Tonight's live blog will come from the Post-Gazette Game of the Week - Ringgold at Belle Vernon. Follow along and look to the right for score updates, notes and photos from all games around the area, courtesy of @PGVarsityXtra on twitter. If you have a score, note or photo, tweet with #wpial and tag @PGVarsityXtra
Just got out of the bakery. Got some sticky buns and a box of a "dozen predictions to go" again.
Last week, was 10-2, which made the season record 45-15 (.750 pct.). Here are this week's picks on what is easily the best Friday of the season so far, at least for big games. There are big games everywhere. Five of them match teams tied for first place and a handful of others matching first-place teams against a team only one game behind.
CLASS AAAA
Bethel Park at Mt. Lebanon - Is this Mt. Lebanon's first real test of the season? Probably. Bethel Park has won three in a row since starting the season with losses to Central Catholic and Woodland Hills. Key to the game will be line play. Winner: Bethel Park.
Seneca Valley at Pine-Richland - Seneca Valley has only one conference loss while Pine-Richland is in first in the Northern Eight. Seneca Valley is definitely bound for the playoffs, but certainly not bound for a spot in first place in the Northern Eight. Will Phil Jurkovec be a 100/100 man again? Winner: Pine-Richland.
CLASS AAA
Ringgold at Belle Vernon - I'll be there tonight, wearing shades to protect my eyes from the new gold turf at Belle Vernon. Ringgold has some game breakers, like Chacar Berry. He's Berry, Berry good. But Belle Vernon has a "Fine" dual-threat QB in Mike Fine (tired of the puns yet?). Belle Vernon's defense might be the difference. Winner: Belle Vernon.
Hampton at Franklin Regional - Hampton is undefeated. But a little birdie told me they are banged up with injuries. Franklin Regional will be in a first place tie after tonight. Winner: Franklin Regional.
West Mifflin at Laurel Highlands - Two consecutive tough losses to Ringgold and Belle Vernon for West Mifflin. This is one of Laurel Highlands' best teams in a while, but LH isn't as good as Ringgold and Belle Vernon. Winner: West Mifflin.
Mars at Gateway - It seems like there are at least two interesting games in the Greater Allegheny Conference every week. This is one of them. Gateway's offense has struggled to score points. Winner: Mars.
CLASS AA
South Fayette at Steel Valley - This game will be live on Root Sports TV. They certainly picked a good one. South Fayette has a 37-game winning streak, one away from tying for the third-longest in WPIAL history. The streak was featured in today's P-G high school notebook. South Fayette really hasn't played anyone yet. Steel Valley owns two good wins on the road at Seton-LaSalle and Freeport. Steel Valley has a standout running back in DeWayne Murray. But I like SV's QB Tre Earl Edwards. South Fayette must keep him from making big plays. It wouldn't be a surprise at all to see Steel Valley win. But ... Winner: South Fayette.
Freeport at Highlands - A tough game last week vs. Steel Valley. Now, Freeport has another tough opponent on the road. It will be the same result. Winner: Highlands.
Aliquippa at Beaver - Beaver's defense must come up with the performance of the decade for the Bobcats to have a shot. Winner: Aliquippa.
CLASS A
Clairton at Jeannette - Prediction No. 1: For the first time this season, Clairton won't win by mercy rule. Prediction No. 2: Winner: Clairton.
Frazier at Beth-Center - This is a mighty interesting game from the standpoint that Frazier has allowed only one touchdown all season, while Beth-Center's Anthony Welsh is the second-leading rusher in the WPIAL. Beth-Center has won the conference title four consecutive years and lost only one conference game in that time. Is it time for a change at the top? Winner: Frazier.
Shenango at South Side Beaver - Looking at the remainder of Shenango's schedule, a win would just about sew up the Big Seven Conference title. Well then, consider Shenango conference champs. Winner: Shenango.