WPIAL Class A quarterfinals: 'Cats try to realize semifinal dream
Written: Nov 12, 2015
  By Ron Poniewasz
New Castle News
The semifinals.
It’s a round that the Shenango High football team has yet to reach in the WPIAL playoffs. Only one team stands in the Wildcats’ way of reaching the Final Four of the WPIAL Class A playoffs for the first time — Frazier.
At 7:30 p.m. Friday, the teams will square off in the quarterfinals at Chartiers-Houston.
“That would be really exciting. Something that our seniors could leave as a legacy,” said third-year Shenango coach Mike Commesso of a potential berth in the semifinals. “It’s something the team and community could be proud of.
“That’s what makes stuff worthwhile. It’s an exciting time and opportunity for our program.”
The first order of business is knocking off fourth-seeded Frazier. The Commodores (10-0), ranked No. 5 in the WPIAL in Class A by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, claimed the Tri-County South Conference championship.
“They’re a good team,” Commesso said of Frazier. “Their defense is fast and they have some playmakers.
“They have some really good special teams; they’re a pretty complete team. And they haven’t lost. That’s a pretty good indication that they’re a good football team.”
Fifth-seeded Shenango (8-2) won the Big Seven Conference crown, the program’s first league title since 2003. The Wildcats are ranked No. 4 in the WPIAL in Class A by the Post-Gazette.
“Shenango is a solid football team,” said sixth-year Commodores coach Mike Steeber. “I can’t really find a weakness there with them.
“Their defense is very aggressive. Offensively, they’re a little more run than pass. But they’re still pretty balanced and efficient at both.”
The Wildcats reached the quarterfinals with a 23-10 win over Springdale at home in the first round.
Frazier advanced by knocking off South Side Beaver, a member of the Big Seven Conference, 33-32 in overtime. The Rams went for the win on a two-point conversion attempt in the extra period on a running play but was stopped cold. It was Frazier’s first playoff win in 32 years and the first postseason triumph by a Tri-County South squad since 2010.
“There were some turnovers on both sides of the ball that led to some scores,” Steeber said. “Both teams battled hard and played hard. It was really a quality football game; a heck of a high school football game. We expected a battle and we got one.”
Shenango defeated that same South Side Beaver squad in conference play earlier in the year, 27-7, on the Rams’ home soil.
The Commodores’ last loss came against South Side Beaver in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, 26-12, at home last season. Steeber is impressed at the quality of play from the Big Seven.
“There are some tough, hard-nosed kids in that conference,” Steeber said. “Shenango does have a lot of seniors and many of them do contribute. I’m impressed with that conference.”
Christopher Pierce, a 5-foot-9, 158-pound junior quarterback, leads the Commodores’ offense. Pierce is 56 of 88 through the air for 934 yards with 14 touchdowns and one interception.
Frazier rotates Hunter Patterson, a 5-8, 164-pound sophomore, in at times to substitute for Pierce. When Patterson is under center, Pierce shifts to running back. And Patterson is a running back when Pierce is at quarterback.
“Pierce seems like he throws more underneath stuff, but they’ll take some shots down the field, too.,” Commesso said. “Patterson has a good arm; either one could throw or run it. We faced some good quarterbacks this year, but nothing like this, with a back and forth thing with different guys with different skill sets.”
Frazier is outscoring the opposition, 39.3 to 6.3, including six shutouts. Opponents scored just 31 total points prior to South Side Beaver rolling up 32 last week.
“Defense is the strength of their team,” Commesso said. “They’re real fast and pretty physical. They really rally to the ball and play pretty good defense.”
Shenango’s Evan Kendall is a dual threat at quarterback. Kendall, a 6-2, 190-pound senior quarterback/defensive back, is 60 of 103 through the air for 1,001 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Kendall has rushed for 109 yards on 36 attempts with a touchdown.
Hunter Waskin, a 5-8, 160-pound senior running back/defensive back, ranks fifth in the county in rushing with a team-high 686 yards on 99 totes with 13 scores.
Jason Wallace, a 5-9, 205-pound senior running back/defensive back, is next on the team in rushing with 555 yards on 99 carries with nine touchdowns.
“What I notice is how balanced they are,” Steeber said. “They can spread the ball around. It’s impressive; they have multiple weapons.”
The Wildcats are outscoring their opponents, 30.6-11.7. Shenango owns one shutout, while limiting four other foes to single digits.
“Shenango is very aggressive. They don’t really seem to have a weakness,” Steeber said. “All 11 play well to the ball and they play quickly to the ball.”
The recipe for another postseason victory remains a basic one for Commesso.
“Our execution will be important,” Commesso said. “We have to be able to run the ball and stop the ball.”
The winner advances to the semifinals and will square off against the survivor of the Clairton-Avonworth clash Nov. 20.
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
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