Apr 27, 2016 8 min read

Planning has started for the Observer-Reporter’s preseason football tab and we’re only a month away from the completion of track season.

I hate to look ahead, but it’s difficult to not think about August and what to expect from the upcoming football season, particularly six classifications.

Those thoughts sparked a recent conversation I had with a former area football coach about six classifications. The first question is: does the expansion fix anything?

Well, let’s start by confronting the motivation behind the move. Everyone spoke of shortening the season and narrowing the enrollment gap in each classification.

Well, the largest 6A program is Reading in District 3, which has a male enrollment of 1,770. The smallest is Conestoga Valley with 564. The gap was a bit smaller in the last enrollment cycle, but it’s still too large.

When there was a movement for expansion a decade ago, the push was for five classifications, but not split evenly. Coaches from around the state wanted a super class that included programs with outlying enrollment numbers.

There was a push for that this time around, but it fell by the wayside. A super class would have solved that and sure, less schools would have been involved in the playoff format (requiring more work), but it would have solved the problem.

Also, with many WPIAL teams playing “Week Zero” games instead of a second preseason scrimmage, the regular season is now 10 games – one game more than last season. Sure, the state championships are a little earlier, but the season is far too long. The result of this move could be lower classifications that are watered down, especially in Class 2A.

I hope that’s not the case, but I’m already hearing plenty of talk about that classification being a three-horse race.

Before we even discuss who those three teams are, I’m ready to talk about the regular season and what games I have circled. This list definitely change after we learn of injuries or what teams actually have returning, but here’s a week-by-week look.

Week Zero

McGuffey vs. Frazier at the North Allegheny Kickoff Classic

There aren’t many games to pick from here, but this is a no-brainer. These two teams will play on a Saturday afternoon and both have a ton of talent returning.

What’s even better is the style of play. The Highlanders and Commodores are gritty, physical teams that win games by wearing opponents down up front. Frazier lost a bit in its front-seven, but McGuffey will be strong there.

I’m even more excited to watch the quarterbacks here. McGuffey’s Marcus Czulewicz can do it all and it will be interesting to see how Frazier utilizes its two quarterbacks. Its head coach, Mike Steeber, will find a way to get both Christopher Pierce and Hunter Patterson on the field.

Week One

Mars at South Fayette

This will be contrasting styles. Mars is big up front and methodically wears opponents down. South Fayette, on the other hand, could turn more to its spread passing attack with Drew Saxton.

The Lions have most of their line returning and a bunch of weapons in the passing game, but Hunter Hayes is gone. People will begin to appreciate just how good he was when they see South Fayette’s defense this season.

The program will rebuild and the pieces will come together, but there could be an adjustment period. Someone has to take on Hayes’ leadership role of that defense. A win over Mars could cement South Fayette as the team to beat in that conference.

Others to watch: West Mifflin at Trinity

Week Two

Frazier at Beth-Center

I know, two Frazier games in three weeks, but this is a classic rivalry and I want to see if Beth-Center can reload after losing Tony Welsh. Plus, the offense could look a bit different with Joe Kuhns as head coach. I expect the Bulldogs’ line to be better than last season and the defense should be better, but can it knock of Frazier?

The winner of this one could be the favorite to finish second in the conference. Yes, it would be a monumental surprise if Washington didn’t win it.

Others to watch: Chartiers-Houston at Bentworth and Fort Cherry at Greensburg Central Catholic

Week Three

Belle Vernon at Ringgold

This is the best rivalry that isn’t talked about enough in Washington County, but with Monessen’s program struggling in recent years, this is the best local game in the Mon Valley.

The Leopards lost some key pieces, particularly on the offensive line, but so did the Rams, who will miss Chacar Berry on both sides of the ball. Belle Vernon will still run the ball effectively with Mike Fine at quarterback, but Luke Durigon is gone after rushing for more than 1,000 yards.

Ringgold has one of the top quarterbacks in the area returning (senior George Martin) and we’ll get to see what the offense looks like under first-year offensive coordinator Brady Barbero. Brenden Small takes over as the feature back and will be ready to go after having off-season shoulder surgery.

The Rams also have several great options in the receiving game, but their biggest issue could be defense. It’s a young group that will be tested early.

Others to watch: Mount Pleasant at McGuffey, Washington at South Park and Canon-McMillan at Mt. Lebanon

Week Four

Frazier at Washington

I promise that my infatuation with local teams playing Frazier will die down a bit in August, but I can’t wait to get a sense of who is the second-best team in that conference.

My early guess is Frazier. Now, how big is that gap between the Commodores and Prexies? My guess is it’s pretty wide.

Wash High has more size, speed and depth on both sides of the ball. Frazier is so well-coached that it will make up for some of those short comings, but look for the Prexies to assert themselves as one of the top teams in 2A in Week Four.

Others to watch: Bentworth at Beth-Center, Clairton at Monessen and Elizabeth Forward at McGuffey

Week Five

Thomas Jefferson at Ringgold

Trying to project the “must see” game of Week Five in April is the equivalent of a seven-round NFL mock draft. It’s purely speculation, but why not have fun with it?

The Rams’ win over the Jaguars was one of the top games I covered in 2015 and that was magnified after TJ went on to win the WPIAL title. Oh, and you think Ringgold has a lot coming back?

Take a look at Thomas Jefferson’s roster. One of the WPIAL’s most electrifying players – Zane Zandier – will lead the Jaguars offense. I was not surprised at all to see Division I offers flying in for him.

If Ringgold is going to win a conference title, it will have to find a way to stop or limit Zandier and win up front. Both are massive challenges. No matter the outcome, Joe Montana Stadium will be packed for this one.

Others to watch: Chartiers-Houston at Beth-Center and Mapletown at Carmichaels

Week Six

New Castle at South Fayette

Speed, speed and more speed. This will be a fun one to watch. At least it has the potential to be. The difference will be the Lions’ offensive line.

Others to watch: Belle Vernon at Trinity, Wash High at Bentworth and California at Carmichaels

Week Seven

Washington at Chartiers-Houston

Can the Prexies stop the Bucs’ passing attack? Actually, the better question is whether or not C-H can give TJ Johnston enough time to find his receivers. Remember that Khalid Blount, Thomas Cherry and Nate Swart are gone from that Wash High defensive line.

Others to watch: Belle Vernon at Thomas Jefferson, South Park at McGuffey, Ringgold at West Mifflin and Carmichaels at Jefferson-Morgan

Week Eight

There are a few different ones here. Canon-McMillan is at Peters Township, Sure, both programs struggled in 2015, but both teams have exciting tailbacks in Bryan Milligan (C-M) and TJ Kpan (PT).

Also, South Fayette is at Highlands, West Mifflin at Belle Vernon and Ringgold at New Castle.

Week Nine

Derry at McGuffey

I’m a fan of running the football in cold weather. Both of these teams do that. Derry seems to be turning the corner and this could be a big turnaround season.

McGuffey, meanwhile, has a great group coming back. The Highlanders’ biggest question mark on offense is the receiving corps. It lost a lot, but they have numbers on their side.

Others to watch: Montour at South Fayette, Trinity at Ringgold, Beth-Center at Wash High and Fort Cherry at Jefferson-Morgan