WPIAL Football Capsules
Defending WPIAL Class AA champion Washington will try to make another deep playoff run as the sixth seed this season.
charleroi helmet
Canon-McMillan at Mt. Lebanon
Records: Canon-McMillan is 4-5, Mt. Lebanon is 5-5
Class: 6A
Who to watch: Canon-McMillan’s Josh O’Hare ran wild when these two teams played in the first week of the regular season with 16 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns. The problem for the Big Macs was they couldn’t stop Mt. Lebanon quarterback Seth Morgan, who threw for 337 yards and four touchdowns in the 43-29 victory to open Quad County Conference play.
Noteworthy: It has been big plays that have decimated Canon-McMillan in previous matchups with the Blue Devils. In the last three meetings, Mt. Lebanon has scored eight touchdowns of 40 yards or more against the Big Macs, including four during Week 1. … In Week 1, the two teams were tied at 7-7 at halftime. … It’s the first time Canon-McMillan has been in the postseason since 2008. … Mt. Lebanon enters Friday night riding a two-game winning streak, hanging on for a late victory over Norwin and knocking off Central Catholic in the final week of the season.
Armstrong at Peters Township
Records: Armstrong is 5-5, Peters Township is 8-2
Class: 5A
Who to watch: The connection between Peters Township quarterback Logan Pfeuffer and Josh Casilli has put the Indians’ offense at another level this season. In Pfeuffer’s last four games, he has 13 touchdown passes and only 18 incompletions. Casilli, his favorite target this season, has 41 receptions for 717 yards and 15 total touchdowns. Running a spread offense, Armstrong quarterback Jalen Price makes the River Hawks’ offense go with his legs by following a decent sized offensive line. Price has over 700 rushing yards on the season.
Noteworthy: A four-game losing streak in the middle of the season put Armstrong’s playoff hopes in limbo. It won its last two games of the regular season to earn a berth in the postseason. … Against common opponents – North Hills and Chartiers Valley – Peters Township is 2-0 and Armstrong is 0-2. … The River Hawks are 0-3 against teams with winning records. … Peters Township is on its first four-game winning streak since 2010. … This is the first time the Indians have made the postseason in back-to-back years since 2012 and 2013.
Greensburg Salem at South Fayette
Records: Greensburg Salem is 4-6, South Fayette is 9-1
Class: 4A
Who to watch: South Fayette wide receiver Mike Trimbur has been the go-to receiver for the Lions’ offense this season. He has at least one touchdown in eight straight games and 14 for the year. Trimbur, who orally committed to Cornell, has 41 receptions for 809 yards, averaging 19.7 yards per catch. For Greensburg Salem, the defensive line created some havoc in the Lions’ backfield when they played in a non-conference game earlier in the season. Greensburg Salem sacked South Fayette quarterback Jamie Diven four times, the most he was sacked all season.
Noteworthy: The offensive line for South Fayette has continued to improve and protect Diven, the first-year quarterback, throughout the season. In the last five games, he has yet to be sacked. Diven has completed 126 of 203 passes for 2,373 yards and 35 touchdowns. … In South Fayette’s 51-28 victory over Greensburg Salem in Week 3, Joe Rossi’s Lions jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Andrew Franklin and RayQuin Glover combined for 208 yards rushing in the win.
Beaver at Belle Vernon
Records: Beaver is 7-3, Belle Vernon is 8-1
Class: 4A
Who to watch: Belle Vernon senior running back Mason Pascoe will have even heavier shoulders entering the playoffs for the Leopards. Pascoe, who has been a workhorse for the Leopards this season, has 154 carries for 1,581 yards and 20 touchdowns. Beaver is paced by quarterback Brodie List and running back Gino Mavero, who is averaging roughly five yards per carry.
Noteworthy: Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert continues to make the Leopards a threatening team every season. Each season Humbert has been at the helm – he was hired in 2014 – Belle Vernon has made the playoffs. … The Leopards have won seven straight games since their loss to Thomas Jefferson in Week 2. They have surrendered only 47 points in that winning streak. … Beaver’s two losses this season were against South Fayette, 35-7, and Blackhawk, 14-13, in regular season finale.
East Allegheny at Burgettstown
Records: East Allegheny is 6-4, Burgettstown is 9-0
Class: 2A
Who to watch: It will be a battle of dual-threat quarterbacks. Junior Jake Lounder is the leading rusher for Burgettstown with 580 yards. He has thrown for 340 yards. East Allegheny quarterback Daniel Kasmier will test the Blue Devils’ stifling defense, which gives up 4.8 points per game, through the air. Kasmier has completed 81 of 131 passes for 1,189 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has also ran for 468 yards and 10 scores.
Noteworthy: East Allegheny has only defeated one team with a winning record (Beth-Center), but the Wildcats have played a brutal schedule. In a conference with Shady Side Academy, Steel Valley and Avonworth, three teams that combined for only four losses all season, the Wildcats also had non-conference games against Beth-Center and Jeannette. …Burgettstown ended a 40-year playoff win drought with a thrilling 31-28 victory over Neshannock in last year’s first round.
Riverside at Charleroi
Records: Riverside is 6-3, Charleroi is 8-1
Class: 2A
Who to watch: The two-headed attack for Riverside a pair of returning starters at quarterback and running back. Ben Hughes, the leader taking snaps for Panthers, has completed 60 of 109 passes 903 yards and 13 touchdowns. Lamarcus Cleckley is nearing a 1,000-yard season. Cleckley has 134 carries for 917 yards, averaging 6.8 per carry. Charleroi quarterback Geno Pellegrini became in the 15th passer in WPIAL history eclipsed 6,000 yards in the Cougars’ regular season finale against Apollo-Ridge. He has thrown for 1,668 yards this season.
Noteworthy: Could this be the year Charleroi wins a playoff game? The Cougars have waiting a long time – 20 years – since doing so. Their last playoff win was against another Beaver County team, a 19-13 win over Beaver in 1998. It looked promising entering last year’s playoffs, but they were upset by 12th-seeded Avonworth, 21-12 in the first round. … Charleroi’s only loss of the season was by one-point to Beth-Center. … Despite having six wins, Riverside is winless against teams with a winning record (0-3).
New Brighton at Washington
Records: New Brighton is 5-5, Washington is 9-1
Class: 2A
Who to watch: One of what seems like very few Prexies to remain healthy is offensive weapon Dan Walker Jr. The senior wide receiver and safety has helped stabilize the walking-wounded backfield for Washington. He is also lining up at various spots on defense, mostly at linebacker. Walker Jr. has 28 receptions for 549 yards and nine touchdowns. New Brighton quarterback Jackson Hall has put together a solid season, completing nearly 56 percent of his passes (81 for 145) with 10 touchdowns.
Noteworthy: It’s a good first-round matchup for Washington because New Brighton doesn’t have a running game, which is something the Prexies’ defense has had a difficult time stopping. Wash High has allowed opponents to run for at least 290 yards on the ground four times this season. … New Brighton won its final three games to earn a playoff berth after losing four of five to begin the season. The Lions are 1-5 against teams that qualified for the postseason. … It is the first time New Brighton has made the playoffs since 2015, only winning two games in each of the last two seasons. … If Washington wins, and Steel Valley defeats Beth-Center, it will set up a rematch of the 2017 WPIAL Class AA championship game.
McGuffey at South Side Beaver
Records: McGuffey is 8-2, South Side Beaver is 7-3
Class: 2A
Who to watch: The scoring leader in the WPIAL, McGuffey’s Christian Clutter, continues to have a do-it-all season for the Highlanders. The senior wingback has 111 carries for 1,282 yards and 25 rushing touchdowns. Clutter has eight touchdown receptions and multiple scores on defense and special teams. The most productive of the several running backs used by South Side Beaver is Jake Botkin, who primarily lines up as the fullback in its double-wing formation. Botkin has 193 carries for 1,266 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Noteworthy: These teams line up in the same offensive formations but the variations of play calls couldn’t be more different. One thing is for certain, they both want to run the football. In 10 games, South Side Beaver runs the ball on 84 percent of its plays (42 carries per game). McGuffey throws the ball fewer than 10 times per game. … The Highlanders are the lower seed but have a better record.
Beth-Center at Steel Valley
Records: Beth-Center is 7-3, Steel Valley is 8-1
Class: 2A
Who to watch: Steel Valley have a pair of running backs to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. Todd Hill, an oral commit to Howard University, has amassed 1,228 yards on 93 carries (13.2 per touch) and 23 touchdowns. Hill is also an outstanding linebacker for the Ironmen. Kam Williams is the their leading rusher with 1,318 yards. He leads the team in receptions (16). For Beth-Center, senior quarterback Bailey Lincoski continues to do it on the ground and in the air. For the second consecutive season, Lincoski has eclipsed 1,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing.
Noteworthy: It was very possible Steel Valley could have inched ahead of Burgettstown for the second seed with how it ended the season. After losing to Shady Side Academy in Week 3, the Ironmen have won six straight games and outscored those opponents 296-44. … Beth-Center must protect the ball to win. In 10 games, the Bulldogs have lost 14 fumbles and thrown five interceptions. … In the last four years, Steel Valley’s three losses were to undefeated teams at the time the games were played (twice to South Fayette in 2015, Washington in 2017 and Shady Side Academy this season).
Rochester at West Greene
Records: Rochester is 9-1, West Greene is 7-3
Class: A
Who to watch: West Greene running back Ben Jackson is drawing the questionable tag for the first-round game. Jackson exited the Pioneers’ Week 7 non-conference game against Clairton in the second quarter with an injury, which was later found to be a hairline fracture in his tibia. He has’t played since. Jackson was on a torrid pace through 6½ games, running for 1,454 yards and 24 touchdowns. Noah Whiteleather leads the run-heavy offense for Rochester with 200 carries for 1,552 yards and 21 total touchdowns.
Noteworthy: It’s back-to-back years these two teams will meet in the first round. Rochester handily won 39-14 last season, another game Jackson missed because of an injury. … The only team to defeat Rochester was Our Lady of Sacred Heart in Week 3. The Rams have scored at least 40 points in four of their last six victories. … West Greene won the coin toss to split the three-way tie atop the Tri-County South standings. … The game will be played at Waynesburg High School because of poor field conditions at Kennedy Field.
California at Clairton
Records: California is 6-4, Clairton is 8-1
Class: A
Who to watch: After narrowing down his college decision to five schools – Robert Morris, Youngstown State, Eastern Kentucky, Albany and The Citadel – earlier in the week, Jelani Stafford will need a big night to continue California’s season. The bruising running back has 915 yards and 13 touchdowns on 93 carries. To try and prevent Clairton from loading the box on defense, Trojans’ quarterback Austin Grillo (28 of 53 for 568 yards) will be important. Grillo’s counterpart, Brendan Parsons, spreads the ball to a roster filled with skill for Clairton. He is 54 for 101 with 1,033 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Noteworthy: The lone loss for Clairton came in the final week of the season to Jeannette, 21-6. … A win for Clairton would send it to the semifinals for the 13th straight year. … California lost four of its first five games to start the season. The Trojans have then rattled off five straight victories, which were needed to clinch a share of the Tri-County South Conference. They are 1-3 against teams to qualify for the postseason. … The game will be played at Elizabeth Forward High School because of poor field conditions at Neil C. Brown Stadium.
Monessen at Jeannette
Records: Monessen is 7-2, Jeannette is 10-0
Class: A
Who to watch: A three-headed monster of Seth Howard, Marcus Barnes and Imani Saunders lead top-seeded Jeannette into the playoffs. Howard, the Jayhawks’ quarterback, has completed 72 of 137 passes for 1,222 yards and 13 touchdowns. Barnes, a receiver, has 27 catches for 521 yards. Sanders, the team’s leading rusher, has 571 yards on 91 carries. Vaughn Taylor is the biggest offensive threat for Monessen.
Noteworthy: Undoubtedly the best Class A team throughout the regular season, Jeannette went through a difficult schedule unscathed. The Jayhawks, who are defending PIAA champions, were 5-0 against teams that qualified for the postseason. Their smallest margin of victory was 15 points and have allowed the fewest points per game in the classification (6.4). … Monessen fell from a share of the Tri-County South title to the eighth and final seed in the playoffs. … Both teams have had issues with penalties throughout the season. … The game will be played at Hempfield Area High School because of poor field conditions at McKee Stadium.