The "matchup of heavyweights" story line is probably overused in sports -- but in this case, as Central Catholic and Upper St. Clair are set to clash in football, it truly fits.

Consider this: Since 2003, the teams have a combined 125-15 record.

Also, the programs have won the past two PIAA Class AAAA championships, with Central Catholic winning last year and Upper St. Clair capturing the crown in 2006. Both of those teams had 16-0 records.

So when the Post-Gazette's No. 3-ranked Vikings (2-1) travel to No. 5 Upper St. Clair (3-0) tonight in a non-conference showdown, it isn't an overstatement to say that two of the finest big-school programs in the state will be tussling.

"Central Catholic is one of the benchmark teams in the WPIAL," Upper St. Clair coach Jim Render said. "No matter what year it is, if you beat them, you've done something."

Central Catholic coach Terry Totten said, "I think Jim Render won those 326 games, or how many it is now, because of something very simple: He sets it up so that his kids are in positions to do what they are capable of doing. It sounds so simple, but he identifies his strengths every year, and plays to them."

This season, Upper St. Clair's strength -- as it has been many times -- is in its controlled passing game, with junior quarterback Alex Park looking for receivers Austin Everett and Spencer Scott. Through three games, Park, a first-year starter, has completed 33 of 42 passes for five touchdowns.

"He's very creative," Totten said of Park. "He's much more athletic than people think, and he is a leader for them. Park is someone I am very impressed with."

That said, a key to Central Catholic securing wins in its past two games -- against Canon-McMillan and Mt. Lebanon -- has been the ability of junior quarterback David Smyers to manage the offense after an injury to starter Nolan Krivijanski in a Week 1 loss against Lakeland, Fla.

"Our kids are getting to the point where they are showing a lot of confidence in him," Totten said of Smyers. "He has leadership qualities and he is a good decision maker. We are going to need him, and everyone, to perform against Upper St. Clair if we want to beat them."