District 7: 1A-4A Semi Final Preview
Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs
Ethan Spozarski | November 17, 2023
After another round of playoff games, 1A through 4A will be holding their semifinal matchups this Friday. With that being said, here is your District 7 playoff preview.
Class 1A:
South Side (1) – After earning the top seed in the playoffs to their 12-0 overall record in 1A, the South Side Rams shutout the visiting Monessen Greyhounds 39-0. Led by running back Ryan Navarra who led the team with over 1,300 yards this past season led the way in a 48-21 win over Greensburg Central Catholic last Friday. The Rams will take on number four seeded Clariton this Friday and hopefully punch their ticket to Acrisure Stadium on the 25th to play for their first title win since 1999.
Clairton (4) – The Clairton Bears went undefeated in conference play but unfortunately fell twice during the regular season only to Westinghouse and Washington. The Clairton Bears are led by quarterback Michael Wright who threw for over 1600 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. Wright led the team to two victories so far this postseason beating Laurel 44-7 in round one and the Union Scotties in round two 18-6. The Bears will take on the top seeded South Side Rams to play in the 1A Championship game at Acrisure Stadium to hopefully win their 11th championship since 2006.
Fort Cherry (2) – Much like South Side, the Fort Cherry Rangers were the only other team in 1A to have an undefeated overall record. Led by sophomore quarterback Matt Sieg who rushed and passed for over 1,000 yards led the way to wins over Jefferson-Morgan 50-16 and Rochester 42-0. The Fort Cherry Rangers will take on the number three seeded Bishop Canevin this Friday at South Fayette high school. Kickoff will be at 7:00.
Bishop Canevin (3) – The Bishop Canevin Crusaders finished this season with a 10-1 record with their only loss coming to Fort Cherry. Led by quarterback Kole Olsewski who was only four yards away from 2,000 passing yards this season led the team to a round one victory over California 49-6 and a round two victory over California winning 34-8. With a win this Friday, the Crusaders can punch their ticket to Acrisure Stadium for the third straight year and second championship since 2020.
Class 2A:
Steel Valley (1) -The Ironmen continued their near-perfect season with a nail-biting victory against Western Beaver. Running back Donald Barksdale played a pivotal role in the Ironmen’s offense, showcasing an impressive performance with 41 rushes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. In the previous week, the Ironmen’s defense made a crucial contribution with a late-game interception. Looking ahead, they aim to extend their successful season as they prepare to face Mohawk, a team coming off a victory against Imani Christian.
Mohawk (5) – The Warriors are riding the momentum of a significant victory last week against the fourth-seeded Imani Christian. Quarterback Jay Wrona played a crucial role in the win, completing 13 out of 24 passes for 138 yards, securing one touchdown, and experiencing one interception. The defense has been outstanding in this playoff run, allowing only 12 points in two rounds of play. With their sights set on continued strength, the Warriors are gearing up to face a formidable Steel Valley team in the upcoming matchup.
Washington (3)– The prexies maintain their victorious streak, triumphing over McGuffey with a score of 18-7 in the second round. Quarterback Tristen Reed delivered a solid performance, completing 9 out of 16 passes for 107 yards and securing one touchdown. Eddie Lewis showcased robust running, tallying 102 yards on 11 carries with an impressive average of 7.5 yards per carry. The defense lives up to its reputation, allowing only 13 points in the playoffs thus far. With their sights set on a formidable Bever Falls team, which recently upset the second-seeded Neshannock, they aim to sustain their success in the upcoming matchup.
Beaver Falls (10)-The Tigers persist in defying expectations, pulling off a stunning upset by defeating the second-seeded Neshannock in a thrilling 14-13 victory. The Tigers’ offensive success was propelled by their running game, with Da’Talian Beauford making a notable impact with 28 carries for 139 yards and securing one touchdown. Contrary to prior perceptions, the defense demonstrated its strength by limiting a potent offense to just two touchdowns. Eager to maintain their surprising streak, the Tigers now face Washington, with the opportunity for a trip to Acrisure Stadium hanging in the balance.
Class 3A:
Belle Vernon (1) – After earning a first round bye, the Leopards were able to easily handle Deer Lakes, defeating them 49-6. Running back Quinton Martin, a Penn State commit who has scored 23 touchdowns this season, will look to keep the momentum rolling against East Allegheny. Martin and the rest of Belle Vernon are held to a high standard, as they won the entire PIAA 3A championship in 2022.
East Allegheny (4) – Like Belle Vernon, the East Allegheny Wildcats also earned a first round bye. In their first action this postseason, they ended South Park’s Cinderella story, defeating the 12 seed Eagles by a touchdown. Now, quarterback Michael Cahill and wide receiver Brennan Rutledge will look to be on the same page once again, as they will need to be in order to beat a powerhouse team like Belle Vernon.
Avonworth (2) – In terms of margin of victory, the Beaver Bobcats were Avonworth’s toughest challenge in the regular season, as Avonworth only won by five points. This was not the case in the quarterfinals, as Avonworth won the rematch against Beaver by 20 points. Now, the Antelopes can turn their attention to Elizabeth Forward. The young backfield of sophomore quarterback Carson Bellinger and freshman running back Dimitri Velisaris will play a huge factor in the Antelopes chances of advancing to Acrisure Stadium.
Elizabeth Forward (3) – Last Friday, Elizabeth Forward defeated West Mifflin for the second time in 2023. This upcoming Friday, the 10-1 Warriors take on the 11-0 Avonworth Antelopes. Quarterback Ryan Messina has limited the turnovers all season, and has thrown for 14 touchdowns. However, the Elizabeth Forward ground game could be the deciding factor, as running backs Charles Nigut and Jace Brown have rushed for over 1,300 yards this season. If these two runners can get going, Elizabeth Forward could advance to the 3A finals.
Class 4A:
Aliquippa (1) – The Quips defeated the Wildcats from Greater Latrobe in an unexpected tight game. The game ended with Aliquippa winning 37-29. Tikey Hayes continued his dominance with 136 yards on the ground along with a rushing touchdown against Latrobe this past Friday. With this win, the Quips keep their perfect season alive improving to 10-0 and will play Mars at North Allegheny High School on Friday for a spot in the WPIAL Championship.
Mars (4) – Mars defeated Central Valley by the score of 24-14 in their quarterfinal matchup. RB Evan Wright added to his WPIAL leading touchdown total by scoring two touchdowns against the Warriors. Mars improved to 10-2 on the season. Wright and the Fightin’ Planets will take on Aliquippa for a chance to play for their first WPIAL Championship in their football history.
McKeesport (2) – McKeesport defeated the Trinity Hillers by the score of 28-14 improving their overall record to 10-1. The Tigers put up 28 points for their second straight game with only 21 of those points coming from the Tiger offense, with the other 7 coming on a missed field goal returned for a touchdown at the end of the first half. McKessport’s next opponent, Montour, averages 40.3 points per game. The Tigers will have to wake up their offense to keep up with the Spartans along with their defense needing to continue their stellar season.
Montour (3) – Montour dominated the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars winning by the score of 51-21. AJ Alston of Montour racked up five touchdowns against the Jaguars with four of those coming from quarterback Jake Wolfe. The Spartans and their high scoring offense is set to face the McKeesport Tigers for a chance to play at Acrisure Stadium. The Tigers stellar defense has allowed an average of only 10.4 points per game. Expect the Spartans offense and the McKeesport defense to be the deciding factor of this game.
Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews
