Football: WPIAL Class AAAA - Quarterfinal Preview
The WPIAL playoffs move onto the quarterfinal round Friday night. Let’s take a look at the matchups in Class AAAA.
(All games are at 7:30 p.m.)
No. 1 North Allegheny (10-0) vs. No. 9 Bethel Park (7-3) at North Hills -- Two-time defending champion North Allegheny opened the playoffs with a 42-14 rout of Altoona. Josh Bergman ran for three touchdowns and Mack Leftwich passed for two others. It marked the ninth time this season the Tigers won by at least 25 points. Bethel Park traveled to McKeesport and won, 31-20. Levi Metheny and John Mascaro each scored two rushing touchdowns, while Zach Enick rushed for 147 yards. The Black Hawks have won six of their past seven games.
No. 4 Seneca Valley (9-1) vs. No. 5 Mt. Lebanon (8-2) at North Allegheny -- Seneca Valley had little difficulty winning its opening contest, scoring the game’s first 50 points in a 50-20 win against Hempfield. Forrest Barnes had a big game for the Raiders, scoring four touchdowns (two on runs and two on receptions from Jordan Brown). The Raiders, winners of seven straight, have scored at least 34 points in all of those games. Meanwhile, Mt. Lebanon raced to a 31-0 lead en route to a 31-7 win against Butler. Tyler Roth was 20 of 27 for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 2 Gateway (9-1) vs. No. 7 Woodland Hills (8-2) at Norwin -- Gateway was tested early in the first round against Peters Township, but the Gators pulled away in the second half to gain a 35-19 win. The Gators got three passing touchdowns from Thomas Woodson and two touchdown runs from Darin Franklin. Woodland Hills was dominated statistically in its 27-7 first-round win against North Hills, but the Wolverines benefitted from several key mistakes made by the Indians. Miles Sanders rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown for the Wolverines.
No. 3 Upper St. Clair (9-1) vs. No. 11 Central Catholic (8-2) at Baldwin -- Upper St. Clair moved a step closer to its second straight trip to the final by rolling over Kiski Area, 49-0, in the first round. It marked the sixth time this season the Panthers held an opponent to six points or fewer. Pete Coughlin passed for two touchdowns and added a rushing score. Central Catholic edged host Penn-Trafford, 30-27, in the first round. Luigi Lista-Brinza ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns. It was a rare mediocre showing by the Vikings defense, which has five shutouts.
(All games are at 7:30 p.m.)
No. 1 North Allegheny (10-0) vs. No. 9 Bethel Park (7-3) at North Hills -- Two-time defending champion North Allegheny opened the playoffs with a 42-14 rout of Altoona. Josh Bergman ran for three touchdowns and Mack Leftwich passed for two others. It marked the ninth time this season the Tigers won by at least 25 points. Bethel Park traveled to McKeesport and won, 31-20. Levi Metheny and John Mascaro each scored two rushing touchdowns, while Zach Enick rushed for 147 yards. The Black Hawks have won six of their past seven games.
No. 4 Seneca Valley (9-1) vs. No. 5 Mt. Lebanon (8-2) at North Allegheny -- Seneca Valley had little difficulty winning its opening contest, scoring the game’s first 50 points in a 50-20 win against Hempfield. Forrest Barnes had a big game for the Raiders, scoring four touchdowns (two on runs and two on receptions from Jordan Brown). The Raiders, winners of seven straight, have scored at least 34 points in all of those games. Meanwhile, Mt. Lebanon raced to a 31-0 lead en route to a 31-7 win against Butler. Tyler Roth was 20 of 27 for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 2 Gateway (9-1) vs. No. 7 Woodland Hills (8-2) at Norwin -- Gateway was tested early in the first round against Peters Township, but the Gators pulled away in the second half to gain a 35-19 win. The Gators got three passing touchdowns from Thomas Woodson and two touchdown runs from Darin Franklin. Woodland Hills was dominated statistically in its 27-7 first-round win against North Hills, but the Wolverines benefitted from several key mistakes made by the Indians. Miles Sanders rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown for the Wolverines.
No. 3 Upper St. Clair (9-1) vs. No. 11 Central Catholic (8-2) at Baldwin -- Upper St. Clair moved a step closer to its second straight trip to the final by rolling over Kiski Area, 49-0, in the first round. It marked the sixth time this season the Panthers held an opponent to six points or fewer. Pete Coughlin passed for two touchdowns and added a rushing score. Central Catholic edged host Penn-Trafford, 30-27, in the first round. Luigi Lista-Brinza ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns. It was a rare mediocre showing by the Vikings defense, which has five shutouts.
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