The WPIAL does not consult Jeff Metheny when it schedules conference football games. If it did, Bethel Park would not be in the midst of this quandary.

"We're facing the state champions from 2005 and 2006 back to back," the Black Hawks' coach said. "I'd rather play Avella and Springdale."

That's no knock at Avella and Springdale. Class A opponents, naturally, are preferable to two grade-A Quad-A challenges in eight days.

Bethel (4-2, 1-1) lost to McKeesport, 28-27, in double overtime Friday when a 2-point conversion pass was slapped away. Metheny bypassed a certain third OT that Ethan Talbot would have afforded with his kicking foot.

Tomorrow, after losing to the 2005 PIAA Class AAAA champ, Bethel will play host to the reigning titlist, Upper St. Clair (4-2, 1-1), in a Great Southern Conference matchup that sizzles.

Upper St. Clair responded with a vengeance following a second consecutive defeat, a loss to Baldwin. It ripped Canon-McMillan, 35-12, at home Friday.

Bethel is encountering a rejuvenated team with a pedigree and a daunting history with them. The Panthers are 21-4 against Bethel since Jim Render became their coach in 1979. Upper St. Clair has won the past three years by counts of 40-13 (in 2006), 37-0 and 31-0.

Lyle Marsh's status is a concern for Bethel. Marsh, who has rushed for 768 yards, missed the second half Friday because of an arm/shoulder injury.

Adhering to student confidentiality rules, Metheny would not pinpoint the injury or discuss Marsh's status. But it did not appear to be serious.

Trivial pursuit

McKeesport Area had a 1,000-yard rusher at quarterback each of the past eight seasons. But the player who didn't make it in 1998 had an outstanding year nonetheless. Name him.

South Fayette keeps winning

They've won close ones, they've won blowouts. Thus far, South Fayette has done nothing but win.

The Lions (6-0, 5-0) share first place in the Century Conference with Steel Valley (6-0, 5-0), which is a trifle surprising to first-year coach Joe Rossi.

"We thought we would be competitive. But to say 6-0 -- no, I'm not going to lie," said Rossi, who coached Riverview the previous five seasons.

South Fayette's defense has been stout, allowing only 13 points over the past three games and 51 overall, seventh among 45 WPIAL Class AA teams. The offense has been solid. Rossi has gone to a ground-oriented attack, in contrast to school tradition, and said it is working. The offensive line coach is former NFL lineman Jim Sweeney.

Quarterback Jon Taglianetti, who missed the previous 2¹/₂ games with an injury, ran for two touchdowns and threw for two Friday in a 31-7 victory against South Allegheny.

The Lions will have a showdown at home with Steel Valley next week. But first, a thorny test Saturday vs. Seton-LaSalle (3-3, 3-2). Kickoff at Honus Wagner Field, Carnegie, will be at 7:30 p.m.

The regular-season finale in two weeks won't be a breeze, either -- at Brentwood (3-3, 3-2).

Remember the Gladiators

There will be a lengthy celebration tomorrow for a team worthy of celebration: the 1977 South Allegheny Gladiators, champions of WPIAL Class AA.

Festivities will begin at 2 p.m. and continue up to and during the Century Conference game at Glassport Stadium vs. South Park, which will begin at 7:30.

A pep rally in the South Allegheny High School gym, with both teams in attendance, will be the first event. There will be friendly competitions between members of the respective squads, including a throwing event pitting 1977 quarterback John Mattie and current QB Zach Anderson. There also will be a Hollywood Squares type of trivia game.

Dinner, sponsored by the South Allegheny Football Boosters, will follow for players from each team.

A parade will start at 5:45 at the old Rite Aid, Seventh and Monongahela, Glassport, and end at the stadium. A reception for the '77 team will begin at 6:30 near the end zone on the scoreboard side. Players from '77 will watch the game from the sideline, then get a commemorative gift at halftime.

That team from 30 years ago, led by coach Rich Zukaukas, running back Darnell Richardson and lineman Dave Opfar, defeated Laurel, 12-6, in the WPIAL final.

A worthy AA challenger

Steel Valley is looking more and more like a bona fide threat to Jeannette's fiefdom in WPIAL Class AA. Not only are the Ironmen 6-0 overall, 5-0 in the Century Conference, they have crushed all of their opponents. Their closest triumph was by 17 points at Seton-LaSalle in Week 3.

Perhaps their most impressive performance was Friday when they throttled Burgettstown, a suddenly risen program, 39-7. Steel Valley did that without Tyrell Smith, who had 501 yards rushing in the first five games but sat out for undisclosed reasons. Smith will play tomorrow at Charleroi.

Trivia answer

Jon Balogh rushed for 923 yards, slightly behind the team leader, Ed Herriott (1,007). Balogh led the Tigers with 18 touchdowns.