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November 19, 2009

Bethel Park (10-1) finds Woodland Hills (10-1) in their way of making a second straight trip to Heinz Field.


 

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By: Matt Farago

 

The defending WPIAL"AAAA" Champion Bethel Park Black Hawks (10-1) are one game away from making a second straight trip to the North Shore. However even being the PIAA runners-up a season ago, isn't enough for most to favor the Black Hawks in their Friday Night rematch with Woodland Hills (10-1).

 

Back in week 4 the Woodland Hills took down the Black Hawks in a 27-17 thriller. That game was decided on an impressive goal-line stand by Woodland Hills after Bethel Park advanced the ball down to the Wolverines 4-yard line in the final minute of play.

 

That however was just a non-conference game in the regular season. Friday night's showdown between #3 Bethel Park and #2 Woodland Hills at West Mifflin’s Titan Stadium is for an all expenses paid trip to the North Shore next Friday.

 

While Bethel Park won its first WPIAL Championship in school history last season and is looking to be the first team to go back-to-back since Central Catholic won titles in 2003 and 2004, Woodland Hills is looking for their first trip to Heinz Field since 2005, where they fell to would-be state champion McKeesport.

 

Woodland Hills had relied heavily on a stingy defense that has only given up more then seven in just three games all season. After a 13-0 to Steubenville the Wolverines coasted to a Big East title and look to continue their Championship dream, coming off a 36-3 win over Pittsburgh Central Catholic last week, and taking down Plum in the fist round 49-0.

 

As for Bethel Park it has been their offense that has gotten most of the attention, and for good reason. Matt Bliss has been one of the best quarterback in the WPIAL this season throwing for over 600 yards during the regular season and completing 59% of his passes. Last week Bliss picked apart the defense of the Shaler Titans, connection of 13 of 16, throwing for 177 yards and two scores.

 

 

Air mail isn’t the only way the Black Hawks will find the end zone, the Hawks have three talented backs, including Junior Bre Ford who scored 15 times during the regular season. Defensively look for linebackers Adam Lazenga and Jared Pratt to cause problems in the Wolverines backfield.

 

Speaking of the Wolverines backfield former High School Playbook Student Athlete of the week, Dom Timbers is one of the stars that have shined bright all season long. Timbers ran for 115 yards and one score in the first meeting between the two teams, and racked up 129 yards and three touchdowns vs. Central Catholic last week.

 

Since 1999 the Wolverines and Black Hawks have met three times in the Playoffs, all three times it was Woodland Hills winning convincingly. Will this meeting tell the same story, that question and many others will be answered Friday Night on High School Playbook at 11:15pm on Channel 4 Action News.

                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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