Tonight's Post-Gazette Game of the Week is Pine-Richland at Penn Hills. I will be there. Follow @mwhiteburgh on Twitter for updates. For now, here are some notes and predictions for the third week of the high school football season ...
One more for 5,000
It certainly was unusual to have two WPIAL running backs surpass 5,000 career yards rushing on the same night. That's what happened last Friday when Armstrong's Zane Dudek and Clairton's Lamont Wade reached the mllestone.
But get this: You could see three runners hit 5,000 yards in two weeks.
Steel Valley's Dewayne Murray needs only 247 yards rushing to reach 5,000 in his career.
Other notes
**** Woodland Hills' Saeed Holt has emerged as one of the early-season stars in the WPIAL. His versatility is impressive. And how's this for impressive?: Last week against Fox Chapel, Holt ran for 79 yards on 7 carries, made six tackles from his defensive back spot. Three of those tackles were for losses, including two sacks. He forced three fumbles. Wait, we're not done. He also blocked an extra point.
Thanks, stat man Mr. Shields, for all those statistics.
**** So far this season, every week has had at least two or three excellent matchups with top teams. Huh. That streak ends next week. Pretty much bad schedule. Happens every year when there are just no big games in a week or two. We may need help in finding Game of the Week.
**** It has to be nice for a high school running back when you have an athletic, 6-2, 260-pounder at fullback blocking for you. That's what Central Catholic has in David Green, who also is a major-college prospect at defensive end.
**** So far, Thomas Jefferson (56 ppg) and Jeannette (50 ppg) are leading the WPIAL in points scored.
Predictions
Here ya go. Fresh from the bakery, 12 predictions to go for tonight. Not a good effort last week. Only 7-5. Brings season record to 25-11 (.694 pct).
Pine-Richland over Penn Hills - With QBs Phil Jurkovec and Cam Tarrant, this could be a delight to watch. Both have over 1,000 yards passing. Certainly, secondary play will be a key for both teams. But the real key might be how well Jurkovec runs the ball.
Woodland Hills over Penn-Trafford - Non-conference games aren't supposed to be that big, are they? But this one is. It's No. 2 vs. No. 3 in 5A. Penn-Trafford's ability to stop big plays and can Penn-Trafford establish a running game are the two keys.
Ringgold over Belle Vernon - I hate to go against Matt Humbert's Belle Vernon team because of its defense. But Brendan Small could be big for Ringgold.
Rochester over Sto-Rox - Is Rochester really back to prominence after a few down years? For some reason, I say yes.
OTHER GAMES - Bethel Park over Norwin (although I have this feeling that Norwin is a pretty decent team this year); Central Catholic over Hempfield; Gateway over Armstrong; Mars over Montour; Beaver over Quaker Valley; Mount Pleasant over McGuffey; Shenango over Northgate; Central Valley over Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.
Xtra, Xtra read all about it
Check out some pieces from today's Varsity Xtra
His father is Pitt's football coach, but Pat Narduzzi stepped away from the game about five years ago and found his niche on the fairways and greens. The story of young Pat Narduzzi.
From brother to brother, the quarterback torch has been passed at Penn-Trafford with the Laffoons and Brian Batko has the story. (Brett and Cam Laffoon are pictured above after a passing camp last year at West Virginia).
Butler's hasn't had much in football over the past two decades, but Butler has a major-college prospect now in Jake Kradel.