Each week Mr. PA Football brings you a preview of the top high school football action in Pennsylvania. Here’s what you need to know about the biggest games this weekend, including #6 Upper St. Clair at #2 Peters Township.
#6 Upper St. Clair (5-0) @ #2 Peters Township (5-0) 7:00 PM, District-7
An enormous game in the WPIAL and the Game of the Week. Both of these undefeated teams clash on Friday night in what is one of the most-anticipated games in the WPIAL regular season!
The Panthers and the Indians both enter this huge match-up ranked in the top 10 in Pennsylvania. Upper St. Clair squeaked by McKeesport 17-14 last Friday in hard-fought game and Peters Township shutout West Allegheny 28-0 last week. As you can see both teams are coming off respectively big wins in Week 5.
Meanwhile, these two teams squared off twice last season, once in the regular season and once in the playoffs. Upper St. Clair won the regular season match-up 21-7 and Peters Township scored a victory in the playoff game 7-3. This is one of the most heated and intense rivalries in the WPIAL right now. A shot at a potential No. 1 seed for the WPIAL Class 5A tournament is at stake.
- Confluence Financial Partners Stadium on Friday
- Two excellent coaches square off, Upper St. Clair’s Mike Junko and Peters Township’s T.J. Plack
Key Players to watch:
Upper St. Clair:
- Senior QB Ethan Hellman
- Senior C/OG Mason Geyer
- Senior RB/S Dante Coury
- Senior WR/S Nico D’Orazio
- Junior LB/RB John Banbury
Peters Township:
- Senior QB Nolan DiLucia, a Villanova recruit
- Senior LB/TE Reston Lehman, a Pitt recruit
- Senior LB/TE Lucas Shanafelt, a Stanford commit
- Senior CB/WR P.J. Luke
- Senior RB/S Cole Neupaver
Keys to the game:
Both of these teams have very talented squads especially Peters Township who boasts two Power Four prospects on their roster. Everything is on the line in this one Friday night!
This battle will be won in the trenches and it could be decided by which team makes the fewest mental mistakes. Disciplined and fundamental football will win this game on Friday. Now if both lines can handle their business it will give the explosive playmakers their opportunities to win the game. Also, the defenses could be the deciding factor in this contest. Which team will force a turnover and who can get consistent penetration and pressure on the opposing quarterback?
We think this will be another very close game and a low-scoring slugfest this week. The Indians defense comes up huge and secures the victory for the home team over the Panthers. Big-time recruits Reston Lehman and Lucas Shanafelt are playmakers and cause two turnover and the Indians capitalize and win 24-20.
Quick Hitters Preview
Big School Class 4A-6A
#4 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (4-1) @ #5 North Allegheny (5-0) 07:30 PM District-7
This match-up could arguably be the Game of the Week in the WPIAL, too. The two premier powerhouses in Class 6A will collide and could meet again in the WPIAL championship this Friday at North Allegheny. The Tigers will look to avenge both losses last season. The Vikings crushed Hempfield Area 59-7 last Friday and North Allegheny had to hold on to remain undefeated with a 20-17 victory against Norwin last week.
Aliquippa (3-1) @ New Castle (4-1) 07:00 PM District-7
The Quips and Head Coach Mike Warfield seem to be getting back on track just in time for the stretch run of the season. Aliquippa topped Penn Hills 21-16 in the last-second touchdown thriller and New Castle trounced Knoch 45-0 last week.
Central Bucks West (4-1) @ Neshaminy (4-1) 07:00 PM District-1
Traditional power Central Bucks West has hit its stride and defeated rival Central Bucks South 25-21 last week and Neshaminy hammered Abington last Friday night. Keep an eye on Bucks junior RB/S Nick Milleto in this contest.
West Chester Henderson (4-1) @ #10 Bishop Shanahan (4-1) 07:00 PM District-1
The Warriors look to rebound this week after dropping a 21-14 decision to Upper Moreland last week. Bishop Shanahan looks to ride senior QB/S Anthony Aquila to victory again after edging Unionville 35-34 last Friday night.
Red Land (5-0) @ Mechanicsburg (4-1) 07:00 PM District-3
New Red Land Head Coach Jaimie Thomas has the Patriots cooking this year and anticipates another win this week against a tough Wildcats team. The red-hot Patriots smashed Northern York 47-7 last week and Mechanicsburg cruised by Gettysburg 35-14 last Friday.
West Perry (4-1) @ East Pennsboro (4-1) 07:00 PM District-3
The Panthers and Head Coach John Denniston have won four in a row after losing the opener. East Pennsboro routed Boiling Springs 35-7 last Friday and West Perry earned a big victory over Middletown 38-17 last week.
Eastern York (4-1) @ West York (5-0) 07:00 PM District-3
West York shutout Kennard-Dale 24-0 to remain unbeaten last week and Eastern York lost to Solanco 49-7 last Friday night. Bulldog Head Coach Ron Miller expects another huge home victory this week.
#5 Exeter Township (5-0) @ Ephrata (4-1) 07:00 PM District-3
Eagles Head Coach Matt Bauer has his Exeter Township squad ranked again and looking for another impressive road victory against Ephrata. It won’t be easy though, as Ephrata is coming off a win over Elizabethtown 20-14. Exeter Township thrashed Lebanon 64-6 last week.
DuBois Area (4-1) @ Punxsutawney (5-0) 07:00 PM District-9
The Beavers demolished St. Marys 42-13 last week and undefeated Punxsutawney nipped Karns City 22-19 last Friday night. Can the Chucks continue the magical season this week?
Cardinal O’Hara (5-0) @ #3 Bonner-Prendie (3-1) 04:00 PM District-12
The Friars are hoping to bounce back this week after suffering their first defeat to the Haverford School 28-24. Cardinal O’Hara coasted by Smyrna (DE) 34-14. Bonner-Prendie hopes to contain Cardinal O’Hara senior RB Amahj Gowans on Friday.
#1 La Salle College HS (4-0) @ #3 Roman Catholic (2-2) 07:00 PM District-12
The Explorers were idle last week and so was Roman Catholic. The Cahillites look to rebound after losing to DeMatha Catholic 44-7 two weeks ago. Notre Dame five-star recruit Joey O’Brien has been phenomenal on both sides of the football this year.
Small School Class 1A-3A
#6 North Catholic (5-0) @ #5 Imani Christian Academy (5-0) 07:00 PM District-7
This is another game that could arguably be the Game of the Week in the WPIAL. Both teams are unbeaten entering this contest. Imani Christian beat Highlands 27-7 last week and is led by Penn State recruits David Davis and Gabe Jenkins. North Catholic whipped McGuffey 63-0 last Friday night.
Wyoming Area (5-0) @ #8 Berwick Area (5-0) 07:00 PM District-2
This is an intriguing game as the undefeated teams face off Friday night in District-2. The Bulldogs clobbered Hanover Area 56-19 last week and Wyoming Area pounded Tunkhannock 42-0 last Friday. Berwick is led by senior RB Ty’Meere Wilkerson, who has been a player of the week nominee twice this season.
#8 Steelton-Highspire (3-1) @ Line Mountain (5-0) 07:00 PM
The Steamrollers look to bounce back this week after losing to Susquehanna Twp. 35-20 last week and Line Mountain defeated Upper Dauphin 33-20 last Friday night. Line Mountain Head Coach Brandon Carson hopes to keep up the momentum at home this week.
#1 Schuylkill Haven (5-0) @ #3 Williams Valley (5-0) 07:00 PM District-11
Another humongous game this week in District-11. Schuylkill Haven defeated Minersville Area 48-38 in a shootout last week and the Vikings beat Tri-Valley 14-7 last Friday. Can either teams defense stifle the oppositions offense?
#4 Farrell (4-1) @ #5 Wilmington Area (4-1) 07:00 PM District-10
Farrell is confident after a huge 30-7 victory over rival Sharon last week and Wilmington Area destroyed Grand Valley 49-13 last Friday night. This should be a very entertaining game on Friday night.
North Penn-Mansfield (4-1) @ Warrior Run (4-1) 07:00 PM District-4
North Penn-Mansfield got thumped by Athens 54-13 last week and Warrior Run outlasted Lewisburg 29-24 last Friday night. The Defenders hope to keep the momentum going behind senior QB James Keifer and the Tigers are looking to rally this week.
Montgomery (4-1) @ Muncy (4-1) 07:00 PM Distrct-4
Red Raider Head Coach Joel Knoebel expects to notch another road win on Friday night. Montgomery whacked Canton 54-0 last Friday and Muncy shutout Sayre 42-0 last week.
Meyersdale Area (4-1) @ Berlin-Brothersvalley (4-1) 07:00 PM District-5
Meyersdale Area defeated Tussey Mountain 27-12 and Berlin-Brothersvalley blanked Northern Bedford County 16-0 last week. Meyersdale Area Head Coach Ryan Donaldson is eyeing another major road victory.
