Western Beaver ( 5- 0) vs Sto- Rox ( 4- 1)
When: 7 p. m. Friday at Sto- Rox High School Stadium
Coaches: Ryan Matsook is 5- 0 in one season at Western Beaver and 106- 26 in 12 seasons overall. Sto- Rox’s LaRoi Johnson is 21- 7 in three seasons.
Last meeting: Sophomore Eric Wilson threw for a pair of touchdowns to lead Sto- Rox to a 36- 18 win against Western Beaver on Oct. 6, 2017. Wilson went on to throw for 8,008 yards in his career.
History: Sto- Rox has won the past five games in the series, scoring at least 36 points in each of them. Western Beaver’s previous win against the Vikings came in 2010 when the Golden Beavers claimed a 22- 6 victory.
Last week: Thad Gray’s three touchdown runs helped Western Beaver improve to 5- 0 for the first time since 2007 after claiming a 35- 22 win at Brentwood. The Golden Beavers limited Brentwood star running back Aiden Wardzinski to just 22 yards on eight carries. Josh Jenkins passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns in leading Sto- Rox to a 56- 14 win at Seton LaSalle.
Quick hits: With a win, Western Beaver, ranked No. 4 in Class 2A, can clinch the Three Rivers Conference title. The Golden Beavers have not started 6- 0 since 2005. … Sto- Rox’s only loss came via forfeit to Carlynton in the season opener. … This Sto- Rox team has some super sophomores. Jenkins, along with leading rusher Zay Davis and leading receiver Jaymont
Green Miller, are all 10th graders. Jenkins has thrown for 872 yards and eight touchdowns. … Gray and fellow junior Cam Irvine have been a one- two punch at running back for Western Beaver. Irvine leads the team in rushing with 446 yards.
Others to watch
West Allegheny at South Fayette, 7 p. m. — South Fayette has not given up more than 17 points in
a game this season, but the Lions will be tested by West Allegheny quarterback Gavin Miller, who ranks second in the WPIAL with 1,242 passing yards.
Elizabeth Forward at Mount Pleasant, 7 p. m. — Speaking of outstanding defenses, Elizabeth
Forward has the stingiest in the WPIAL, giving up just 20 points in four games. The winner will hold first place in the Class 3A Interstate Conference all to itself.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Shenango, 7 p. m. — OLSH knows Shenango is going to feed the ball to Reis Watkins, but will the Chargers be able to slow him down? Watkins rushed for 299 yards last week and ranks second in the WPIAL with 1,093.
Gateway at Woodland Hills, 7 p. m. Saturday — The last time we saw Gateway play, it was mid- September. After having three consecutive games wiped out because of COVID- 19, the unbeaten Gators take on a strong Woodland Hills team that is 4- 1.