Gateway vs. Bethel Park

One Quad-A coach's take: The problem Bethel Park will have in defending Gateway is they spread you out so much. So you get in a bind of whether to keep guys in the box and defend that run, or try and loosen it up and play the pass. But Bethel Park is going to have to have some true cover guys on the outside or they're going to have to cheat people out there.

On defense, Gateway linebacker Dorian Bell is just great. Unlike a lot of high school kids, he's a knee-bender. A lot of high school kids play linebacker high. He plays low. Bethel Park has done a pretty good job of getting Lyle Marsh the ball out of the backfield and they might have to do that again. One thing that's hard for Bethel Park is they're not real big up front. But [coach] Jeff Metheny will have Bethel ready to play. I hope they can give them a game.

Blackhawk vs. Thomas Jefferson

One Triple-A coach's take: The running game of Thomas Jefferson against the skilled passing game of Blackhawk is what this will come down to. If you have athletes on defense that can match Blackhawk at the skill positions, then you can shut them down.

Both teams are well-coached and well-prepared, but I just think this will come down to Blackhawk not being that big up front on defense. Is Blackhawk's defense big enough to deal with Thomas Jefferson's offensive line? I don't think they are, and that is why Thomas Jefferson will win another title.

Aliquippa vs. Beaver Falls

One Double-A coach's take: I think everyone is programmed to stop the run, but Beaver Falls ran for almost 450 yards last week against Jeannette, so I think they will keep running the ball. I think both teams want to run, but I think Aliquippa's quarterback [Rasheem Jones] is special. He can throw.

It seems kind of funny to say Aliquippa has less skill than someone, but Beaver Falls' speed, especially on the perimeter, makes you be honest on defense. Maybe everyone thought Beaver Falls was a stronger team, top to bottom at the outset of this season. But you can't miss the element that Aliquippa is hitting its stride. Aliquippa has its running backs working and they've been getting stronger through this playoff run. That's why I think you're going to see a different game than when Beaver Falls beat them earlier this year.

Clairton vs. Monaca

One Single-A coach's take: I think Monaca has a strong defensive line, but Clairton can throw on them because of [receiver Kevin] Weatherspoon and [quarterback Andrew] Currington. Monaca likes to put six on the line on first down, so you can really make some yardage on first down throwing the football. Clairton just has so much defensive speed, that when Monaca has the ball, I don't know how much they will be able to do. If Clairton can establish the pass, they can win this game, big. But, if Monaca can control the ball, they can win a close one. I just think Clairton has way too much speed, though.