Plum hopes to prove last year was no fluke
Coming off its best season in decades, Plum will try to keep its momentum going this fall.
You could say that Plum is trying to avoid turning into a prune.
Optimism remains high for the Mustangs, the PostGazette’s No. 4-ranked team in WPIAL Class 4A. A season ago, they went 8-1, captured their first conference title since 1983, and led Thomas Jefferson at halftime before falling to the Jaguars in the WPIAL semifinals. The Jaguars went on to win the PIAA title.
“The confidence has gone through the roof at Plum,” Eryck Moore-Watkins said. “When you work hard and see the results, it gives you confidence and makes you want to work even harder.”
Moore-Watkins is a 6-foot1, 190-pound junior and one of the top running backs in the WPIAL. He rushed for 862 yards on 108 carries (8 yards a carry) and scored a team-best 13 touchdowns a season ago. Moore-Watkins, who will also play outside linebacker, appears to have a bright future. He doesn’t have any offers yet, but said he has been hearing from Pitt, Penn State, Boston College and Cincinnati.
“He’s just an all-around complete player,” Plum coach Matt Morgan said. “He’s old school, new school, explosive, big and strong. He’s a vocal leader and the heart of our team right now.”
Plum has been looking for a new starting quarterback after Ryan Hubner graduated. Hubner was also the team’s second-leading rusher last season. Morgan said that junior Santino Saccone and sophomore Sean Franzi will likely rotate at quarterback when the Mustangs begin their season Friday at Class 5A Franklin Regional.
The Mustangs actually play three consecutive Class 5A opponents to start the season. After Franklin Regional, they will travel to North Hills before hosting Fox Chapel.
“Personally, I like it,” Morgan said. “I like having them all up front because we’ll be able to tell how good we are and how we match up against bigger, more physical teams right off the bat.”
A season ago, Plum jump started its season by winning at Greensburg Salem in the season opener. They hope to do the same against a Franklin Regional team guided by first-year coach Lance Getsy.
“It’s really important for us to get a win,” Moore-Watkins said. “It would boost our confidence and let people know that we’re here. Last year was not a fluke. This is the new Plum.”
QB showdown
As far as quarterback play goes, there might not be a better Week 0 matchup in the WPIAL than Class 5A Bethel Park hosting Class 6A Mt. Lebanon. Bethel Park features Max Blanc, a 6-foot-5 senior who has committed to Youngstown State. Mt. Lebanon senior Joey Daniels is only 5-9, but was an all-conference pick last season and, in addition to being an excellent passer (he completed 69% of his passes in 2020), is a dangerous runner.
“I think it’s a good matchup and an interesting matchup because they’re two different kinds of kids,” Bethel Park coach Brian DeLallo said. “Joey is so talented and can do things with his feet that Max can’t do, but Max has the bigger arm and is more of a pro-style quarterback. He can maybe make some throws that Joey can’t make. Different skill sets. It’s a great game if you’re a fan of quarterback play.”
Say what?
Upper St. Clair hosts Central Catholic on Friday. No, not Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The Class 5A Panthers are playing Class 1A Greensburg Central Catholic. It’s the first matchup between teams from those classifications since the expansion to six classes in 2016.
So, how did this unique matchup come about? Well, Upper St. Clair and Greensburg C.C. originally had different Week 0 opponents. Upper St. Clair was set to host West Toronto Prep of Canada, while Greensburg C.C. was supposed to play Beth-Center. However, BethCenter decided it wanted to play a scrimmage instead, leaving Greensburg C.C. without an opponent just weeks before the season. Upper St. Clair then found itself with an opening after it decided not to play the team from Canada. Due to COVIDrelated travel restrictions, nonessential travel into the United States is prohibited. Upper St. Clair and Greensburg C.C. made contact regarding a potential game, and the two sides agreed to do it.
Gateway was also supposed to host a team from Canada. The Gators had planned to play Clarkson North, but that game was also canceled. Instead, the Gators will take on Delaware Valley of District 2 on Friday. The neutral site game will be played at Bald Eagle Area.
O-line connection
Last Saturday’s preseason game between the Steelers and visiting Lions was interesting in that both teams have offensive line coaches whose sons are top WPIAL linemen. On top of that, they are both seniors and future FBS players, and both play in Class 5A.
Adrian Klemm of the Steelers is the father of PineRichland’s Jalen Klemm, whose offer list includes Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona State. Meanwhile, Hank Fraley of the Lions is the father of Moon’s Trent Fraley, who is a Marshall recruit.
Pine-Richland and Moon won’t meet in the regular season, but they could see each other in the playoffs. Pine-Richland is ranked No. 2 and Moon No. 4.