-- It's safe to say that not a single Class AAAA team in the state is going to feel comfortable playing McDowell. The Trojans showed again Saturday that they are a dangerous wild card in the PIAA playoffs.
Bishop McDevitt, which was ranked No. 2 in the state for much of the season, certainly feels that way this morning. McDowell rushed for 508 yards and averaged more than 10 yards per carry on their way to a 42-28 victory over the Crusaders.
Alex Schmude is a big-play back who has emerged from the large shadow of quarterback A.J. Fenton. Schmude piled up 286 yards on 16 carries Saturday and broke several long runs, including TD dashes of 80 and 75 yards.
Fenton, meanwhile, rushed 22 times for 185 yards as he finished the regular season with 1,455 yards.
"They were physical and quick," Bishop McDevitt coach Jeff Weachter told the Harrisburg Patriot-News. "And I've never seen a high school kid run that offense as well as their quarterback did."
Fenton finished as the second-leading rusher in District 10 behind Kyle Allen of West Middlesex.
The Trojans have gone 7-3 under first-year coach Mark Soboleski and they've thrown a scare into two other state powers. McDowell had a chance to win in the fourth quarter against two of the WPIAL's top teams -- McKeesport and No. 1 Gateway.
McDowell's playoff journey will start with a sub-regional featuring District 6 and 9 teams (see the Saturday Morning Quarterback blog below). That could include an eventual matchup with another state power, 10-0 State College.
-- Iroquois finished the regular season with a 13-10 victory over Eisenhower on Friday night, but it might not be enough to get the Braves into the playoffs.
The final District 10 playoff berth will be decided today. D-10 committee members will choose between defending District 10 champion Mercyhurst Prep (5-5 overall, 5-3 Region 2) and Iroquois (6-4, 5-3). The Lakers won the teams' head-to-head matchup, but Iroquois can make the case that it has a better overall record. Union City (7-3, 5-3), Iroquois and Mercyhurst tied for third place in the region.
-- Iroquois made a fine goal-line stand in the closing seconds Saturday. Eisenhower had a third-and-goal from the 4 and a fourth-and-goal from the 6, but the Braves stopped the Knights, who would have earned the final playoff spot with a win Saturday.
Eisenhower's coaching staff made a bold decision by going for the winning touchdown on foruth down despite the fact that quarterback/kicker Cody Crosby has an outstanding leg and had made an earlier field goal and extra point.
-- Iroquois' Zach Poulson ran for 78 yards and finished the regular season with 1,068 yards. He was one of several D-10 running backs who topped the 1,000-yard mark during Week 10.
On Thursday, Fort LeBoeuf's Blake Hockett rushed for 81 yards to finish the season with 1,072 yards.
North East's Jeff Carniewski needed 45 yards to reach 1,000, but he piled up 202 to close the regular season with 1,157.
Titusville's Jonathan Proano rushed for 145 yards and finished with 1,097.
Girard's Billy Sobucki, just a junior, recorded his second straight 1,000-yard season, moving his total to 1,022.
Fairview's Jared Lane kept his school's streak of 1,000-yard rushers alive with 134 yards against General McLane. He enters the playoffs with 1,017 yards.
Saegertown's James Chest also topped the 1,000-yard mark Saturday.
-- Speaking of Saegertown, the Panthers completed a sterling regular season Saturday, routing Cambridge Springs to finish 10-0 overall and 8-0 in Region 2.
How good is the Panthers' offense? Consider this: Ian Price is Saegertown's leading career rusher, but he ranks third in rushing on this year's team, behind Keenan Ellison and James Chest.
Saegertown will enter the playoffs as a strong favorite to win the Class A title. The Panthers are likely to open the postseason against Sharpsville.
Thanks for reading. Check out the Varsity blog later today for the District 10 playoff announcement. Come back here throughout the week for expanded District 10 coverage. ...