WPIAL Semi-Final Picks
Posted: November 14th, 2013, 11:12 am
Last week in the quarterfinals there were 3 upsets of sorts with Penn-Trafford stunning McKeesport (AAAA), Beaver knocking off Mt Pleasant (AA), and Neshannock put a beat down on Monessen (A). But then again its the playoffs in the WPIAL is there really anything called an upset this time of the year? So here are the picks for the semi-finals. CLASS A - Sto-Rox Vs Clairton - In any other year this would probably be a title game but not this year. Clairton has matured well over the course of the season, but have they matured enough to beat the Lenny Williams run Sto-Rox offense. Last week Clairton found itself down 29-14 and they turned on the jets, scored 38 unanswered points to beat Ft Cherry 52-35. Williams passed for 301 and 3 TD's ran for another as well as a 2 point conversion pass. This is going to be a good one like two fighters slugging it out. My Pick STO-ROX. North Catholic Vs Neshannock - During the regular season NC won a close 21-14 game at home but this one will be on neutral ground. Neshannock beat what one would have expected as a title game team in Monessen 35-6. NC just got by a determined Avonworth team last week 14-7. Offense meets defense in this game. Can the NC D hold off the high powered O of the Lancers? My Pick NORTH CATHOLIC. CLASS AA - Aliquippa Vs Beaver - Beaver pulled off what a lot of people thought was the impossible against Mt Pleasant winning 21-7, but this week its the QUIPS who they lost to 50-13 in week 9. Last week Quaker Valley took an early 14-6 lead on the Quips but Dravon Henry and Terry Swanson proved too much in 43-26 Quips win as they will prove too much for Beaver again. My Pick ALIQUIPPA. South Fayette Vs Beaver Falls - We will definitely get to see just how good South Fayette and Brett Brumbaugh really are. The Lions have been on auto pilot all season not really getting tested even through the first 2 rounds of the WPIAL playoffs. Now they must face a BF team that has put up 93 points in 2 playoff games including 43 in the first half last week. BF starters should be well rested after last week, My Pick BEAVER FALLS. CLASS AAA - West Allegheny Vs Franklin Regional - WA just keeps on rolling and FR keeps on proving how good they can be. This should be a great game and a tough game. My Pick WEST ALLEGHENY. Thomas Jefferson Vs Central Valley - TJ faces the same task as South Fayette does in AA. They have cruised through the regular season but Highlands gave them a game last week before they were able to pull It out in the 4th quarter. Point is CV is a whole lot better than Highlands. My Pick CENTRAL VALLEY. CLASS AAAA - Upper St Clair Vs Woodland Hills - As I said last week this is Woody Highs time of the year and they are dangerous. USC struggled through the first 3 quarters last week against North Allegheny. If they do that this week no way they can beat Woody High who did a really good job containing T J Holl from Seneca Valley last week. But I'm going to stick with my gut and USC grit. My Pick USC. Central Catholic Vs Penn-Trafford - PT probably pulled off the upset of the year in the WPIAL. Nobody had the Warriors pegged to beat McKeesport. But this week they got to face a much tougher defense from Central Catholic. PT had a nice run but I think its over. My Pick CENTRAL CATHOLIC.