Rams Enter Conference Playoff Race

Now that Pine-Richland has climbed into the WPIAL Class AAAA football playoff race, the next challenge is to stay there.

The Rams will try to maintain their winning momentum when they travel up I-79 to play Erie McDowell in a Northern Seven Conference game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Erie McDowell (3-1, 1-1) features an option running offense. It’s a scheme designed to draw coverage to the runner without the ball.

“They do a nice job running an option, so it’s important for us to play assignment football on defense,” Pine-Richland coach Clair Altemus said. “If one guy misses his assignment, it’s downhill they go, and they’re off to the races. So it’s going to be a very tough game for us.”

Erie McDowell’s ground game blends quick dive-play handoffs, along with quarterback keepers or pitches to quick runners capable of turning the corner.

“That’s why we ran defensive drills this week without a football,” Altemus said. “We wanted everybody to know their assignment. It doesn’t matter who has the ball. We’re not reading that. We want everybody to do their assignment. If I’m assigned to the pitch, I’m letting the quarterback go.”

Pine-Richland (1-3, 1-1) dashed back into the playoff hunt with a 35-0 victory over Butler last Friday.

The Rams moved into a three-way tie for third place in the highly competitive Quad-A conference. Unbeaten defending state champ North Allegheny (2-0) leads the pack, followed by Shaler (1-0), with Pine-Richland, Erie McDowell and North Hills tied at 1-1 in the standings.

While it’s early in the playoff race, Pine-Richland coach Clair Altemus already sees the sense of urgency increasing.

“Look over there at the injury table, and there’s nobody there with pads on,” Altemus said this week during practice. “It’s amazing how a win can keep everybody happy and healthy. And we’ve played a tough schedule with Mt. Lebanon, Mars and North Hills.

“Hopefully, that type of a game against Butler sparks us,” he said. “For the first time in four games, we’re going into Erie McDowell completely healthy.”

Despite the fact that Erie McDowell and Pine-Richland both play in the WPIAL (District 7), the game will be officiated by PIAA District 10 officials.

Against Butler, Pine-Richland halfback Brock Baranowski carried the ball 16 times for 146 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown run.

“Some of his runs were phenomenal, the way he darted (around tacklers) and the way he followed his blockers,” Altemus said of Baranowski’s career-high performance.

Baranowksi, fullback Matt Mahood and tight end C.J. Jackson caught touchdown passes from Rams quarterback Austin Whipple, who was on target all evening while completing 11 of 14 passes for 111 yards.

“I think we played a complete game, or as close to a complete game as you could play,” Altemus said. “We had a great effort from our special teams, obviously a great effort from our defense posting a shutout, and our offense put five touchdowns up on the scoreboard against a formidable foe that was 2-1 coming into the game.”

Butler’s defense stopped the Rams on three straight plays to start the game, and the Golden Tornado had the potential benefit of a short field inside the 50-yard line for its next drive.

“I thought if they put this in, the wagon wheels could start to come off, but our defense held,” Altemus said. “It was a complete game in all three phases.”

Altemus said the Butler game video confirmed Pine-Richland defensive end David Menke dominated at the line of scrimmage throughout the game.

“One kid who really jumped out was David, who had three of our six sacks in the game,” Altemus said. “David is such a quick kid, that they can’t account for him. No matter what (scheme or combination of players) they put on him, he was going to get around it and cause havoc.”

Pine-Richland continues conference play with a home game against Seneca Valley at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.