It could happen tomorrow night.

Riverside High School running back Jake Wickline needs 172 yards to break the school's all-time rushing record set by Jimmy Bates. Going into the Class AA Tri-County North home game against Mohawk, Wickline has 3,420 yards.

That means Wickline, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior, is 580 yards away from joining the exclusive 4,000-yard club.

"Figuring we'll play at least four more games, he'll have to average 145 yards a game to get there," Riverside coach Jesse Rosenberger said. "That's figuring we play in the first round of the playoffs."

That would mean Wickline would have to step up his production. Through the first six games, he is averaging 131 yards rushing a contest.

He is coming off a 223-yard, three-touchdown performance this past Saturday in a 64-26 victory against Summit Academy. Wickline, who has 17 touchdowns this year, carried the ball 16 times in that game.

"He could have already had [4,000 yards] if we'd have left him in some games," Rosenberger said.

There have been rumblings that Riverside, which is 5-1 overall and in the Tri-County North, has kept Wickline on the field too long in blowout victories.

"He had 134 yards on 11 carries against Neshannock and nine of those 11 came in the first quarter," Rosenberger said, referring to a 61-0 blowout.

Wickline rushed for 1,271 yards last season and 1,152 as a sophomore. Of course, if Riverside goes deeper into the WPIAL Class AA playoffs, the odds of him reaching 4,000 yards improve.

The other impressive number Wickline has is a 3.7 grade-point average.

Blackhawk's 'pick man'

Brooks Roorback couldn't crack the starting lineup in Blackhawk's secondary the past couple of seasons because of Josh Gumbert. But with Gumbert at California University this year, Roorback has stepped into the spotlight.

A senior, Roorback has five interceptions for the Cougars, who are 5-1 overall and tied with Montour for first place in the Class AAA Parkway Conference. What he has done hasn't surprised coach Joe Hamilton.

"He's been the free safety and we play man coverage, so he can read the quarterback," Hamilton said. "We'd bring him in last year as our other deep guy when we'd go cover 2.

"He's been a starting wide receiver for us and he's got sure hands. He's one of those money players you can depend on."

Roorback, who has good speed, is also Blackhawk's leading receiver with 21 catches for 308 yards and five scores.

Hamilton said at 6-1 and 170 pounds, Roorback looks frail, but added he isn't afraid of contact.

"He's a tough kid and he's a very good downfield blocker. He'll go after people," Hamilton said. "He's got some I-AA schools interested in him. For us, he's just a very good player."

By the way, the Blackhawk at Montour showdown is a week from tomorrow. Hamilton, for one, is surprised at what his Cougars have done this season.

"I'm very surprised because we have not played all that well up front," he said. "We've got some very good skill players and we work hard, but we need to get some better line play."

Given the fact Blackhawk is two points away from being undefeated, makes you wonder how good it might be if the line comes around.

Sitting back, enjoying the view

Beaver Falls coach Ryan Matsook is enjoying a three-game home stretch and watching the other top teams in the Class AA Midwestern Athletic Conference go after each other.

The Tigers had a tough stretch at the start with New Brighton, Center and Aliquippa three of the first four weeks. Beaver Falls has a non-conference game tomorrow at Reeves Field against Laurel, then entertains winless Ellwood City before traveling to Beaver Oct. 26.

Meanwhile, Beaver (6-0, 5-0) comes off a narrow win against Aliquippa (4-2, 4-1) and plays host to Sto-Rox tomorrow. Aliquippa entertains New Brighton (3-3, 2-3) and plays at Center (3-3, 3-3) the final week of the regular season. New Brighton is at Aliquippa and at Sto-Rox (4-2, 3-2) tomorrow and next week.

Looking ahead, it wouldn't surprise anyone if Beaver Falls, Beaver and Aliquippa would end up tied for the MAC title with one loss apiece. Of course, for that to happen Beaver Falls would have to win at Beaver.

This week's best bets

The best game tomorrow night will be at Memorial Stadium in Monaca where the Indians and Western Beaver will square off in a Class A Big Seven Conference contest, but there are a couple other games worth seeing.

In the Parkway Conference, New Castle visits Hopewell's Tony Dorsett Stadium. Hopewell (3-3, 1-2) is banged up and has dropped three consecutive games. A win against New Castle (4-2, 2-2) would revive the Vikings' playoff chances.

Over in the Class AA Century Conference, Burgettstown (4-2, 4-2) is at Brentwood (3-3, 3-2) with the winner getting a leg up on third place.

And on Saturday night at 7:30, South Fayette (6-0, 5-0) will take on Seton-LaSalle (3-3, 3-2) at storied Honus Wagner Field in Carnegie in the Century Conference.