|
Five things to watch for the week of Nov. 19-24. * Will Bob Palko lead West Allegheny to a WPIAL football title one final time? We’ll find out Friday when West Allegheny (10-2) takes on Penn Hills (13-0) for the Class 5A title at Norwin at 7:30 p.m. Palko, who has won a record eight titles, is resigning at the end of this season. Entering the playoffs, West Allegheny appeared to be a longshot to win the title, but that was before the Indians pulled off a stunning 42-28 upset of No. 1 Gateway in the semifinals. Penn Hills, the No. 2 seed, is trying to win its fifth WPIAL title and first since 1995. * Steel Valley will attempt to win its second WPIAL Class 2A title in three years Saturday when the Ironmen (11-1) face South Side Beaver (10-3) at Robert Morris University at noon. Each team finished in second place in their conferences during the regular season. The Ironmen, who are appearing in the final for the third straight season, are trying to win their fourth title overall. South Side Beaver is seeking its third title and first since 1999. The Rams upset No. 1 Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Charleroi in the semifinals. * Pine-Richland is the only WPIAL team entering the PIAA playoffs as a defending champion. The Rams (10-2) defeated Seneca Valley, 34-7, to claim their second straight WPIAL Class 6A title. They will now play District 6 champion State College (12-1) in the PIAA quarterfinals for the second year in a row. They defeated the Little Lions, 49-21, last season and also beat them 49-29 in the 2014 quarterfinals. State College topped Delaware Valley, 56-19, in the first round. * South Fayette pulled off the biggest surprise of Saturday’s WPIAL championships when it upset No. 1 seed and three-time defending champion Thomas Jefferson, 31-24, in the Class 4A final. Next up for the Lions: a date with two-time defending PIAA champion Erie Cathedral Prep. WPIAL teams have not fared well against the Ramblers in recent seasons. They knocked Thomas Jefferson out of the playoffs the last three years and have beaten the WPIAL champion six times in the past eight years. * The two other teams who won WPIAL titles Saturday were rewarded with bye weeks. Class 3A Aliquippa (12-1) and Class 1A Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (12-1) won’t begin PIAA tournament play until next week’s semifinals. They’ll learn their opponents this weekend. Aliquippa will play either Sharon or Bald Eagle Area, and OLSH will play either Farrell, Smethport or Coudersport. OLSH will be taking part in the PIAA playoffs for the first time. |