WPIAL high school football don’t-miss matchups for Week 8

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, October 18, 2018 | 11:00 PM

Here’s a look at some of Week 8’s top WPIAL high school football games for each classification:

Class 6A

No. 4 Seneca Valley (6-2, 4-2) at No. 1 Pine-Richland (7-1, 6-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday, Pine-Richland HS Stadium

On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: Seneca Valley 24, Woodland Hills 7; Pine-Richland 42, Mt. Lebanon 24

Coaches: Ron Butschle, Seneca Valley; Eric Kasperowicz, Pine-Richland

Top players: Gabe Lawson, Jr., QB/DB, Seneca Valley; Luke Meckler, Jr., RB/FS, Pine-Richland

Keep an eye on: Cole Spencer, So., QB/SS, Pine-Richland

Momentum: Pine-Richland. The Rams have rolled to seven straight wins after a 42-0 loss to IMG Academy (Fla.) in the season opener.

Four downs: 1. Seneca Valley is in need of a win to clinch a playoff berth. If the Raiders win out, they clinch second place and an opening-round bye. If they lose out, they could fall short of the postseason. 2. Pine-Richland has clinched a playoff berth but needs a win to keep pace with North Allegheny atop Class 6A and stay in the conference championship chase. 3. Meckler and Spencer have been a talented tandem on offense for the Rams. Meckler has rushed for 688 yards and 15 touchdowns. Spencer has thrown for 1,045 yards and run for 404. 4. Lawson leads a Seneca Valley attack with 905 passing yards and nine touchdowns.

Extra point: Pine-Richland will play at North Allegheny next Friday.

Class 5A

Northern Conference

North Hills (5-3, 4-1) at Shaler (3-5, 2-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Shaler’s Lou Martig Stadium

On the air: 1320 AM; TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: North Hills 20, Armstrong 9; Penn Hills 52, Shaler 7

Coaches: Pat Carey, North Hills; Jim Ryan, Shaler

Top players: Tyler Brennan, Sr., RB/S, North Hills; Darin Mizgorski, Jr., QB/S, Shaler

Keep an eye on: Joey Kremer, Sr., RB/LB, Shaler

Momentum: North Hills. The Indians bounced back from a three-game losing streak by defeating Armstrong last week.

Four downs: 1. North Hills has clinched a playoff berth in the Northern Conference, while Shaler remains alive. The Titans can get in with a win in their final two games and could finish either fourth or fifth in the conference. 2. Shaler’s wins this season are against New Castle, Hampton and Armstrong. The Titans will wrap the regular season at home against Fox Chapel next week. 3. Brennan leads the North Hills attack with 623 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. 4. Shaler’s offense has been led by Mizgorski, with 1,232 passing yards and nine scores, and wide receiver Brennan Fugh, with 38 catches for 622 yards.

Extra point: The Indians started 4-0 before losses to Peters Township, Gateway and Mars.

Class 4A

Big 8 Conference

Greensburg Salem (3-5, 3-2) at No. 1 Thomas Jefferson (7-0, 5-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday at Jaguars Stadium, Pleasant Hills

On the air: 107.1 FM; TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: Greensburg Salem 35, Ringgold 0; Thomas Jefferson 48, Laurel Highlands 0

Coaches: Dave Keefer, Greensburg Salem; Bill Cherpak, Thomas Jefferson

Top players: Trent Patrick, Greensburg Salem (Jr., 5-10, 220, QB); Shane Stump, Thomas Jefferson (Jr., 6-1, 200, QB)

Keep an eye on: Max Shaw, Thomas Jefferson (Sr., 6-0 190, RB)

Momentum: Thomas Jefferson. The Jaguars try to stay perfect heading into their regular-season finale battle for first place at West Mifflin.

Four downs: 1. Greensburg Salem had five different players score touchdowns in the win against Ringgold. 2. Thomas Jefferson has allowed 48 points all season. 3. Greensburg Salem needs one win in its next two games to clinch its first playoff berth since 2009. 4. Thomas Jefferson has scored 45 points or more in every game except a 36-14 win at Belle Vernon.

Class 3A

Tri-County West Conference

Central Valley (3-5, 3-2) at South Park (2-5, 2-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Eagle Stadium

On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: Central Valley 52, Hopewell 7; Aliquippa 55, South Park 7

Coaches: Mark Lyons, South Park; Marty Rieck, South Park

Top players: Ameer Dudley, So., QB/DB, Central Valley; Rudy Mihoces, Jr., RB/LB, South Park

Keep an eye on: Stephen Kmonk, Jr., QB/S, South Park

Momentum: Central Valley has won three of its past four games after starting 0-4. The lone loss in the recent stretch was a 45-6 setback to No. 1 Thomas Jefferson.

Four downs: 1. Central Valley can clinch a playoff berth with a victory. A loss, however, would open the door for South Park to qualify with a win and some help in Week 9, as well. The Eagles play at Quaker Valley next week. 2. Central Valley’s running game has been bolstered by Noah Thompson (245 yards) and Jaylen Guy (234). 3. Dudley has thrown for 773 yards and five scores and also run for 264 yards and five touchdowns for Central Valley. 4. Mihoces has run for 538 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the Eagles.

Extra point: Waynesburg (0-6) is the lone team in the Tri-County West that has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Class 2A

Allegheny Conference

East Allegheny (5-3, 2-2) at No. 1 Shady Side Academy (7-0, 4-0)

7 p.m. Friday, McKelvey Stadium, Fox Chapel

Last week: Avonworth 28, East Allegheny 14; Shady Side Academy 46, Fort Cherry 0

Coaches: Dom Pecora, East Allegheny; Chuck DiNardo, Shady Side Academy

Top players: Daniel Kasmier, Sr., QB/WR/LB, East Allegheny; Skyy Moore, Sr., QB/DB, Shady Side Academy

Keep an eye on: Dino Tomlin, Sr., WR/DB, Shady Side Academy

Momentum: Shady Side Academy remains undefeated and is averaging nearly 53 points per game.

Four downs: 1. The Indians have clinched a playoff berth and are in the hunt for the conference title, though Avonworth is waiting in Week 9. 2. East Allegheny can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Valley in Week 9. 3. Kasmier has thrown for three touchdowns and run for nine for the Wildcats. 4. Moore has thrown for 1,112 yards and 14 touchdowns and run for 875 yards and 13 this season.

Extra point: Tomlin has scored 16 touchdowns and has 18 catches for 644 yards for the Indians.

Class A

Big Seven Conference

Laurel (4-4, 3-2) at Sto-Rox (5-3, 4-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Sto-Rox’s Memorial Stadium

On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com

Last week: Laurel 35, Cornell 34; Sto-Rox 54, Bishop Canevin 0

Coaches: Brian Cooper, Laurel; LaRoi Johnson, Sto-Rox

Top players: Daniel Blank, Jr., RB, Laurel; Eric Wilson, Jr., QB/FS, Sto-Rox

Keep an eye on: Ahmad Pack, Jr., WR/DB, Sto-Rox

Momentum: Laurel has won two straight games, including a one-point win over Cornell last week.

Four downs: 1. Both teams remain in the hunt for a WPIAL playoff berth, but only the winner of this game will stay in that hunt. They are likely to be battling for a Class A wild-card spot. 2. Laurel is averaging 26.9 points while allowing 25.4. Sto-Rox, however, is scoring 40 points per game and allowing just 14.3. Blank has run for 669 yards and 10 touchdowns for Laurel. 4. Wilson guides the high-powered Sto-Rox offense, throwing for 2,228 yards and 31 touchdowns this season.

Extra point: Sto-Rox won four straight games after an 0-2 start. The wins included shutouts over Union, Chartiers-Houston and Northgate.