Sep 13, 2018 4 min read

Typically the five things we learned from the week that was is saved until after the weekend.

But as players from Beth-Center, West Greene and others had their football fields turned into ponds, and seeing the bathtub that is Waynesburg University’s John F. Wiley Stadium, one takeaway is not to put your field next to a creek.

Here is what to watch during Week 3 of the high school football season:

1. Trap games: Next week’s game schedule is what local football fans should be circling on their calendars.

But for the five remaining undefeated area teams, looking ahead to Week 4 could end up being a huge mistake.

I won’t go into coach speak about how the most important game is the next. But when you are in the situation of Beth-Center, McGuffey, Charleroi, Burgettstown and Monessen – the five teams with unblemished records – that statement holds true.

Honestly, none of the teams should face an extremely difficult task unless they play poorly. Four of the five are playing on their home fields. Four out of their five opponents have losing records. And four of the five have games that could determine a conference champion next week.

But those games won’t nearly matter as much if a slip up occurs tonight.

2. Finding the end zone: Scoring is up in the WPIAL and so are local players finding themselves near the top of that list.

Four local players – West Greene’s Ben Jackson, McGuffey’s Christian Clutter, Beth-Center’s Bailey Lincoski and Washington’s Dylan Asbury – are in the top 10 of scoring leaders in the WPIAL.

Jackson is third with 11 touchdowns. Clutter has 10. Lincoski and Asbury have seven and eight, respectively.

Look for them to add onto those numbers in Week 3 with three of their respective teams playing opponents without a victory.

3. Searching for win No. 1: Speaking of winless teams, when Ringgold travels to Hiller Field to play Trinity in a Big Eight Conference game at 7:30 p.m., one team will walk away with its first victory of the season.

It’s not a surprise that each team is looking for win No. 1 after last year’s rosters were decimated by graduation. Losing a combined 10 Observer-Reporter All-District players from a season ago, nearly all two-way players, has both teams looking for answers on offense and defense.

One bright spot of the season will come to one of these teams tonight.

Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels and Mapletown are also looking for their first win of the season.

4. A new 1-2 punch: This might be one of the most pass-heavy Washington teams in quite some time. The Prexies haven’t abandoned the run but have realized their talent at wide receiver.

Dan Walker Jr., and Zahmere Robinson have formed a nice combination on the outside for junior quarterback Zack Swartz. Walker is more of a deep threat with his size and ability to pull down passes in his direction. Robinson is more of a quick-twitch receiver who can do damage in space.

In three games for Washington this season, Robinson has 13 catches for 243 yards, averaging 21.9 yards per reception. Walker has hauled in 13 passes for 243 yards, an 18.7-yard average.

The two should have another big night when the Prexies welcome Brownsville for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

5. Not your typical practice week: With continuous rain over the weekend that caused flooding throughout the area, several teams were forced to adjust practice schedules and plans.

Some schools had to shut down because of flooded roadways. A few others weren’t able to practice outside early in the week.

It even affected tonight’s schedule with a Tri-County South Conference game between Mapletown and West Greene being moved to 7 p.m., Saturday, at Waynesburg High School.