Playoff teams share history
Quick! What do this week's three high school football playoff games have in common?
Knoch vs. Highlands. Mars vs.Aliquippa. Grove City vs. NorthEast.
Take your time. I can wait. (Insert "Jeopardy" music here.)
Time's up. For those with the correct answer, pat yourself on the back. You're smart.
For those of you who are stumped, here's the answer:
All three games pit teams that have some history together.
I have a history of picking winners. I was 6-1 last week, with my only loss beingSeneca Valley's dream season ending at the hands of Bethel Park.
For the season, I'm 86-19. I think it was the famous philosopher Meatloaf who said, "8.2 out of 10 ain't bad," or something like that.
Only three games this week. Here we go:
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Knoch 35, Highlands 22 — History lesson No. 1: Just two weeks ago, the Knights brought out their whoopin' stick named Tim McNerney and ran wild over the Rams in a 41-13 beatdown.But that was two weeks ago. It's hard to beat a team twice in one season.It's even more difficult to beat a team twice in three weeks.Highlands coach SamAlbert will no doubt make adjustments and his team is coming off an upset win over Blackhawk.Knoch took care of business against New Castle last week.This should be an interesting matchup, but Knoch does not fear Highlands. The Knights have fared well against the Rams in recent years.This one should be no different. The Knights' bandwagon rolls on.•
Aliquippa 30, Mars 16 — History lesson No. 2: In 1996, when Mars coachScott Heinauer was just a young pup, the Planets lost to the Quips 26-16 at Three Rivers Stadium in the WPIAL final.Eleven years later, the teams meet again in the WPIAL playoffs.Bill Bair was 6 when that game was played, but he was probably bowling over people in his peewee football uniform. He was probably the fastest 6-year-old inMars and he's the fastest Mars' player now.But the Quips have no shortage of speed, are balanced and are used to this WPIAL playoff thing.Unless Bair can uncork a few more left-handed TD passes, the Planets' run will be over.•
Grove City 28, North East 12 — History lesson No. 3: In 2004, North East played Grove City in the first round of the District 10 playoffs. The Grapepickers, who have probably the coolest nickname this side of the Karns City Gremlins, went into that game undefeated.All Grove City did was beat them 30-27 in overtime, launching the Eagles on a run that didn't stop until they reached the state title game.This time, Grove City is the favored team and the game is at SlipperyRock University. But unlike last time, the Eagles won't be upset.• SlipperyRock, Karns City, Moniteau are on bye weeks. We'll check in with these idle playoff teams next week.Scoop makes it a point to edit at least one Wikipedia entry per day.
