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By: Matt Farago
There are many reasons to like the final week of November. Many like it because it is the start of the Holidays, some like it because of all the deals they can get during the busiest shopping weekend of the year, while others enjoy stuffing themselves ten times over on Thanksgiving. While next Friday to many is “Black Friday” to eight teams in western Pennsylvania the 27th of November is “Football Friday”, and they can get a pretty sweet deal without waiting in long checkout lines; a WPIAL Championship, no purchase necessary.
The “ride of ‘09” had its fair share of sudden twists and turns, while many teams expected to do well this season did others just couldn’t get started, then you had the teams no one saw coming, all made for a great WPIAL season that will come to an end on the North Shore on Friday.
Class-A Championship: Clairton Bears (11-1) vs. Rochester Rams (12-0) at 10:30am
Watch the WPIAL "A" Preview with Matt Farago and Josh Taylor
These two teams don’t need any introduction to each other or the Championship game, for the Clairton Bears they are back looking to defend their title and return to the title game for the fourth time in five years. Standing in the Bears way yet again is a team from the Big 7; the Rochester Rams.
Is a pretty scary to know the Bears haven’t given up a point all post-season long, not one; in fact the Bears have shut out seven of the twelve opponents including a 33-0 win last week over the Laurel Spartans, who gave Clairton it’s only loss of the season back in week one which is also the first and only time the Bears gave up more than seven points all season. The Bears have gone over 50 points in five games this season and lead the state in points scored with 546. Look for senior standout Kevin Weatherspoon to be a key for Clairton on both sides of the ball.
Rochester are no stranger to the WPIAL finals either, returning for the first time since 2006 when they lost to non-other than Clairton 16-13. The Rams were winning WPIAL titles early in the decade winning three straight from 2000 to 2002, not to mention that they will make their seventh appearance to the finals in 10 years. Two of their title games have been vs. the Bears with each team winning a meeting.
Last season these two teams met in the semi-finals, with Clairton winning 16-0. Will Rochester be able to claim their first title since 2004 when they took down Clairton 15-14, or will it be the Bears that will repeat as single-A Champs? Find out Friday as these two do war on the gridiron in this brunch special.
Matt’s Pick > Rochester Josh’s Pick > Clairton
Class-AA Championship: Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions (10-2) vs. Aliquippa Quips (11-1) at 1:30
Watch the WPIAL "AA" Preview with Matt Farago and Josh Taylor
Aliquippa will make their 21st title game appearance, 13 of which they’ve walked away Champions. Those 13 titles are the most by any WPIAL school, and as they return to yet another championship game it makes it hard for one to think anyone will ever catch up.
The Quips pasted there test in the second round in a 47-34 come from behind win over the Lions to advance to the Semi-Finals. Aliquippa QB Rasheem Jones must be happy to be back at the helm for the Quips, after missing part of the season for undisclosed reasons. The Quips have lit up the scoreboard all season long and have a defense that hasn’t given up seven point or less in seven of their twelve games.
Greensburg Central Catholic is back to the Championship looking to get come away with gold with their last few trips only coming away with silver. Senior running back David Miller has lead the entire WPIAL in scoring the last two seasons, look for him to be the key for Central Catholic if they want to knock off the defending champs.
Matt’s Pick> Aliquippa Josh’s Pick> Aliquippa
Class-AAA Championship: West Allegheny Indians (10-2) vs. Hopewell Vikings (12-0) at 5:30pm
Watch the "AAA" Preview with Matt Farago and Josh Taylor
Since junior running back Mike Caputo landed at Bob Palko’s door step a week before training camp this season as a transfer from Parkway conference rival Blackhawk the Indians have been what Mike Caputo has been, which is nothing short of phenomenal. Caputo is second in rushing in the WPIAL, and ran wild last week vs. Thomas Jefferson for 240-yards and 3 scores including a 97-yard run.
On the other side of the field will be Rushel Shell, the sophomore running back that has been in anything but a slump. Shell lead the WPIAL in rushing this season and is eyeing up 4,000 career yards already. Last week Shell only practiced one day before the team’s WPIAL semi-final game being out with tonsillitis. Shell had lost 15 pounds because he couldn’t eat, there was a slight chance that he wouldn’t play…however he still managed to rush for 158 yards and a score last week vs. Hampton.
It’s no secret that the key in this game will be containing Mike Caupto and Rushel Shell depending on what sideline you’re on. The two went at it earlier this season at Hopewell with Shell rushing for a career best 349 yards and three touchdowns, while Caupto wasn’t far behind with over 200 yards rushing and three scores. It’s the battle of the backs Friday evening at Heinz Field.
Matt’s Pick> Hopewell Josh’s Pick> Hopewell
Class-AAAA Championship: Woodland Hills (11-1) vs. Gateway (12-0) at 8:00pm
Watch the "AAAA" Preview with Matt Farago and Josh Taylor
Gateway returns to the WPIAL AAAA Championship for the third straight season and still looking for their first title since 1984, when current head coach Terry Smith was the quarterback of the Gators. Gateways shot at a title won’t be any easier then the last two, with Woodland Hills returning to the Championship for the first time since 2005 under head coach George Novak who’s coached in seven WPIAL title games.
This isn’t all about the coaches, after all both teams have many talented players that play on both sides of the ball. For Gateway, you could talk for seven days about who has scored for the Gators this season with a “Pick-your-poison” kind of offense. There is no question who the leader of the Gators is with 4-year starter Rob Kalkstein under center for the black and gold, Kalkstein has passed for over 6,000-yards in his career.
As for Woodland Hills they have a power house back field that will make you pay. Senior running back Dom Timbers has ran around defenses all season and will be off to NY next year to play for the Orange Men, aside from Timbers look for Senior Cameron Tompkins to get a load of carries as well.
The WPIAL is sure to save the best for last in this year’s AAAA title game vs. two power houses in all of the WPIAL. Will Gateway get over the hump or will Woodland Hills return to the top? Find out Friday night at Heinz Field.
Matt’s Pick> Woodland Hills Josh’s Pick> Gateway
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