Five things we learned in Week 8
Each Monday we’ll look back at the highlights of the week that was in local high school football.
This week saw some important wins go down to the wire for Burgettstown and Avella, Canon-McMillan took care of business, Beth-Center continued to roll, Trinity will have a battle for a playoff spot and Waynesburg pick up win No. 400 before a showdown with Belle Vernon.
1. Down to the wire
A couple of wild finishes went the way of teams that desperately needed victories.
Burgettstown defeated Brentwood, 34-27, on a last second touchdown and Avella scored with 42 seconds remaining to thwart an upset bid from Mapletown, 18-14.
Not only were they thrilling wins, but big in the playoff picture.
Bryce Speer caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Blake Neal to seal Burgettstown win and put itself into third place, the final guaranteed playoff spot, in the Class A Black Hills Conference.
The Blue Devils will step out of conference and host Serra Catholic next Saturday for its annual homecoming game, but they’ll be keen to see what happens Friday night. Monessen plays at Bentworth and if Monessen wins then the Greyhounds, Bearcats will both have three losses behind Burgettstown.
If Bentworth wins, then they’ll play Burgettstown for third place on the final night of the regular season.
Avella has a similar situation brewing. Chas Rush threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Amaismeier for the game-winning score, which coupled with Frazier’s loss to Beth-Center, put the Eagles in sole possession of third place in the Tri-County South.
Avella has a tough matchup with co-conference leader California next Friday before playing Frazier on the final night of the regular season, which will likely be for third place and a playoff berth.
A hat tip to Mapletown too. The Maples lost 48-0 when they met Avella on opening night, but fought the Eagles to the bitter end in the rematch.
2. Takin’ care of business
It was a game that Canon-McMillan needed against a Norwin team that was wounded and the Big Macs did what they were supposed to do in that situation.
Canon-McMillan defeated Norwin 34-23 in an important Class 6A game.
The win puts the Big Macs in the drivers seat for a top three finish and possibly a chance to host a semifinal game.
Norwin was without standout running back Giovanni Rothrauff, who is out for the season with a broken leg.
The emergence of Bryce Collins at running back continues to be a big boost for the Big Macs. Collins, a national junior wrestling champion, rushed for 201 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns.
The Big Macs play 6A favorite Central Catholic Friday before finishing with Mt. Lebanon.
3. B-C stays unbeaten
On a couple of occasions the PA announcer at Beth-Center called standout running back, Enzo Brown, “Downtown” Enzo Brown after a big play.
Maybe his nickname should be En(d)z(one) Brown, because he surely knows how to find it.
Brown scored four touchdowns Friday in Beth-Center’s 48-24 win over Frazier, which kept the Bulldogs unbeaten at 8-0 and clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2018.
What was equally impressive was the Bulldogs’ defense, which forced six turnovers and picked off Commodores quarterback Brady Secrest five times.
Hunter Bobbs had two of the picks and returned one for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Beth-Center appears to be on a collision course with California for the Tri-County South title. The Trojans, who are also unbeaten in conference play, won 71-0 over Jefferson-Morgan.
4. An important Friday for Trinity
Trinity lost 35-14 to Allegheny Six Conference favorite Upper St. Clair, but got some good news thanks to Washington County rival Peters Township.
Peters Township upset West Allegheny 14-7.
That makes this Friday’s game between West Allegheny and Trinity an important one. The winner of the game will be in third place in the conference, which would be an automatic spot in the playoffs and the loser will have to rely on a wild card.
Trinity quarterback Owen Samogala, who committed to Richmond Sunday for baseball, was 18 for 26 passing for 239 yards on Friday. The Hillers will look for another big game from him against the Indians.
5. Extra points
Before its big showdown with Belle Vernon, Waynesburg got a milestone victory on Friday against Derry.
The Raiders beat the Trojans, 44-15, which was the 400th in program history.
• Ringgold continued to stay hot, winning its fourth in a row, 56-14, over Albert Gallatin. Nick Stasko and Demetri Lowe had three touchdowns apiece. If the Rams can beat Chartiers Valley on Friday, then they’ll host South Fayette for the Class 4A Big Six Conference title on the final night of the regular season.
Staff writer Jerin Steele can be reached at jsteele@observer-reporter.com