Looking Back At The CoverThreeAthletics 2018 WPIAL Football Predictions
Jelani Stafford was able to help the California Area Trojans make the WPIAL 2A Football playoffs in 2018.
SOURCE: Observer-Reporter
Last year, myself along with my three other co-workers at CoverThreeAthletics, made a lot of WPIAL football predictions involving section winners, WPIAL championship winners, and statistical leaders. We are going to look back at the predictions that we made last year and see if we were right about any of them.
2018 Section Winners:
6A (QUAD COUNTY CONFERENCE) - Nick, Steve, Travis, and I all predicted that Pine-Richland would win this section in 2018. We were all wrong. That's funny! North Allegheny won this section as they defeated Pine-Richland, at North Allegheny, in the final week (10) of the WPIAL regular season by a score of 27-7. North Allegheny was undefeated in their section (8-0) in 2018.
5A (ALLEGHENY EIGHT CONFERENCE)- Nick and Travis predicted that Woodland Hills would win this section; while Steve and I predicted that Upper St. Clair would win this section. Once again, all four of us were wrong. Peters Township won this section with a 6-1 section record. West Allegheny also had a 6-1 section record in 2018; but Peters Township had the tie breaker because they defeated West Allegheny in the regular season in Week 4 by a score of 42-28.
5A (BIG EAST CONFERENCE)- All four of us predicted that Gateway would win this section and they did. Derrick Davis, Courtney Jackson, and Jeremiah Josephs all helped Gateway win this section. Brendan Majocha was the quarterback for the Gators in 2018 and did a good job replacing Brady Walker, who was starting quarterback the previous four years (2014-17) before Majocha was the starter.
5A (NORTHERN CONFERENCE)- All four of us predicted that Penn Hills would win this section and they did. Penn Hills was too powerful in 2018 as they won a PIAA 5A football championship back in December.
4A (NORTHWEST EIGHT CONFERENCE)- All four of us predicted that South Fayette would win this section and they did. After losing the first game of the 2018 WPIAL season to Upper St. Clair, they won nine straight games and did not lose a game in their section. Yes, Joe Rossi, is considered a G.O.A.T.
4A (BIG EIGHT CONFERENCE)- Steve, Travis, and I predicted that Thomas Jefferson would win this section. Nick predicted that Belle Vernon would win this section. Thomas Jefferson won the section (7-0). They were undefeated in the regular season (9-0). However, Belle Vernon was ranked second in this section with a record of 6-1. Yes, Belle Vernon's only section loss was to Thomas Jefferson in Week 3 of the 2018 WPIAL football regular season. They lost by a score of 36-14; the game took place in Belle Vernon's house.
3A (TRI-COUNTY WEST CONFERENCE)- Nick, Steve, and Travis predicted that Aliquippa would win this section. I predicted that Keystone Oaks would win this section. Keystone Oaks was a good football team in 2018 as I have backed them up multiple times. They should have made the WPIAL 3A football playoffs. However, Aliquippa won the section and looking back on it, I should have chosen them. I guess I thought that Aliquippa would not win the section because they lost Kwantel Raines at cornerback. Aliquippa also won a WPIAL and PIAA football championship in 2018.
3A (BIG EAST CONFERENCE)- Steve, Nick, and I predicted that North Catholic would win this section. Travis predicted that Elizabeth Forward would win the section. Elizabeth Forward, Derry Area, and North Catholic were all tied for first place for the section with a 6-1 record; so, all three teams were section champions. The reason for the three-way tie was because in the 2018 regular season, North Catholic lost to Derry, Derry lost to Elizabeth Forward, and Elizabeth Forward lost to North Catholic.
2A (ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE)- Nick and Steve predicted that Steel Valley would win this section. Travis and I predicted that Shady Side Academy would win this section. Travis and I were right. Shady Side Academy defeated Steel Valley, at Steel Valley's house, in Week 3 of the 2018 WPIAL football regular season by a score of 56-36. Perhaps the biggest reason that Shady Side Academy won the section was because they had one of the best quarterbacks in WPIAL 2A in Skyy Moore. Every Saturday morning in the fall, you would see Skyy Moore in the newspaper because of the great games and great statistical performances that he would produce as Shady Side Academy's quarterback.
2A (MIDWESTERN CONFERENCE)- Nick and Travis predicted that Riverside would win this section. I predicted that Mohawk would win this section and Steve predicted that Neshannock would win this section. I was right. Mohawk won the section with a 6-1 record. They had the tie breaker over Freedom Area, who also had a 6-1 section record, because Mohawk defeated Freedom in Week 3 of the 2018 WPIAL football regular season by a score of 27-21. That's how Mohawk won the section.
2A (INTERSTATE CONFERENCE)- Nick and Steve predicted that Washington High would win this section. Travis and I predicted that Charleroi would win this section. Even though both teams had a 6-1 section record; Charleroi won the section because they defeated Washington High in the regular season. Okay Geno Pellegrini, I see you.
2A (THREE RIVERS CONFERENCE)- So, all four of us predicted that Seton LaSalle would win this section and they did not. They were ranked fourth in this section and Burgettstown won this section in 2018. For all four of us, this might have been our worst pick.
1A (EASTERN CONFERENCE)- Nick and Travis predicted that Jeannette would win this section. I predicted Clairton would win this section while Steve predicted that Imani Christian would win this section. Nick and Travis were right. Jeannette finished with an undefeated record (10-0) in the regular season in 2018.
1A (TRI-COUNTY SOUTH CONFERENCE)- All four of us predicted that California Area would win this section. They did not win this section, Monessen did. California Area finished third in this section; but did make it to the WPIAL 1A football playoffs.
1A (BIG SEVEN CONFERENCE)- Nick and Travis predicted that Rochester would win the section. Steve and I predicted that O.L.S.H would win the section. O.L.S.H. won the section with a 7-0 record. 2018 was Tyler Bradley's season. Give credit to Noah Whiteleather who helped rush the ball for Rochester and was a big reason why they finished second in the section with a 6-1 record in 2018.
2018 WPIAL Championship Winners:
6A- Pine-Richland won in 6A. Steve and Travis had this prediction right. Nick and I both thought North Allegheny would win in 6A. The offensive line for Pine-Richland was so good in that WPIAL 6A championship game back in November. North Allegheny losing to Seneca Valley in that 2nd round WPIAL football playoff game is a game that the media still cannot forget. That was "Upset City".
5A- Steve and I predicted that Penn Hills would win 5A and they did. Travis thought Woodland Hills was going to win in 5A while Steve thought Gateway was going to win in 5A.
4A- South Fayette won in 4A and the four of us did not pick the Lions to win going into the 2018 season. Steve, Travis, and I had Thomas Jefferson winning in 4A while Nick had Belle Vernon winning in 4A. Jamie Diven had something to prove and he proved it. Shane Stump throwing a late fourth quarter interception in that WPIAL 4A championship game back in November was the reason why South Fayette won. To me, it was the only mistake Stump made in his first three years of high school football. Yeah, I really think Stump played every snap perfectly right in his high school football career up to that point.
3A- Steve, Travis, and Nick predicted that Aliquippa would win 3A while I had North Catholic win 3A. Once again, I'm sorry for disrespecting Aliquippa. For all the WPIAL information that I have gained knowledge of, I should have known better than to underestimate Aliquippa. They just have student athletes that have a lot more will and desire than other WPIAL student athletes from other high schools.
2A- Out of the four of us, Travis was the only won that did not think Steel Valley was going to win 2A. Steel Valley did win 2A. Travis had Shady Side Academy winning 2A; but, if Skyy Moore did not get injured in the first round of the WPIAL 2A playoffs; Travis might have been right. However, you must respect Steel Valley as all their star players were able to stay healthy in 2018. I've said this before and I will say it again, Kam Williams and Todd Hill were the best running back duo in the WPIAL in 2018.
1A- Nick and Travis thought Jeannette was going to win 1A while Steve thought Imani Christian was going to win 1A. I was the only one that had O.L.S.H winning 1A and I was right. I was on the Tyler Bradley train in 2018 and I stayed on it.
2018 Sortable Statistic Leaders:
Passing Yards: Tyler Bradley (O.L.S.H) led the WPIAL in passing yards in 2018 with 3,364 yards. Out of the four of us, Steve was the only one that thought Bradley was going to lead the WPIAL in passing yards in 2018. Nick and I thought Hollis Mathis (Penn Hills) would lead the WPIAL in passing yards while Travis thought Cole Spencer (Pine-Richland) would have led the WPIAL in passing yards in 2018.
Passing Touchdowns: Jamie Diven (South Fayette) and Tyler Bradley (O.L.S.H) both led the WPIAL in passing touchdowns in 2018 with 45. The four of us did not think that either one of them would have led the WPIAL in passing touchdowns in 2018. Out of the four of us, at least one of us thought Shane Stump (Thomas Jefferson), Seth Cohen (Highlands), Geno Pellegrini (Charleroi), or Hollis Mathis (Penn Hills) would have led the WPIAL in passing touchdowns in 2018.
Rushing Yards: Kam Williams (Steel Valley) led the WPIAL in rushing yards in 2018 with 2,020 yards. None of us thought that Williams was going to lead the WPIAL in rushing yards in 2018. Out of the four of us, at least one of us thought Avante McKenzie (Aliquippa), Jelani Stafford (California Area), Dustin Shoaf (Yough), or Konota Gaskins (McKeesport) would have led the WPIAL in rushing yards in 2018.
Receptions: Turner Grau (Avonworth) led the WPIAL in receptions with 68 in 2018. The four of us did not predict Grau having the most receptions in 2018. Out of the four of us, at least one of us thought Rahmon Hart Jr. (Imani Christian), Dante Cephas (Penn Hills), Andrew Schnarre (O.L.S.H), or Mike Trimbur (South Fayette) would have led the WPIAL in receptions in 2018.
Receiving Yards: Aliquippa's Will Gipson, who now plays wide receiver at the University of Pittsburgh, led the WPIAL in receiving yards in 2018 with 1,657. All four of us were wrong in predicting this category. Out of the four of us, at least one of us thought Courtney Jackson (Gateway), Richard Banks (O.L.S.H), or Daequan Hardy (Penn Hills) would have led the WPIAL in receiving yards in 2018.
Overall Touchdowns: Christian Clutter (McGuffey) was probably the most underrated WPIAL football players in 2018 as he led the WPIAL in overall touchdowns with 41. He played both running back and safety during his time at McGuffey. Like, Clutter is not really talked about by the media; that it is insane. He will play college football at Seton Hill University in the fall. You already know that none of us predicted that Clutter would score the most touchdowns in 2018. Out of the four of us, at least one of us thought Derrick Davis Jr. (Gateway), Skyy Moore (Shady Side Academy), Jelani Stafford (California Area) or Will Gipson (Aliquippa) would have led the WPIAL in overall touchdowns in 2018.
Those predictions were fun to make, and you already know that my co-workers at CoverThreeAthletics and I will make more WPIAL football predictions in 2019.
BY Hilton: bythebossandgoat@gmail.com and Twitter @BYHilton13