Running backs rule the roost

With the top four seeds reaching the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals for the first time since 1995, it's anybody's guess who will survive to play at Heinz Field.

But how they'll get there is clear -- ground transportation.

It is no surprise the four teams still standing -- No. 1 Central Catholic, No. 2 Gateway, No. 3 Penn Hills and No. 4 Upper St. Clair -- feature elite running backs with Division I ability.

Ed Collington of Penn Hills, Justin King of Gateway, Eugene Jarvis of Central Catholic and Sean Lee of Upper St. Clair rank first, second, fifth and sixth among Quad A rushers.

Throw in Penn Hills senior Kenny Lewis, who has rushed for 835 yards and 14 touchdowns, and it's clear the teams that reach Heinz Field will have the same philosophy as the NFL team that plays there on Sundays.

"They are all great players, and I don't think it's a coincidence that's why the football teams are having success," Central Catholic coach Art Walker Jr. said.

The quartet of runners will play another key role when defending champion Central Catholic (11-0) plays Upper St. Clair (11-0) at Canon-McMillan High School in a rematch of last year's WPIAL finals, and Gateway (10-1) takes on Penn Hills (10-1) at Norwin High School.

The survivors will meet for the WPIAL Class AAAA title on Nov. 20 at Heinz Field.

All four teams have balanced offensive attacks. Their quarterbacks, Josh Helmrich of Upper St. Clair, Aaron Smith of Gateway, Shane Murray of Central Catholic and Bryan Moore of Penn Hills, have thrown for an average of 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

But the focal point of their offenses is the running game:

= King, one of the nation's fastest high school players, needs 72 yards to move into third place all-time among WPIAL Class AAAA runners.

= Lee, who like King is being recruited to play defense in college, is coming off a 196-yard, four-touchdown effort against McKeesport.

= Jarvis, the hero of last year's WPIAL title game, scored three touchdowns against Bethel Park last week.

= Collington, the Quad A's leading rusher, is nursing a sprained ankle and is "50-50" to play, according to Penn Hills coach Neil Gordon.

But if Collington can't go, Gordon will summon Lewis, who last week ripped North Hills for 235 yards and four touchdowns.

Jarvis, who scored five touchdowns in the WPIAL title game last year, is close to 100 percent after sitting out three late-season games with a tender hamstring. He rushed for 76 yards on 12 carries against Bethel Park.

"I wasn't trying to tackle him," USC coach Jim Render said, "but he looked very quick to me."

For their part, the defensive coordinators will spend practice this week preparing to stop both time-consuming drives and long runs.

Gordon said Penn Hills is willing to take its chances that Gateway won't put together a bunch of 10-play, 80-yard drives. He wants to avoid King's sprints to the end zone.

"You have to put up with the 4- or 5-yard gains and hope for a penalty or a fumble or a mistake here and there," Gordon said. "Where (King) kills people is the 75 and 80-yard jaunts. You can't afford to let that happen."

If any team is armed to stop King, it's Penn Hills. The Indians' first-team defense has allowed one rushing touchdown in the past six games. The unit, with speedy cornerbacks David Harvey and Lewis, has permitted only one touchdown run over 20 yards all season -- A 38-yarder to Jarvis.

"We have decent quickness; more than most," Gordon said. "But if you don't have a great angle, you're not going to catch him."

Additional Information:

Big four

Player, school -Atts.-Yards-TDs

Ed Collington, Penn Hills -177-1,675-22

Justin King, Gateway -157-1,667-29

Eugene Jarvis, Central Catholic -147-1,243-19

Sean Lee, Upper St. Clair -165-1,165-20