Championship Saturday Preview
By Don Rebel
CLASS 'A' CHAMPIONSHIP: MONACA vs SOUTH SIDE BEAVER:
This game takes place on Saturday morning at 10am at Three Rivers Stadium
and can be heard on WLSW-FM 103.9, WMBA-AM 1460, WOHI-AM 1490 and the
Nauticom Sports Network.
Both teams come from the Big Nine Conference. The Indians finished in
third place with a record of 7-2, while the Rams won the conference
championship with a perfect 9-0 record.
In the first round of the playoffs, Monaca crushed Duquesne 50-6. In the
quarterfinals, they knocked off previously undefeated Monessen 29-6. Then
last week in a semifinal game played at West Mifflin High School, they
knocked off South Fayette 34-17 to advance to the finals for the second
straight season.
The Indians used a power running game to beat the Lions. Todd DiBacco
rushed for 206 yards on 26 carries and scored on runs of 5, 50 and
68-yards. Matt Phillips chipped in with 74 yards on 20 carries and he
scored twice, once on a one yard run for the Indians first points of the
night, the other score came when he returned an errant South Fayette snap
10-yards for the final score of the game. Monaca took a 14-3 lead into
halftime, and the Lions could not pull any closer.
In the first round of the playoffs, South Side Beaver destroyed California
53-0. In the quarterfinals, they knocked off Riverview 43-16. In the
semifinals last week at Hampton High School, S.S.B. used a huge offensive
explosion in the second half to eliminate Fort Cherry 44-18.
The Rams actually trailed at halftime 6-3 in a defensive battle through
two quarters. But that changed big time in the third quarter. South Side
Beaver scored the first two times they touched the ball in the second
half, then went on to score 28 points in the fourth quarter in
overwhelming the Rangers. Talented quarterback Sean McCune led the way on
the ground and through the air. He rushed for 70 yards and scored on a
touchdown run of 21 yards to open the third quarter, and was 6 of 14 for
127 yards with a touchdown pass that put the Rams up 16-6 at the end of
the third quarter. Dan Nale, who caught the scoring pass from McCune, then
scored on a 20-yard run, and Cory Boyd scored on runs of 1 and 8-yards as
part of the Rams big final stanza.
This will be the second trip to Three Rivers Stadium this decade for both
teams. In 1991, South Side Beaver lost to then fellow Tri-County North
member Rochester 20-7. Last year, Monaca nearly pulled off the big upset
before falling to fellow Big Nine Conference rival Rochester 24-18 in
overtime.
These two teams met way back in Week One on September 4th when the South
Side Beaver Rams upset the then #1 ranked Monaca Indians 22-6. Sean McCune
first scored on a 75-yard interception return for a score, then sneaked in
on a one yard run to put the Rams up 14-0 at the half. Midway through the
4th quarter, Todd DiBacco scored on a 12-yard run. The two point
conversion failed leaving the Indians down by eight. However South Side
Beaver countered with a drive that was capped off by Cory Boyd's 17-yard
scoring run. Monaca actually outgained South Side Beaver on the ground
203-101.
CLASS 'AA' CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: WASHINGTON vs WAYNESBURG:
This game takes place Saturday afternoon at 1pm at Three Rivers Stadium
and can be heard on WLSW-FM 103.9, WANB-FM 103.1, WOHI-AM 1490 and the
Nauticom Sports Network.
Both teams come from the Three Rivers Conference. The Little Prexies
finished in second place with a record of 8-1, while the Raiders were a
perfect 9-0 in winning the conference championship for a second straight
season.
In the first round of the playoffs, Washington eliminated the defending
champion Indians of Shady Side Academy 34-21, revenge for the Prexies who
were beat in the finals by SSA last year 30-12. Wash High then crushed
Quaker Valley in the quarterfinals 55-0. Then last week in a semifinal
game played at Mount Lebanon High School, Washington handed Aliquippa it's
first loss of the season, 14-12.
After being outplayed by the Quips in the first half, Washington only
trailed 6-0 after two quarters. The Prexies then turned to their big play
arsenal in the third quarter. Quarterback Brent Marsteller hit Michael
Sutton on a pair of touchdown passes, one from 41-yards, the other from
65-yards which put the Prexies up 14-6. Aliquippa pulled to within two
when Vashawn Patrick scored, but the two point conversion failed, and
Washington shut down Aliquippa the rest of the way. The Prexies won
despite the fact running back Jason Ellis played most of the game with a
separated shoulder, and fellow running back Larry Wingfield suffered a
dislocated shoulder.
Waynesburg started their playoff run with a 49-20 first round win over
South Park. In the quarterfinals, the Raiders won a tight one, 14-10 over
Center. Then last week, they advanced to the finals with a convincing 42-7
rout over Brownsville.
The Raiders scored touchdowns on their first four possessions. Quarterback
Lee Fritz scored on runs from 4-yards and 7-yards and Bryce Cree scored
touchdowns on runs of 15-yards and 3-yards as Waynesburg built a 28-0
halftime lead. Fritz then scored on an 8-yard run, and Sam McLaughlin
returned a punt 45-yards for a score as the Raiders coasted to the 35
point victory. Lanfer Simpson rushed for 128-yards on 14 carries, while
Fritz ended up 8 of 10 for 197-yards passing.
Washington's only loss of the season came at home to Waynesburg in the
final game of the regular season 25-7. With the game tied 7-7 at the half,
Simpson scored twice in the third quarters on a pair of 30-yard runs.
Fritz, who scored in the first half on a 1-yard run, hit Brandon Baker for
a 10-yard touchdown giving the Raiders their second straight Three Rivers
Conference championship.
This is Waynesburg's first trip to the finals, while Washington is making
it's fifth journey to the championship game in the last ten years. In
1990, they fell to Canevin 21-20, in 1995, they lost in the first ever
WPIAL Championship overtime game 15-14 to Burrell, then last year they
fell to Shady Side Academy. In 1993, the Little Prexies beat Riverside
12-7.
CLASS 'AAA' CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: BELLE VERNON vs WEST ALLEGHENY:
This game takes place Saturday afternoon at 4pm and can be heard on
WLSW-FM103.9, WOHI-AM1490 and the Nauticom Sports Network.
Both teams are undefeated conference champions. The Leopards were winners
of the Keystone Conference at 9-0, while the Indians were champions of the
Parkway Conference at 9-0.
After a first round bye, Belle Vernon crushed Pine-Richland in the
quarterfinals 55-12. They then knocked off a gutsy Elizabeth Forward team
in the semifinals 28-0.
Playing without star running back Pat Risha, Elizabeth Forward kept it
scoreless until they missed a field goal late in the second quarter. Belle
Vernon then drove down the field thanks to the power running of Nick
Kalcevic. Kalcevic capped the drive with a two yard touchdown run. Three
big plays in the second half put it away for the Leopards. Josh Cramer hit
Ryan Russell for a 61-yard touchdown strike on Belle Vernon's first
possession of the second half. Russell struck again when he returned a
punt 75-yards for a score. Kalcevic capped the scoring early in the fourth
quarter when he scored on a 98-yard touchdown run.
After a first round bye for West Allegheny, they needed a last second
field goal from Derek Javarone to beat West Mifflin 10-7 in the
quarterfinals. Then in last weeks semifinal game at Three Rivers Stadium,
the Indians struck early and blanked Thomas Jefferson 17-0.
On the first play from scrimmage, Allen Miller raced 50-yards for a
touchdown, and WA never looked back. In the second quarter, quarterback
Tyler Palko scored from a yard out, and then Javarone booted a 33-yard
field goal in the third quarter to wrap up the scoring.
Both teams are looking for the second WPIAL championship. The Leopards
beat Franklin Regional 22-6 in the 1995 'AAA' championship game. The
Indians knocked off Brownsville 51-24 to win the 'AAA' title in 1997.
Belle Vernon played for the title in 1996, but lost to Blackhawk 24-6.
CLASS 'AAAA' CHAMPIONSHIP: McKEESPORT vs WOODLAND HILLS:
This game takes place Saturday evening at 7pm Three Rivers Stadium and can
be heard on WLSW-FM 103.9, WOHI-AM 1490 and the Nauticom Sports Network.
Both teams come from the Quad East. The Tigers actually finished in fourth
place with a 5-4 record, while the Wolverines won the conference title
with a perfect 9-0 record.
In the first round of the playoffs, McKeesport shocked undefeated North
Hills 28-19. The surprises didn't stop there. In the quarterfinals, they
knocked off Penn-Trafford 40-24. Then last week, they advanced to the
finals thanks to a convincing 43-16 rout of Norwin in the semifinals at
Three Rivers Stadium.
McKeesport quarterback Cecil Howard has been dominant in the postseason.
His 65-yard touchdown run in the first quarter put the Tigers up for good
at 14-0. Howard, who ended up rushing for 254-yards also scored on runs of
69 and 48-yards. He also hit Jamie Goodwin on a 27-yard touchdown pass.
Asaad Allen chipped in a pair of touchdown runs for the Tigers from 5 and
51-yards.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Wolverines dismantled
Connellsville 47-13. Then it was back to back wins over the Quad West. In
the quarterfinals, they beat Bethel Park 35-14, then last week they
eliminated Mount Lebanon 42-21.
After spotting the Blue Devils a 7-0 lead, Woodland Hills scored the next
28 points. Mike Broadnax scored on a 7-yard run, then Maurice Walker
scored on jaunts of 23 and 3-yards to put the Wolverines up 21-7 at the
half. Quarterback Shawntee Spencer scored on runs of 18 and 20-yards, then
Curtis Hall wrapped up the scoring with an 8-yard run.
This will be the second trip to the finals for both teams this decade.
Five years ago, George Smith's Tigers won the WPIAL championship with a
21-14 victory over Upper St.Clair. Two years later in 1996, it was George
Novak's turn, as his Wolverines beat North Allegheny 22-15.
This will be the second meeting of the year between these two teams. Back
on October 23rd, Woodland Hills blanked McKeesport 21-0. Mike Broadnax
scored twice on runs of 8 and 11 yards. Rafael Smith returned an
interception 79-yards for a score in the fourth quarter to cap the victory
for Woodland Hills.
PIAA STATE PLAYOFFS: BELLEFONTE vs PERRY:
This game is a Class 'AAA' second round playoff game which takes place
Saturday afternoon at South Stadium at 1pm.
District 8 representative Perry comes in with a record of 8-3.
Bellefonte, out of District 5 & 6 is 8-4.
After losing in the City League semifinals to Oliver, the Commodores
bounced back with a 27-17 win over previously undefeated Greenville.
Trailing 10-0 before the half, Perry dipped into their back of tricks when
Damian Cornish lateraled the ball to Owen Macklin, who then hit Lamar
Griffin for a 45-yard touchdown pass. Despite the fancy score, Perry was
down 17-7 after three quarters, but Commodores exploded in the fourth
quarter. Cornish first hit Chaz Coleman on a 5-yard touchdown pass.
Cornish then scored on touchdown runs of 18 and 3-yards to put the game
away and propel Perry to the second round. Cornish ended up 11 of 16
passing for 207-yards.
Two weeks ago, Bellefonte beat Central Cambria 34-12 in the District 5 & 6
Triple 'A' championship game. Then last week they knocked off District 9
champion Clearfield 27-10 in the first round of the PIAA state
playoffs.
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