Trib HSSN don't miss high school football matchups for 2024 Week 7

Welcome to Week 7 of the high school football regular season and the start of the “Stretch Run” of the 2024 WPIAL campaign.

The Stretch Run is the time of year when conference championships are won and postseason berths are clinched.

A perfect example comes this weekend where there are seven head-to-head battles between undefeated teams for first place in their respective conferences.

They include Upper St. Clair at Bethel Park, McKeesport at Mars, Deer Lakes at Imani Christian, Southmoreland at Mt. Pleasant, Neshannock at South Side, Clairton at Leechburg and Fort Cherry at Bishop Canevin.

Here is a look at some of the top matchups for Friday in Week 7.

Class 6A

No. 2 North Allegheny (6-1, 3-1) at No. 5 Canon-McMillan (2-5, 1-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Big Mac Stadium in Canonsburg

Coaches: Art Walker, North Allegheny; Mike Evans, Canon-McMillan

On the air: Audio stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: North Allegheny 28, Mt. Lebanon 21; Seneca Valley 31, Canon-McMillan 30

Players to watch: Brady Brinkley, North Allegheny (Soph., 6-3, 175, QB/DB); Ty Jansma, Canon-McMillan (Soph., 6-0, 165, QB)

Team notes

North Allegheny: Last week was a big win for the Tigers program. First, they were bouncing back from their first loss of the season the previous week to Central Catholic, and second, it was a historic win for NA coach Art Walker in the same stadium in which his Dad collected victories and won championships. The seven-point win at Mt. Lebanon was career win No. 250 for Walker and victory No. 6 this season for the Tigers. Sophomore quarterback Brady Brinkley had a 6-yard TD pass to senior James Donaldson and a 63-yard touchdown run for North Allegheny. Junior Luke Rohan scored twice for NA.

Canon-McMillan: It may be a good thing this week to check the blood pressure of all the members of the Big Macs coaching staff after a third straight game literally goes down to the wire. After beating Mt. Lebanon in overtime in Week 5 and losing to Hempfield in OT in Week 6, Canon-McMillan built a 17-point lead only to see it melt away in a one-point loss at Seneca Valley. Sophomore quarterback Ty Jansma threw for 177 yards and a touchdown of 23 yards to junior tight end T.J. Sabatucci while senior running back Evan Morris scored three touchdowns for Canon-McMillan.

Historic factoids

• Canon-McMillan has never beaten North Allegheny in 11 previous meetings, including an 0-5 record in the WPIAL playoffs.

• These teams met twice last season. In Week 1, the host Tigers defeated the Big Macs, 30-6, as NA quarterback Logan Kushner threw for 80 yards and a score and ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Zach Welsh scored the lone Big Macs touchdown on a 4-yard run. In the 6A semifinals, North Allegheny rolled into the title game by beating Canon-McMillan, 49-7. Kushner threw for 104 yards and a TD and rushed for 125 yards and two scores.

• In their five WPIAL playoff meetings, North Allegheny has outscored Canon-McMillan 194-46. NA won 41-6 in the 2002 Class 4A first round and prevailed again in the 2019 6A quarterfinals, 48-7. The last three years, the Tigers have eliminated the Big Macs, 49-26 in the 2021 quarterfinals, 7-0 in the 2022 semifinals and again in the semis in 2023, 49-7.

Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference

No. 5 South Fayette (6-1, 1-1) at No. 4 Peters Township (6-1, 1-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Confluence Financial Partners Stadium at Peters Township MS

Coaches: Marty Spieler, South Fayette; T.J. Plack, Peters Township

Last week: Upper St. Clair 17, South Fayette 7; Peters Township 23, Moon 14

Players to watch: Drew Welhorsky, South Fayette (Jr., 6-1, 185, QB/DB); Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township (Jr., 6-2, 190, QB/DB);

Team notes

South Fayette: How will the Lions react to adversity after suffering their first loss of their season last week at home to Upper St. Clair, 17-7? An offense that had been averaging over 28 points per game in six victories was limited to only seven points against the Panthers. Junior quarterback Drew Welhorsky completed 11 of 18 passes for 180 yards and connected with sophomore wide receiver Alex Deanes on a 37-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the only points for South Fayette. For the season, Welhorsky is seventh in the WPIAL in passing with 1,401 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Peters Township: It was bounce-back time last week for the Indians after suffering their first loss of the season, also to Upper St. Clair, in Week 5. Peters Township trailed at the half but scored all 16 second-half points for a hard-fought victory at Moon. Junior quarterback Nolan DiLucia was 15 of 22 passing for 154 yards. Two of the Indians touchdowns were scored on short runs by senior running back Nick Courie while PT also scored on a 73-yard punt return by senior wide receiver Nick McCullough that tied the game in the third quarter.

Historic factoids

• This is only the seventh all-time meeting between these near-by schools. Peters Township has the lead in the series, 4-2.

• This will be the fifth straight year the teams have met in Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference action. The Indians have won all four clashes this decade, outscoring the Lions 129-38 in the four wins. Last year, Peters Township blanked South Fayette, 35-0. Nolan DiLucia threw for two touchdowns and also had a rushing score and PT teammate Vinny Sarcone rushed for two touchdowns.

• The last time the Lions defeated the Indians was 35 years ago when South Fayette won, 7-6. The first meeting was the previous year in 1988 when the Lions blanked the Indians, 7-0.

Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

No. 4 McKeesport (3-4, 2-0) at No. 5 Mars (3-4, 2-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Mars Athletic Complex across from Mars HS

Coaches: Matt Miller, McKeesport; Eric Kasperowicz, Mars

On the air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: McKeesport 40, West Mifflin 20; Mars 42, Knoch 7

Players to watch: Brady Eastman, McKeesport (Sr., 6-0, 160, QB/DB); Eric Kasperowicz, Mars (Jr., 5-10, 180, RB/DB)

Team notes

McKeesport: The school took time during homecoming weekend last week to honor the 1994 WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A champion Tigers on the 30th anniversary of their golden season. Then McKeesport went out and pounded West Mifflin for a second straight 4A Greater Allegheny Conference victory and a third win in the last four games. Senior quarterback Brady Eastman didn’t do much with his arm after an 0 for 2 passing effort, but he led the team in rushing with 109 yards on only eight carries, including touchdown runs of 30 and 4 yards.

Mars: Fightin’ Planets junior running back Eric Kasperowicz ran wild in leading Mars into a first-place tie with McKeesport following two straight conference wins. The quarterback-turned-RB rushed for 466 yards through the team’s first five games before rushing for 306 yards on 29 carries and scoring four touchdowns on jaunts of 9, 23, 21 and 12 yards in a victory at Knoch. Mars freshman quarterback Nate Walker completed 11 of 18 passes for 93 yards, including a 32-yard scoring pass to junior wide receiver Gabe Hein.

Historic factoids

• This is only the second meeting between McKeesport and Mars with the Tigers having won the first contest two years ago.

• The only other meeting between the teams took place in the 2022 WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoffs and it was all Tigers. Quarterback Jahmil Perryman rushed for 200 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns, plus he threw a 65-yard scoring pass to Caiden Holtzman in a 43-0 rout of the Fightin’ Planets.

• Within the last 30 years, McKeesport has reached the WPIAL championship game five times, winning gold in 1994 and 2005 while falling short in 1999, 2016 and in 2023. In that same time span, Mars has played for district gold twice, losing in the Class 2A finals in 1996 and 2002.

Class 3A Western Hills Conference

No. 4 Beaver (5-2, 2-1) at North Catholic (3-4, 2-1)

7 p.m. Friday, J.C. Stone Field in North Park

Coaches: Cort Rowse, Beaver; Chris Rizzo, North Catholic

On the air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: Beaver 42, Deer Lakes 0; Central Valley 46, North Catholic 28

Players to watch: Quay Cain, Beaver (Sr., 6-1, 190, RB/DE); Joey Felitsky, North Catholic (Jr., 6-0, 175, QB)

Team notes

Beaver: The Bobcats defense has apparently seen the light. After giving up 51 points in a Class 3A Western Hills Conference loss to Central Valley three weeks ago, the Beaver defense has pitched back to back shutouts in wins over McGuffey and Deer Lakes. The win last week was an impressive one as the Bobcats went on the road and handed the Lancers their first loss of the season. Senior running back Quay Cain rushed for 156 yards and scored three touchdowns on runs of 65, 33 and 28 yards.

North Catholic: It has been a see-saw season for the Trojans. North Catholic lost its first two games, then won three in a row before dropping two straight. Offense has dominated both losses, to Imani Christian two weeks ago and Central Valley last week. The teams combined for 76 points in Week 5 and 84 points in Week 6. Junior quarterback Joey Felitsky returned to the lineup and hit on 37 of 50 passes for 389 yards and four TDs, two of them to sophomore Will Waskiewicz of 60 and 4 yards.

Historic factoids

• This is only the fourth meeting between Beaver and North Catholic and the first since 1991. The Bobcats lead the all-time series, 2-1.

• The Bobcats beat the Trojans in back-to-back seasons in the early ‘90s. Beaver won in 1990, 14-0, then a year later defeated North Catholic in their most recent meeting, 41-14.

• The first meeting between the two produced the only win for North Catholic in the series. Fifty years ago in the fall of 1974, the Trojans knocked off the Bobcats, 34-8.

• Beaver won WPIAL gold in 1981 and 1982 while North Catholic’s lone district crown came 11 years ago in 2013.

Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference

Mohawk (4-2, 3-1) at Western Beaver (4-3, 3-1)

12:30 p.m. Saturday, Rich Niedbala Field at Western Beaver

Coaches: Tim McCutcheon, Mohawk; Ron Busby, Western Beaver

Last week: Mohawk 35, New Brighton 19; Ellwood City 26, Western Beaver 20

Players to watch: Bobby Fadden, Mohawk (Jr., 6-1, 165, QB/RB/DB); Jaivin Peel, Western Beaver (Soph., 6-0, 185, QB)

Team notes

Mohawk: The Warriors lost two of their first three games, yielding 83 points in the two losses. Since losing to Ellwood City in Week 3, Mohawk has won three straight games and has allowed only 33 points in those victories. Junior quarterback Bobby Fadden connected on 11 of 20 passes for 157 yards and a 12-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Jackson Chapman. The ground game was led by sophomore running back Cash Stratton with 94 yards and a touchdown.

Western Beaver: The Golden Beavers had a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference with a win at home last week against Ellwood City, but after falling behind, Western Beaver’s comeback attempt fell one score short. Sophomore quarterback Jaivin Peel was active, connecting on 32 of 40 passes for 300 yards and two touchdown tosses, one of 24 yards to senior wide receiver Chris Kirkland and the other of 38 yards to sophomore wideout Wyatt Sparbanie.

Historic factoids

• This is only the ninth meeting between the schools with Mohawk holding a slim edge with four wins. Western Beaver has three victories and there was one tie.

• The Warriors have taken the lead in the series with two straight wins, beating the Golden Beavers in 2022, 22-8, and then again last fall, 31-21. Mohawk also beat Western Beaver in 2018 and 1981.

• The Golden Beavers have one win in the last four meetings since 2018. They defeated the Warriors in 2019, 24-21. The other two wins in the series for the purple and gold were in 1982 and 1983 when they posted back-to-back shutouts by outscoring Mohawk by a combined 58-0.

• The first meeting between the two produced the only tie 44 years ago. Mohawk against Western Beaver ended in a scoreless tie in the fall of 1980.

Class A Black Hills Conference

No. 1 Fort Cherry (7-0, 4-0) at No. 3 Bishop Canevin (5-1, 3-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Dormont Stadium

Coaches: Tanner Garry, Fort Cherry; Richard Johnson, Bishop Canevin

Last week: Fort Cherry 35, Cornell 6; Bishop Canevin 42, Serra Catholic 0

Players to watch: Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry (Jr., 6-0, 175, QB/DB); Myontae Mott, Bishop Canevin (Fr., 5-6, 155, RB)

Team notes

Fort Cherry: The defending champion Rangers continue to win and do so impressively. Last week against a good Cornell team, Fort Cherry won one of its closest games of the season … by 29 points. Junior quarterback Matt Sieg rushed for 153 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown, plus he was 7 of 10 passing for 134 yards and three touchdowns to senior wide receiver Shane Cornali of 17, 42 and 18 yards for the Rangers’ 21st consecutive regular season victory.

Bishop Canevin: The Crusaders picked up their fifth consecutive victory and their second shutout in a row by blanking Serra Catholic last week. Freshman running back Myontae Mott is making a name for himself as he rushed for 134 yards on 11 carries and scored two touchdowns on runs of 10 and 5 yards. Senior quarterback Kole Olszewski completed only seven passes for 64 yards, but three of them went for touchdowns with one each to sophomore Justin Melvin, junior Damar Olds and senior Jayden Lindsey.

Historic factoids

• This is the 20th meeting between Bishop Canevin and Fort Cherry. The Crusaders have 11 wins and the Rangers have eight victories, including five wins in the last six battles.

• The Rangers outscored the Crusaders in Week 5 of last season, 48-41, handing BC its only loss of the regular season. Fort Cherry quarterback Matt Sieg had a monster game, rushing for 277 yards and scoring four touchdowns while throwing for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Bishop Canevin quarterback Kole Olszewski threw for 414 yards and five touchdowns. The Black Hills Conference rivals met again in the playoffs with the Rangers winning again, 33-21. Sieg threw for 110 yards and ran for 166 and five touchdowns.

• The semifinal last year was the third time the Crusaders and Rangers met in the WPIAL playoffs. Bishop Canevin beat Fort Cherry in the 2010 postseason, 14-6. A year later, the Crusaders topped the Rangers in the 2011 playoffs, 16-6, and Fort Cherry was a winner last November by 12 points.

Tags: Beaver, Bishop Canevin, Canon-McMillan, Fort Cherry, Mars, McKeesport, Mohawk, North Allegheny, North Catholic, South Fayette, Upper St. Clair, Western Beaver