Some Things We Learned as the Blackhills and Big 7 are entering Conference Play

Clairton... The Bears are as dominating as always. Its going to take a very, very good team to knock them off.

Coach Matt Grey, via Josh Yohe from the Mckeesport Daily News, on the Bears "Gray said he will be surprised if Clairton doesn't win its fourth consecutive WPIAL championship this year.

"I know Sto-Rox is supposed to be really good, and I haven't seen Rochester yet," he said. "But I know that no other team has skill like what you saw today" 

Sto Rox... The Vikings opened up the season strong with wins over South Allegheny 49-0 and Carlynton 40-6.  The Big 7 is obviously going to go down to Sto Rox and Rochester. 

Rochester... Until Rochy is knocked off, they'll always be the favorites in the Big 7. With as much talent the Rams has, I just don't understand why they use an ultraconservative offensive style. A strong defense will shut their offense down. Against Fort Cherry for example, they for the most part was getting shut down. Take away a squib kick returned for a TD and a fumble the 2nd offense play of the 2nd half for Fort Cherry, we're talking about a 21-12 win for Rochester.

Fort Cherry... I really don't know what it is with this team. They certainly have the talent/ skill. And I'm not sure if they was using a new Center or what, but I've never seen so many fumbled snaps. And at the start of each half against Rochy, the Rangers seemed tight. For the most of the first half, Tanner Garry's passes was on the mark just to see the WR's dropping passes. The offense didn't get settled in until late in the 2nd Quarter when the offense marched down the field for a 30 yard TD pass to Tyrique Brown. The 2nd half started w/ a squib kick returned for a touchdown and a Time Out, and then a fumble. The game was suddenly 27-7. The good thing is that FC really didn't panic. For the most part I feel that FC stood toe to toe with Rochy, but they need some adjustments for the next time they play a school as good as Rochy.

I really can't speak much on the Tri County and Eastern Conference schools because they've basically been battling each other. So far Monessen and Beth Center appear to be the class of the Tri County. The Eastern is insane as Bishop Canevin destroys Avonworth and Avonworth follows it up with a 7-6 win over Springdale. We'll see questions answered about both Conferences during OOC games between each other.