It's no secret that the focus of the WPIAL Class AAA championship game is on the running backs.

It's only natural, because both Hopewell's Rushel Shell and West Allegheny's Mike Caputo have gained more than 2,000 yards rushing.

But the key to this game might not be which running back gains more yards. It could be: Who will stop the run?

Defenses are on heightened alert.

"We both know what's coming," said Hopewell coach Dave Vestal.

Knowing what's coming and stopping it from happening are two different things, as every West Allegheny and Hopewell opponent has found out with Shell and Caputo. West Allegheny (10-2) meets Hopewell (12-0) in the Class AAA title game today (5 p.m. kickoff) at Heinz Field.

A week ago, West Allegheny knocked off Thomas Jefferson, 28-21, as Caputo rushed for 259 yards and the Indians broke Thomas Jefferson's 48-game winning streak against WPIAL teams.

"We have to be physical in this game, we have to be sound defensively and we have to tackle well," Vestal said. "You look back at their Thomas Jefferson game. Thomas Jefferson had opportunities to tackle him, and they didn't get it done."

West Allegheny has no delusions of stopping Shell. But the Indians would like to do a better job than the previous time the teams met, when Shell rushed for 349 yards in a 34-26 Hopewell win. Caputo had 218.

"Seriously, no one has stopped the kid yet," West Allegheny coach Bob Palko said. "So, yeah, there is a lot of pressure on our defense because at any time he can break one."

Both teams' defenses have been strong at times this year. Hopewell gives up only 12.3 points a game and West Allegheny 15.3.

"The thing that makes them different than other teams is they're so physical," Palko said. "They just beat you up and wear you down."

Vestal speaks highly of his offensive line because it is undersized.

"We were just looking at this. Do you know we average only about 205 pounds up front on the line?" Vestal said. "Every team we've played has been bigger than us. But these kids always say it doesn't matter. They just work together and execute as a team."

West Allegheny's offensive line is led by Tim Johnson, a 6-foot, 270-pound senior who, Palko said, is one of the best linemen he has coached.

But, in a game with two big stars such as Shell and Caputo, often times another skill-position player ends up making the biggest plays. Hopewell does not throw much, but Mark Ross is a big-play receiver who has earned high praise from opposing coaches. Ross is averaging 23.8 yards on 28 catches.

Quarterback Matt Hundenski has thrown only 83 times, but completed 43 and has 12 touchdown passes.

For West Allegheny, quarterback Jared Buck has played well in the playoffs, throwing for more than 200 yards in the quarterfinals. For the season, he is 66 of 121 for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns.

"We think we know we're going to get a push on the offensive line at times in the game, and so are they," Vestal said.

Another factor in this game could be the field condition. Hopewell has played only a few games on grass this season, and Shell acknowledged he cuts better on artificial turf.

"We contemplated whether we should practice some on grass, but I'm not sure that's such a big deal with him," Vestal said.

West Allegheny is trying for its fifth WPIAL title, all under Palko. Hopewell is trying for its second. The other was in 2002.

• This is the fourth championship appearance for Hopewell. The others came in 1990, 2001 and 2002.

• Hopewell quarterback Matt Hundenski also is a WPIAL championship wrestler.

• Bob Palko is in his 15th season as West Allegheny's head coach, and his record is 129-46. He is 4-0 in WPIAL championship games.

• This is the only championship game that is a rematch between teams that met in the regular season.

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