Week 9: ‘We made it’
Ram receiver Dalton Holt breaks free from Trinity defenders Nicholas Moretti and Robert West (21) in Ringgold's game against the Hillers on October 24 at Joe Montana Stadium.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Wash High's Jonathan Spina looks down the field to pass during the first half of the game.
It took nine weeks for three area teams to earn a spot in the WPIAL playoffs, thanks to pressure-packed wins Friday night. Chartiers-Houston got a field goal from Mike Cushma as time expired in a 31-28 win over Fort Cherry in the Class A Black Hills Conference. Avella clinched the fourth and final playoff spot from the Class A Tri-County South Conference by routing West Greene 62-15. It’s the first time Avella has had back-to-back playoff appearances since the 1970s. Waynesburg made it in the Class AA Interstate with a 28-19 victory over Derry.
Washington won the Interstate Conference championship with a 27-14 victory over McGuffey in front of a sellout crowd at McGuffey Stadium. South Fayette wrapped up the Century Conference title with a 40-21 win over Quaker Valley and Beth-Center polished off an undefeated regular season and Tri-County South Conference title with a 48-7 rout of Bentworth. The Lions have won 25 straight.
Trinity saw its hopes for a playoff berth ended with a 49-14 loss to Ringgold, which finished second in the Big 9 Conference. Mapletown, which finished third in the Tri-County South, beat Monessen in a non-conferene game. It was the Maples’ first win over the Greyhounds since 2005. Burgettstown finished the season with a two-game winning streak with a 28-7 win over Brownsville.