Sep 23, 2018 4 min read

Mother Nature didn’t want last Friday night to end.

Though several local high school football teams were forced into early endings and delays, and others into Saturday, Week 4 of the season provided some clarity throughout most conferences. It caused even more of a logjam in one other.

Here are five things we learned from what was a busy weekend filled with bad weather.

1.Highlanders can play defense: It was at this time last year when McGuffey head coach Ed Dalton said, “I would throw the ball every play against us. I don’t know why anyone tries to run the ball against us. I’d throw every snap (against us) .If you watch our film, we can’t defend the pass.”

Dalton’s comments followed a 56-21 loss to a quality Elizabeth Forward team. It was a similar situation the Highlanders faced this past Friday night at Beth-Center – a game between two top teams in the conference. It was a much different result for McGuffey, which now sits atop the Interstate Conference standings following a win 48-14 win over the Bulldogs.

The intricate triple-option offense of the Highlanders is always going to give opponents fits, specifically because it’s a completely different defensive game plan that needs to be put in to stop it.

But the success of the McGuffey offense has been matched by an improved defense. Through five games, the Highlanders are allowing only seven points per game, which is a marked improvement from the 25.1 points they gave up last year. The only team allowing fewer points per game in Class 2A is Burgettstown (6.8 points).

The McGuffey defense will continued to be tested with Charleroi, the WPIAL’s highest scoring team, and Washington still on the schedule.

2. Conference cluster: Peters Township is doing what it needs to do while others at the top of the Allegheny Eight Conference beat one another up.

Upper St. Clair was by itself at the top of the conference standings before its 29-21 loss Friday night to West Allegheny. Now, USC and West Allegheny are tied with 3-1 records with Peters Township only a half-game behind at 2-1.

West Allegheny can separate itself from the pack this week as it’s the lone championship contender that plays a conference game, but if the three teams all win out there will be a three-way tie for the conference title.

The four conference games remaining for Peters Township are against Moon, Chartiers Valley, Bethel Park and Baldwin. The Indians play host Canon-McMillan Friday.

3. West Greene is in control: With a 24-6 win over Monessen Friday, West Greene has command of the Tri-County South Conference.

With only three conference games remaining – Avella, California and Jefferson-Morgan – the likelihood of the Pioneers winning at least a share of the conference title is very good.

West Greene has been in a rhythm both offensively and defensively in the last four weeks, outscoring its opponents 153-12.

4.Canon-McMillan’s playoff hopes: It wasn’t the start Canon-McMillan coach Mike Evans or the Big Macs envisioned. But with an 0-3 record entering last week, the Big Macs responded with a vital 20-14 win over Hempfield, keeping its playoff hopes alive in Class 6A.

Six teams qualify for the postseason and the Big Macs currently are sitting in seventh place. It could simply come down to C-M winning two of its final four Quad County Conference games to slide into the sixth spot. Though C-M has to play Pine-Richland and Central Catholic, it also has games remaining against Norwin and Butler. Win those two and the Big Macs could be in the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

5. Players of the Week: Marshall Whipkey – The McGuffey junior quarterback had 145 yards rushing, 82 yards passing and five total touchdowns in a dominating victory against Beth-Center.

Josh O’Hare – The senior running back started fast and finished strong with 191 yards and a touchdown to lead Canon-McMillan to its first win of the season.

Jonathan Wolfe – Leave it to a Wolfe to sniff out the end zone. The running back scored five touchdowns and ran for 104 yards in Jefferson-Morgan’s 46-13 comeback victory over Avella.