BY MIKE MASTOVICH
Bedford coach Dan Smith and his District 5 Class AA champions aren’t sure exactly what to expect in tonight’s PIAA play-in round against Pittsburgh City League opponent Westinghouse.
The Bisons (5-6) and Bulldogs (3-6) will meet at 7 p.m. at Cupples Stadium in Pittsburgh.
“It’s a big question mark,” Smith said after watching tapes and reviewing scouting reports on Westinghouse.
Smith said the Bulldogs use multiple formations on offense.
They run a 4-4 on defense but “like to bring the house.”
Westinghouse lost its first five games of the season but won three of its final four. Those three wins were by a cumulative 86-0 count against Allderdice (13-0), Peabody (30-0) and Langley (43-0).
Junior David Pryor leads Westinghouse with 188 rushing yards and five touchdowns on
35 carries. Quarterback Darrell Cosby completed 53 of 144 passes for 572 yards, two touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He also has six rushing touchdowns. Receiver Marcus Falls has 21 catches for 256 yards and a score.
“They play a fairly tough schedule in the City League,” Smith said.
Bedford has won four of its past five games, with the lone loss to undefeated Bishop McCort. The Bisons swept a pair of games on consecutive weeks against county rival Chestnut Ridge, claiming the 5-AA crown with a 29-18 victory last week.
Sophomore quarterback Marcus Shippey has keyed the resurgence. Senior Paul Detwiler has 1,097 rushing yards, and receiver Kyle Deneen has 20 catches for 426 yards. Defensively, Shippey has 134 tackles, Brian Gibbons, 119, and Tanner Ripple, 96.
“I think we’re coming together as a team,” Smith said. “We told these kids that they’ve got to believe in each other. I know that’s an old cliche. But they’ve got to stay together as a team.”
Smith said another adjustment will involve the artificial playing surface.
“Cupples Stadium has some old turf,” Smith said, comparing it to the former Mansion Park surface. “We’re hoping to match their speed with the speed that we have. It’s going to be up to our offensive and defensive linemen to make some plays and put some pressure on them and allow our linebackers to make some plays.”
