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Canon-Mac-Trinity rivalry still hot
When the WPIAL football playoffs begin, Friday's game between Canon-McMillan and Trinity will bear little meaning.
With the exception of potential postseason seeding, there's not much at stake when the Hillers travel to Big Macs Stadium for a non-conference game between two programs looking to impact their respective classifications.
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"I can't wait for August 31st," Canon-McMillan senior Zane Zebrasky said. "I have it circled on my schedule. It's going to set the tone for the entire season."
Zebrasky, a quarterback and linebacker, is one of several Division I prospects lining up that night.
He's received scholarship offers from Akron, Kent State and Division I-AA Liberty.
"Just look at his physicality," Canon-McMillan coach Guy Montecalvo said. "He's 225 pounds, strong like a linebacker and he has speed. He's improved his touch on the ball. He just continues to get better."
Zebrasky has made significant strides since the 2006 season opener - a game Trinity won, 34-21 - ans so have the rest of the Big Macs.
Running back/receiver Jeravin Matthews, who has run a hand-held 40-yard dash in 4.22 seconds, is headed to Northwestern on a full scholarship. Offensive tackle Jeff Bush is garnering Division I attention, as is sophomore linebacker Mike Hull.
The Big Macs are bigger, stronger and faster. They believe they're ready to challenge for a Great Southern Conference title and are more than prepared for Trinity, one of the favorites in Class AAA.
"We're very eager to get out there," Matthews said. "Knowing Trinity is first on the schedule is a great way to stay motivated."
The Hillers feel the same way about the Big Macs.
Sure, Trinity's Big Seven Conference home game against Thomas Jefferson on Thursday, Oct. 11 will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net, but, for some of the Hillers, the season opener means a little more.
"I'd probably have to say Canon-Mac is our biggest game," senior Michael Yancich said. "I mean half of Washington and probably all of Canon-Mac will be at that game. It's going to be packed and it doesn't get much better than playing in front of all those people."
Yancich is one of three Trinity seniors with a Division I pedigree. He orally committed to play linebacker at Penn State this summer, just weeks after fellow linebacker Andrew Sweat selected Ohio State. Brandon Weaver, who broke his wrist last year, has an offer from Ohio University. And Trinity, like Canon-McMillan, boasts several talented and able-bodied underclassmen.
"Brandon being healthy is going to help us a lot," Sweat said. "He's kind of like me. Off the field, we're both pretty mellow but on the field we play with a mean streak. He's a great player. If he didn't have that setback, people would know about him like they know me and Mike."
Friday night's game could field as many as 10 future Division I players.
The stands will be packed.
Tempers will flare.
All for a non-conference game.
"There's no doubt that the Canon-Mac game is huge. It means a lot," Sweat said. "We want to win but if we don't, we won't be hurting ourselves that much. (Thomas Jefferson) is a triple-A powerhouse. That's where we want to be.
"Deciding which game is bigger is a tough call. You can look at it from several different angles but losing to TJ prohibits us from making the playoffs a little easier."
