Football: WPIAL Class A Playoffs – Quarterfinal Preview
The WPIAL playoffs move onto the quarterfinal round Friday night. Let’s take a look at the matchups in Class A.
(All games are at 7:30 p.m.)
#1 Clairton (10-0) vs. #9 Brentwood (7-3) at Belle Vernon - Clairton has won four consecutive WPIAL Class A titles, three straight PIAA titles, and own a 56-game winning streak, including last week's 58-6 win over Frazier in the first round. The Bears claimed the Black Hills Conference and are the only unbeaten team in the bracket. The Bears have outscored opponents 489 to 68. Brentwood tied for third place in the Black Hills Conference and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 34-6 win against Springdale. The Spartans have outscored their opponents 318 to 148. Brentwood is making its fifth consecutive playoff berth. The two teams met in week six and Clairton won 42-7.
#5 Monessen (9-1) vs. #13 Neshannock (9-1) at Chartiers-Houston - Monessen placed second in the Black Hills Conference and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 48-19 win over Apollo-Ridge. The Greyhounds are making a seventh consecutive appearance in the playoffs and averaging 35.5 points per game, while allowing 21.6 per game. Neshannock finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Seven Conference and posted a 42-14 win against Jefferson-Morgan in the first round. The Lancers are averaging 40.9 points per game and allowing 16.5 per game.
#2 Sto-Rox (9-1) vs. #10 Union (7-3) at Mars - Sto-Rox, last year's WPIAL A runner-up, finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Seven Conference. The Vikings recorded a 40-7 win against Carmichaels in the first round. The Vikings are averaging 40.0 points per game and allowing 14.1 per game. Union placed fourth in the Big Seven Conference to qualify for the first time since 2003. The Scotties posted a 21-7 win over No. 7 seed Beth-Center in the first round. Union is averaging 28.4 points per game and allowing 16.9 per game.
#3 Rochester (9-1) vs. #6 North Catholic (8-2) at Dormont Stadium - Rochester finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Seven Conference and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 35-15 win over Avonworth. The Rams are averaging 29.5 points per game and allowing 11.2 points per game. North Catholic won the Eastern Conference to qualify for the sixth time in seven years. The Trojans shut out Bishop Canevin, 21-0, in the first round. The Trojans losses were to Northgate and Neshannock. North Catholic is averaging 24.2 points per game and allowing 11.4 per game.
(All games are at 7:30 p.m.)
#1 Clairton (10-0) vs. #9 Brentwood (7-3) at Belle Vernon - Clairton has won four consecutive WPIAL Class A titles, three straight PIAA titles, and own a 56-game winning streak, including last week's 58-6 win over Frazier in the first round. The Bears claimed the Black Hills Conference and are the only unbeaten team in the bracket. The Bears have outscored opponents 489 to 68. Brentwood tied for third place in the Black Hills Conference and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 34-6 win against Springdale. The Spartans have outscored their opponents 318 to 148. Brentwood is making its fifth consecutive playoff berth. The two teams met in week six and Clairton won 42-7.
#5 Monessen (9-1) vs. #13 Neshannock (9-1) at Chartiers-Houston - Monessen placed second in the Black Hills Conference and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 48-19 win over Apollo-Ridge. The Greyhounds are making a seventh consecutive appearance in the playoffs and averaging 35.5 points per game, while allowing 21.6 per game. Neshannock finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Seven Conference and posted a 42-14 win against Jefferson-Morgan in the first round. The Lancers are averaging 40.9 points per game and allowing 16.5 per game.
#2 Sto-Rox (9-1) vs. #10 Union (7-3) at Mars - Sto-Rox, last year's WPIAL A runner-up, finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Seven Conference. The Vikings recorded a 40-7 win against Carmichaels in the first round. The Vikings are averaging 40.0 points per game and allowing 14.1 per game. Union placed fourth in the Big Seven Conference to qualify for the first time since 2003. The Scotties posted a 21-7 win over No. 7 seed Beth-Center in the first round. Union is averaging 28.4 points per game and allowing 16.9 per game.
#3 Rochester (9-1) vs. #6 North Catholic (8-2) at Dormont Stadium - Rochester finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Seven Conference and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 35-15 win over Avonworth. The Rams are averaging 29.5 points per game and allowing 11.2 points per game. North Catholic won the Eastern Conference to qualify for the sixth time in seven years. The Trojans shut out Bishop Canevin, 21-0, in the first round. The Trojans losses were to Northgate and Neshannock. North Catholic is averaging 24.2 points per game and allowing 11.4 per game.
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