: Video at TribHSSN.TribLive.com

Coaches: Stacy Robinson, Union; Jimmy Graham, Shenango

Players to watch: Aaron Gunn, Union (Sr., 6-3, 308, OL/DL); Reis Watkins, Shenango (Sr., 6-3, 220, RB/LB)

Four downs:

1. Union was very streaky in 2019. The Scotties lost their first three games, then won three straight to even their record in the Big 7 Conference, but four straight losses, including their final two conference games, dropped the Scotties to fifth place.

2. Union is ready to hook up their hopes for a return to the postseason to one of the top linemen in the state. Senior Aaron Gunn will stand out for the Scotties as the Louisville recruit checks in at 6-3 and over 300 pounds for the blue and white.

3. Shenango was in the middle of the pack in a tough Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference, missing out on a playoff berth by one game while ending up 6-4 overall. With a lot of weapons back and a drop to Class A, there is great optimism heading into this season for the Wildcats.

4. Leading the way for Shenango is running back Reis Watkins. The senior rushed for 1,269 yards and scored 13 touchdowns last year. He set a school record with a 302-yard performance in a Week 6 victory over Ellwood City. Watkins will start the season at quarterback for a few weeks as junior Santino Campoli heals from an injury.

Extra point: These two Lawrence County rivals kicked off the last two years by facing each other in Week Zero games. Union won at Shenango in 2018, 35-20, while the Wildcats returned the favor last fall with a 24-13 victory at Union. Watkins rushed for 193 yards in the Wildcats victory.

Tags: Avonworth, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, McGuffey, North Allegheny, Penn Hills, Quaker Valley, Shenango, Thomas Jefferson, Union, Washington, West Mifflin