With week zero tommorow, thought it was the perfect time to hear some predictions
6A: SHOCKER ALERT- I’m going with NA to win the Wpial championship. Heard some sources that PCC has some injuries to starters. If true, put all money on NA.
5A: PR- no other team really looks all that scary. PR should have the best line by a mile
4A: Aliquippa- never bet against arguably the greatest wpial football school in history
3A: belle vernon- again, no other school looks scary enough to knock them off
2A: Sto Rox- don’t really know, but their usually pretty good
1A: Union- nearly won the state championship last year. Bring back their best player
NA, check out a few teams from your area I found interesting in the June review/ranking. Looked like you were uncertain of AA.
2A STATE Preseason Top 10….6/8/23.
Here are teams to keep an eye on in the 2A Classification. There are a number of good deuces out there but not as many as last year with the classification’s power hitters graduating an inordinate amount of talented skill players. Here are a few examples. Historic powers or quality programs like Lakeland out of D2, Bedford from D5, Sto-Rox, Ligonier Valley, Beaver Falls, Neshannock and Keystone Oaks from D7 have all lost productive quarterbacks, and in most cases the entire backfield. Some of these more established programs are more likely to replace those losses. Teams like Bishop Guilfoyle and Steel Valley. But who knows as this is a write up meant more for disseminating information than ranking teams although I gave it a shot. Back in a few weeks with the 1A report.
2 Farrell D10 10-2
The big news out west in this classification is last year’s ‘outlier’ Westinghouse (14-1, Pitt City), who could have competed a few classes higher was wiped out with graduations. Combining that with Farrell returning big numbers should get them deep into the playoffs this year. The return many from the team that beat local powers Grove City (9-4) 46-15 and Sharpsville (9-3) 48-7 and 26-0 in the playoffs, while beating troublesome teams like Sharon and Slippery Rock, both 6-5. And they almost beat Ursuline (10-3, Youngstown) losing 40-38. For 2023 they return quarterback Kabron Smith (66%-1919, 22/6) and their running backs, Brandon Chambers (156-1026, sr) and Juelz Johnson (23-210, so). Three experienced receivers return although they graduated their leading receivers who accounted for 75 receptions for 1432 yards. The defense that is
always a team strength (13ppg last year) needs rebuilt but returns their top tackler Marion Norris (5-11, 205, sr) with 113 and six other co-starters with lineman Malachi Green (5-11, 320, sr), Harry Parker (5-11, 255, jr), Marcel Cheeks (6-2, 285, sr) and others. They open the season at North East (Erie) and Harding High in Ohio, then home to Grove City.
5 Steel Valley 12-1
The guys from Munhall know how to play football with a ten-year record of 85-26 and a State Title in 2016 where they demolished Southern Columbia 49-7. Two years later they advanced to the state semifinal losing to Wilmington. And they’ve been close the last two years with a 11-1 mark in 2021. This year’s team was again loaded, but not as loaded as Westinghouse who beat them in the State Semifinal 27-6. Quarterback Cruce Brookins was a talent, rushing for 1716 yards with 34 touchdowns and passing for 785 yards at 50% with a 7/1 ratio. He graduates. But last year’s freshman Da’ron Barksdale (5-9, 170, 4/5/80py, 12 games) and sophomore Antonio Brey (5-10, 160, 13/20/258py, 7 games) got time. They also return running backs Donald Barksdale (5-8, 160, jr, 86-927ry, 7/162py) and Quaron Pierce (5-9, 185, sr, 61/614ry) and experienced receivers. The line will rebuild around starter Michael Crist (6-3, 285, sr) and others including Joe Ketterman (6-3, 310, sr) and Rasaun Hough (6-2, 235, sr). The defense graduated some key parts in run stuffer Greg Smith (6-5, 315, 65 tackles), four linebackers totaling 282 tackles and two from the secondary. But, they worked in a lot of underclassmen, playing two freshmen, four sophomores and seven juniors who accounted for 391 tackles. So they’re experienced. Whether they can play at last year’s level allowing 9ppg is another matter. They open the season at Charleroi, home to Sto Rox then Seton LaSalle on the road.
10 Washington D7 7-5
Washington is one of those strong programs you hear very little about. It’s been awhile but they won a
AA State Title in 2001 at 15-0 defeating Pen Argyl (14-1, D11) 19-12, then a runner up trophy in 1993 losing to Dallas 31-7. The 2017 team at 13-2 lost in the semifinal to Wilmington 49-42. But they’re still piling up the wins at 128-32 since the last loser in 2008. This year’s team has good returns with Qb Logan Carlisle (57%-865, 9/0, jr), sophomore lineman Joe Wilson (6-3, 235), Rb Zach Welsh (506ry, sr), DBs Zxavian Willis and Reuben Gordon. Everyone plays both ways. Young as they were, they had their moments, rocking Greensburg CC (8-3) 55-27, Clairton (6-6, down year) 48-20, splitting with Serra Catholic (7-4) then getting edged in the playoffs 30-27 by Neshannock (11-2), showing good progress keeping that one close. Only Sto Rox (10-3) shut them down last year winning 36-0, although they
still averaged 41ppg. Some of their offensive point totals were 48, 49, 54, 55, 59, 61 and 62 points. The losses came against quality teams including Serra 7-4, Sto 10-3, Keystone Oaks 8-3, McGuffey 8-3 and Neshannock 11-2. This year’s schedule will test them early, opening at Monessen (6-5) then homers against Clairton (6-6) and Serra (7-4) before going back on the road at Greensburg CC (8-3).
