5 things to watch: Will Washington County teams continue to shine?
Washington County currently has three undefeated football teams across three classifications.
Two of those teams face stiff tests tonight, while the third has a game that’s a mismatch on paper, but Trinity proved last Friday that games are not won or lost on paper.
Fort Cherry (4-0, 7-0) will put its undefeated record on the line when it hosts Cornell (3-1, 6-1) in a Class A Black Hills Conference showdown.
Peters Township (4-0, 7-0) has a non-conference game at Class 6A Mt. Lebanon (1-2, 4-3), who isn’t having the strongest of seasons but will look for the upset in front of a home crowd.
Washington (3-0, 7-0) is at winless Charleroi (0-3, 0-6) but desperate teams often can be the most dangerous.
Here are five things to watch tonight:
1. Meet me in McDonald: Fort Cherry passed its first big test of the season two weeks ago when it defeated then-undefeated Bishop Canevin, 48-41. The Rangers host a one-loss Cornell team that suffered its first defeat last week at the hands of Bishop Canevin.
Cornell’s 21-13 setback doesn’t take anything away from what it has accomplished and Fort Cherry should expect a tough game.
Fort Cherry didn’t get much recognition outside of its own locker room despite a 5-0 start to the season, but its victory over Bishop Canevin definitely turned some heads.
The Rangers defeated Avella last week, and if they defeat Cornell they will have the inside track on the conference title. Watch the quarterbacks, Fort Cherry’s Matt Sieg and C.J. Jackson of Cornell, because the offenses run through those guys.
2. Can you be perfect?: Billy Bob Thornton, who portrayed the late Gary Gaines in the football film, “Friday Night Lights,” asks his team on the first day of camp if they can be perfect.
There is no record of Gaines saying that, but it makes for a great line.
I doubt Peters Township coach TJ Plack has used a quote that Hollywood directors and producers suggested, but the Indians will look to remain perfect when they travel to Mt. Lebanon tonight.
Peters Township’s defense has been the story of the season, as it has not allowed more than seven points in any game.
Moon had a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter aginst the Indians last week, but PT battled back and dominated the second half to win, 40-7.
Tonight’s game and next week’s against Canon-McMillan are non-conference contests for Peters Township, but the regular-season finale against Bethel Park (2-0, 3-4) will be for the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference championship if both teams enter undefeated in conference play.
3. Desperate times call for desperate measures: Wash High will be a huge favorite tonight when it travels to Charleroi, but don’t expect the Cougars to roll over and let the Prexies walk all over them.
Charleroi is having a tough year in Tyler Aeschbacher’s first season as head coach, but Aeschbacher brings a fresh perspective to the program and is one of the bright young minds in the WPIAL among coaches. It might take a few years, but the Cougars will improve if Aeschbacher and his staff are given some time.
Wash High has too much horsepower for Charleroi, but you can never count out a team and games are not won on records or reputation.
4. Avoid a letdown: Speaking of not letting records or reputations impact who wins or loses, Trinity stunned previously undefeated Thomas Jefferson 23-6 last week in the Class 4A Big Seven Conference.
Not many outside the Hillers’ locker room believed they had a chance against the mighty Jaguars, but kudos to the Hillers for defying the odds and posting the program’s most impressive win in years.
Trinity travels to Laurel Highlands tonight to face a Mustangs team that is struggling, but the Hillers can’t let the excitement of defeating a perennial power last week get in the way of the task at hand.
A Trinity win, combined with wins by Latrobe over Connellsville and Thomas Jefferson over Ringgold, would clinch a playoff berth for the Hillers.
5. Honoring fallen player: Jefferson-Morgan will be celebrating Homecoming tonight and the Rockets have a key conference game with Monessen.
The Rockets are 3-1 in the Class A Tri-County South Conference and a victory would put them in a good position for the playoffs.
The Greyhounds are in must-win mode and would will likely be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss, but Jefferson-Morgan and Monessen have demonstrated that there are more important things in life than football.
Both the Rockets and Greyhounds have been wearing a No. 53 decal on their helmets all season in memory of Amari Altomore, who was shot and killed last November. Altomore was a two-way lineman at Monessen.
The idea for the helmet decal came from J-M player Nickolas Reha, whose mother, Dawn, is best friends with Bethany Altomore, Amari’s mother.
“Their motto is, ‘No matter the jersey, we’re all one team,'” Dawn Reha said.
There will be a pregame ceremony at Parker Field to remember Altomore.