WPIAL, PIAA football playoff picks: Karns City-Farrell, North Catholic-Avonworth predictions, analysis
Two teams are left in the first week of the PIAA football championships.
Karns City is in a true state playoff game, hosting District 10 Class 2A champion Farrell for a chance to make the state quarterfinals. And North Catholic takes on WPIAL Class 3A favorite Avonworth with a trip to Acrisure Stadium in next week’s district championships on the line.
Here’s who sports editor Jake Merda Adams, reporters Derek Pyda and Brendan Howe, and Scoop predict to advance one more week. All game times are 7 p.m. Friday unless otherwise noted.
Listen to this week’s “Eye On Sports” podcast wherever you get your podcasts for even more of a breakdown.
Brendan Howe — 85-28 (1-3 last week)
Jake Merda Adams — 85-28 (2-2)
Scoop — 84-29 (2-2)
Derek Pyda — 83-30 (3-1)
3A semifinals: No. 5 North Catholic vs. No. 1 Avonworth, at North Allegheny HS
Merda Adams — The Trojans benefited from multiple turnovers last week, but guess what the undefeated Antelopes don’t do? Turn the ball over. QB Carson Bellinger (1,768 yards, 25 TDs) has just one INT, and the run game is averaging nearly 8 yards per game. Avonworth 42, North Catholic 21
Pyda — North surprised a lot of people with its quarterfinal win last week. Now the Trojans must defeat a team they lost to a month ago by a score of 42-10. Facing an offense averaging over 400 yards per game, that’s simply too much to ask. Avonworth 36, North Catholic 21
Howe — The Trojans looked really good against Elizabeth Forward last week. It’s just a matter of whether their defense can slow Avonworth down. North Catholic’s run stops here, unfortunately. Avonworth 35, North Catholic 28
Scoop — It’s been an up-and-down season for the Trojans, but I give them credit for being one of only two Butler County teams still standing. Avonworth, though, is the defending WPIAL champion and the Antelopes will return to the championship game. Avonworth 31, North Catholic 20
2A first round: 10-1 Farrell at 9-1 Karns City
Merda Adams — Farrell’s two losses are considered a top-10 team in PIAA Class 3A (Hickory) and a top-20 team in Ohio (Steubenville). I want to pick the Gremlins to try to break my tie with Brendan, but the Steelers look like the favorite, even on the road. Farrell 32, Karns City 21
Pyda — The Gremlins let a 19-0 lead slip away in a loss to Punxsutawney in mid-September. It was the kind of defeat that can stick with a team, affect its performance for weeks to come. Instead, KC has not lost since. I know Farrell is an incredibly tough out, but I’m sticking with the Gremlins. Karns City 27, Farrell 25
Howe — The Steelers’ Juelz Johnson has 1,761 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground this season. The Nebraska commit will be the difference in this state playoff tilt. Farrell 25, Karns City 21
Scoop — It’s been a great season for the Gremlins, but it ends Friday. Farrell 40, Karns City 16
