In the WPIAL, the top fours seeds advanced to the semifinals on Friday night. #1 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (11-0) dominated their opponent, Bethel Park, in every aspect of the game. In fact, this game was over before the second quarter started. QB Tino Sunseri connected with TE Quentin Williams on a 25 yard pass to put the Vikings up 7-0. The second touchdown came on a Tino Sunseri 2 yard run just eight minutes into the game. Finally, Tino Sunseri hit Andrew Taglianetti on a 99 yard pass that put the Vikings up 21-0 with less than a minute left in the first quarter. The Vikings would go on to win 38-6. On the other hand, #4 McKeesport (10-1) played a much tougher quarterfinal opponent in Norwin (7-4). The Knights gave McKeesport all they could handle in a great game that had to be decided in overtime. In overtime, FB Nico Price (151 yards rushing and 2 TDs) scored his second TD of the night to put McKeesport up to stay. On Norwin’s ensuing drive McKeesport’s J.J. Eckels forced a Mike Salopek fumble. The Tigers would recover the fumble and seal their spot in semifinals with a 35-28 win. McKeesport and Pittsburgh Central Catholic will meet for a chance to play for the WPIAL championship at Heinz Field. The Vikings’ are a dominating team on offense and defense. On offense, QB Tino Sunseri will torch opposing team’s secondary connecting with players like WR Emmanuele Matthews, TE Quentin Williams, or Andrew Taglianetti. However, they can beat a team on the ground with sophomore RB Jeff Knox or FB Dan Vaughan. On defense, defensive ends Quentin Williams and Dan Vaughan anchor the front seven while Andrew Taglianetti is a big time playmaker in the secondary. Don’t expect the Tigers to back away from their challenge. QB J.J. Eckels, FB Nico Price, and RB Marvase Byrd make up dynamic backfield that can beat a team to the outside with their speed or pound it up the middle. Expect the Tigers to pound the ball and try to control the clock. McKeesport will need their three headed monster to have a great game if they want to knock off the Vikings.

On the other half of the bracket #2 North Allegheny (11-0) will face #3 Gateway (10-1). On Friday, the Tigers knocked off Penn Hills (6-5) to punch their ticket to the WPIAL semifinals. North Allegheny never trailed in this game on their way to a 24-7 win. The Tigers ran for 206 yards and 2 TDs in the game and their defense was dominating as usual. The Tigers’ defense had 3 INTs and a fumble recovery in their win over Penn Hills. On the other hand, Gateway had a much tougher time playing the defending WPIAL and PIAA champions. Upper St. Clair led Gateway 14-6 in the third quarter and driving deep in Gateway territory at the 2 yard line. However, Cameron Saddler came through with an interception that changed the landscape of the entire game. The Gators wouldn’t score on that drive, but late in the third quarter the Gators would hit their stride. Sophomore QB Rob Kalkstein connected with junior WR Corey Brown on a 31 yard strike to bring the score to 14-12. On the ensuing Panther drive, Gateway’s Brian Williams picked off a Shane Brennan (11 of 21 for 242 yards and 1 TD) pass. Cameron Saddler would score on a 53 yard run to put Gateway up 18-14. Saddler finished with 188 yards rushing and 2 TDs on the night. Gateway would add another score and finish off the Panthers winning 25-14. The Gators and Tigers will meet next with a berth in the WPIAL championship on the line. This game will feature a dominating defense and an explosive offense. The Tigers’ will utilize their ground game led by Karl DeCiantis and Geoff Greco to step up the pass. North Allegheny will rely on their defense to contain the big play ability of Gateway. This season, North Allegheny’s defense has only allowed an average of nine points per game. If the Tigers want to win they’ll need to continue their excellent play on defense and continue their success on the ground. On the other hand, Gateway will need to get off to a much better start against North Allegheny than they did against Upper St. Clair. The Gators can’t give up an early lead to the Tigers because North Allegheny’s defense is too good. I expect Gateway to come out and try to establish Cameron Saddler in the running game. However, the Gators are by no means a one dimensional team. WR Corey Brown is another player you can add to the list of past and present Gateway player’s with division 1 offers. He has the talent to make people miss and the speed to run right by them when the ball is in his hands. I expect Gateway to get Corey Brown involved in the game early and often. This game will come down to the play of special teams.

The WPIAL is not the only district where the top four seeds have advanced to the semifinals. The District 2/4/11 regional will also boast its top four seeds in the semifinals. One game will feature #4 Wyoming Valley West (10-1) @ #1 Parkland (11-0). The Trojans come into the semifinals after beating Emmaus for the second time this season. Parkland defeated the Hornets by the score of 17-0 to record their 7th consecutive shutout. The Trojans held talented RB C.J. Billera to 53 yards on 17 carries. Parkland’s defense was once again smothering, but that has been the theme all season long. On the other hand, the Trojans semifinal opponent found themselves in a shoot out in the first week of the playoffs. Wyoming Valley West and Delaware Valley combined for 90 points and over 900 total yards in their game @ Wyoming Valley West. Matt Kolojejchick, a senior RB for Wyoming Valley West, ran for 383 yards and 7 TDs in the Spartans 48-42 win over Delaware Valley. At one point George Curry’s Spartans trailed 28-13. However, his senior RB responded with four consecutive TD runs of 45+ yards on four straight possessions to give the Spartans the lead. When the Spartans and Trojans meet next week you’ll see a clash of two great running games and two great coaches. Parkland’s coach Jim Morgans uses a running back by committee while George Curry will put it in Kolojejchick’s hands every chance he gets. Parkland has the advantage in the passing game and on the defensive side of the ball. QB John Laub and playmaker, WR Jaleel Clark, have the talent to give any secondary nightmares if their coach decides to stack the box. I don’t think Wyoming Valley West matches up well with Parkland. I believe Parkland will take care of business and move on to the District 2/4/11 championship. The other game in the District 2/4/11 semifinals will showcase #3 Hazelton (10-1) @ #2 Liberty (10-1). The Cougars knocked off a perennial playoff team, Easton, in their first week of playoff action. However, it took two overtimes to finish off the Red Rovers. The Cougars ran behind their stud RB Nate Eachus all night. He finished the night with 45 carries for 261 yards and 4 TDs. Hazelton’s Drew Orth connected on a 33 yards field goal to send the game into overtime tied at 22-22. In the second overtime Nate Eachus rumbled into the end zone for his 4th TD of the game. On Easton’s ensuing possession senior QB Zach Somogyi was hit hard and fumbled the ball. Hazelton recovered the fumble and clinched their spot in a semifinal showdown with Liberty. The Hurricanes, the two time defending District 11 AAAA champion, played in a much different game. Liberty beat up East Stroudsburg South on their way to a 35-0 win. Sophomore QB Anthony Gonzalez had another solid game throwing for 109 yards and running for 117 more in the 1st half. Liberty went into the break up 35-0 and the rest is history. Hazelton and Liberty will meet @ BASD on Friday. Hazelton will need to establish an effective running game led by Nate Eachus early in the game. However, senior QB Joe Kost (974 passing yards and 11 TDs) and his receivers will need to play more important role against Liberty than they did against Easton. The Cougars will need to establish a passing game or Liberty will stack the box and shut down Nate Eachus. Hazelton will need to sure up their pass defense. Easton threw for 172 yards against the Cougars. Liberty’s passing attack is immensely better than the Red Rovers, which could doom Hazelton. For Liberty to come away with a victory they’ll need Anthony Gonzalez to continue his great play. The Hurricanes can’t afford the young QB to make bad decisions that turn into turnovers. Hazelton’s offense is too strong to give them additional possessions to take advantage of. Liberty will also need to focus on shutting down Nate Eachus. If the Hurricanes can contain the running game and force Hazelton into 3rd and long, then the Canes will be at a huge advantage. Liberty has a very talented secondary and a strong pass rush led by LB Horvin Lattimer. This game will come down to turnovers. Whichever team turns the ball over the least has a good opportunity to come away with the win. This game will be close, but I like the Hurricanes to come away with the win.

Stunner

Downingtown East, the #13 seed in the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs, pulled off a stunning upset that will help put a smile on the faces of many people in a community that really needs it. The Cougars knocked off the #4 seed, Souderton, with a last second TD pass to advance to the quarterfinals. Last season, these two teams met in the first round of district play. Souderton won that game 42-14. This season, through three quarters of play it looked like the Indians would defeat the Cougars again as Souderton led 13-0. However, halfway through the 4th Downingtown East’s QB Pete O’Connor connected with Eddie Matta for a 4 yard TD. The Cougars would get the ball back again, but only 1:14 remained on the clock and the Cougars had to go 75 yards to score. Pete O’Connor led his team down the field with the help of some senseless Souderton penalties. With less than 20 seconds in the game Pete O’Connor connected with Derek McKinley, who made a great grab, to tie the score at 13-13. Derek McKinley would convert on the point after touchdown and put Downingtown East up to stay. This win was not only huge for the Cougars, but it was huge for the entire Downingtown East High School and surrounding community that has been grieving the death of Mohammed Daneshpooy, a Downingtown East football player, that passed away earlier in the year. The Cougars (8-2) will face the #5 seed, West Chester Henderson (10-1), again. These two teams met in week 10 @ West Chester Henderson. The Cougars lost this game by the score of 0-20.

No Longer Inferior

Recently, the tide seems to be turning in the District 3/6 scene. The Berks IC’s two AAAA football teams are putting Berks IC football on the map and giving the Mid Penn a run for their money. Last season, Governor Mifflin made it all the way to Mansion Park before getting knocked off in the district championship game by State College. Wilson West Lawn, a member of the Lancaster-Lebanon league and the only Berks County team to win in District 3/6 Class AAAA (1999, 1990, 1989), also made a run in 2006. They advanced to the semifinals before falling to rival Mifflin. Historically, the Mid-Penn has dominated District 3/6 Class AAAA winning seven consecutive championships and 18 overall. This season, Muhlenberg and Governor Mifflin lined up against two Mid Penn teams in the first round of district play. Going into the game #9 Muhlenberg was the underdog playing #8 Cumberland Valley. Surprisingly, everybody outside of Berks County seemed to favor the #14 seed State College over the #3 seed Governor Mifflin. When the games ended on Friday night Berks IC football finally got the respect it deserved. Muhlenberg beat Cumberland Valley 33-30 behind the 5 catch 142 yards and 3 TD performance by stud WR Vaughn Carraway. Vaughn also added a TD run and a 4th quarter interception that helped Muhlenberg finish off their comeback win @ Cumberland Valley. In Berks County, the Mustangs avenged their district championship loss from a season ago with a 31-7 romping of State College. The Berks IC finished the night 2-0 against a Mid-Penn league that many consider to be the “superior” league. Overall, Berks County football teams finished 3-0 against the Mid-Penn as #12 Wilson West Lawn knocked off #5 Altoona 7-6. This week, Governor Mifflin and Muhlenberg will strap on the pads and face another pair of Mid-Penn teams. Muhlenberg will play the #1 seed, Harrisburg, on the road while Governor Mifflin will host visiting #6 seed, Bishop McDevitt. Coaches George Chaump (Harrisburg) and Jeff Weachter (Bishop McDevitt) better not look past their Berks IC opponents or they may find themselves in the same boat with the other Mid-Penn teams that played the “inferior” conference in round one.