West Allegheny coach Bob Palko said the West Allegheny-Hopewell game last season was Vikings running back Rushel Shell's coming-out party.

Palko would like to spoil the one-year anniversary.

Shell got his first high school start last year against West Allegheny. His 212-yard performance led the Vikings to a 20-17 victory.

It was the second consecutive game in which Shell ran for more than 100 yards -- a streak that has reached 12 games.

"I love it," said Hopewell coach Dave Vestal. "The more he gets the ball, the better he gets. He's still running, still figuring things out. It seems like he's at his best when the pressure is on him."

Palko said it is hard to slow down this stellar sophomore.

"Maybe if we could play 13 [guys on defense]," he joked.

Hopewell (6-0, 4-0), the Post-Gazette's second-ranked WPIAL team in Class AAA, will play host to No. 4 West Allegheny (5-1, 4-0) at 7 p.m. tonight at Tony Dorsett Stadium.

The teams are fighting for control of the Parkway Conference.

Shell leads the WPIAL in rushing yards (1,143) and touchdowns (19).

"It's going to be a huge challenge for us," Palko said.

"He's as good as advertised."

The Indians have a star running back of their own in Mike Caputo, whose 992 yards put him fifth in rushing yardage among WPIAL running backs.

West Allegheny's quarterback, Jared Buck, has been solid this season, completing 26 of 46 passes for 425 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception.

That last statistic could be the key to beating Hopewell, Palko said.

"We have to try to create turnovers, and we cannot turn the ball over," he said.

Creating turnovers against Hopewell, however, is no easy matter.

Like the Indians, the Vikings have an efficient quarterback. Matt Hundenski's statistics are similar to Buck's -- 25 completions in 46 attempts for 506 yards, eight touchdowns and an interception.

Palko said it will be hard to stop Shell without getting burned by Hundenski and wide receiver Mark Ross.

"There's no way to stop them unless there's an act of God or something," Palko said.

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