Moon will be facing old rival Blackhawk next Friday in the WPIAL Quarterfinals at Slippery Rock University.  Why Slippery Rock?  Who knows?  To see where other Quarterfinal Games will be played click on the AAA link above and then click on Quarterfinals, WPIAL Playoffs.  The Cougars were the fourth seed out of the Parkway Conf and are coming off a victory over Keystone Conf champion Greensburg-Salem in Round One.  All four Parkway Conf qualifing teams have advanced to the quarterfinals.  Since losing to the Tigers three weeks ago, the Cougars defeated Montour (20-7) at home and in the final game of the season lost to Ambridge (17-14) on the road.  The Cougars other losses were to West Allegheny in Week 5 and Moon in Week 7 each by a score of 35-14.  As noted above, Blackhawk defeated Greensburg-Salem last night by a score of 38-9.  Blackhawk's record to date is 7-3. 

     You know that the Cougars will be out to avenge the thorough thrashing they took against the Tigers in Week 7 and to do their best to prove it was a fluke.   As a reminder, the Tigers ran for 164 yards while holding Blackhawk to a mere 74 yards in that game.  Blackhawk's tailback Jeremy Bruce (All-State and WVU recruit) was held to 20 yards on 10 carries in that game.  The Tigers' QB Matt Dowdell had one of his best games ever completing 13 of 16 passes for 279 yards and a TD.  Bruce had to sit out the Cougars game with Montour the following week due to his being ejected in the Moon game.  In that game, Chris Hayes replaced Bruce at tailback and rushed for 119 yards on 10 carries including a 24 yd TD run. On defense, Josh Gumbert stepped up and intercepted three Montour passes including one for a TD.  Last week, Blackhawk lost a heartbreaker to Ambridge by a score of 17-14.  Bruce returned to action and gained 126 yards on 26 carries including a go ahead TD on a 10 yard run in the 1st Qtr.  Ambridge came back and scored all of its 17 points in the 2nd Qtr to lead 17-7 at the half. Blackhawk narrowed the score to 17-14 in the 3rd Qtr.  In the 4th Qtr, the Cougars had the ball inside the Bridgers two yard line and once Bruce failed to get in and on the next play Blackhawk QB Alan Denman on a sneak fumbled at the goal line.  Ambridge held on and won 17-14.  Last night, Blackhawk defeated Greensburg-Salem 38-9 on the road in Round One.  Like our Tigers, Blackhawk was in a tight game midway through the 3rd Qtr holding a slim 10-9 lead when they exploded for 21 points.  First Jeremy Bruce threw a pass to Jeff Helbig that resulted in a 82 yard TD.  Next Bruce ran in a TD from the one yard line following a Cougar interception by Eric Petre.  On Greensburg-Salems next possession, Bruce intercepted another pass and ran it back 35 yards for a TD making the score 31-9 at the end of the 3rd Qtr.  Bruce would score once more in the 4th Qtr on a five yard run making the final score 38-9.  On the night, Jeremy Bruce carried the ball 26 times for 95 yards and two TDs, passed once for 82 yards and a TD, and had a interception return for TD.  Not bad for one game.  Blackhawk's slot back Tyler Pete caught a 15 yard pass from Denman in the 2nd Qtr for their first TD.  Also, the Cougars kicker, Chris Cosgrove kicked a 38 yard FG.  Defensively, besides the two key inteceptions by the Cougars, they also blocked a Greensburg-Salem FG attempt in the third quarter that was called by Coach  Joe Hamilton the turning point of the game. 

     Moon knows it must prepare well for the Cougars.  Despite nagging injuries to several players, the Tigers will find a way to work past them and continue their quest for trip to Hienz Field and beyond.  Refuse to lose.  Go Tigers!!!!!!!!!!!             
    

Blackhawk Football Roster

Moon/Blackhawk Game Report

Blackhawk/Montour Game Report

Blackhawk/Ambridge Game Report

Blackhawk/Greensburg-Salem Game Report - Trib Review

Blackhawk/Greensburg-Salem Game Report - Allegheny Times

       Here are the sixteen team qualifiers from the four  WPIAL AAA conferences:

WPIAL AAA Conferences

Parkway	Big Seven	Greater Allegheny	Keystone
1 West Allegheny (9-0)	1 Thomas Jefferson (7-2)	1 Franklin Regional (7-2)	1 Greensburgh-Salem (8-1)
2 Moon (8-1)	2 Canon-McMillan (7-2)	2 Pine-Richland (7-2)	2 Yough (7-2)
3 Ambridge (5-4)	3 Chartiers Valley (5-4)	3 Hampton (7-2)	3 Belle Vernon (5-4)
4 Blackhawk (6-3)	4 West Mifflin (4-5)	4 Knoch (3-6)	4 Mount Pleasant (4-5)

      Here is the possible schedule:

Fri, Oct 29th	WPIAL Round One - Char Valley	Moon Tiger Stadium	28-7 (W)
Fri, Nov 5th	WPIAL Quarterfinals - Blackhawk	Neutral Site - Slippery Rock Univ.
Fri, Nov 12th	WPIAL Semifinals	Neutral Site - To Be Determined
Sat, Nov 20th	WPIAL Championship	Heinz Field
Fri, Nov 26th	PIAA Quarterfinals	Neutral Site - To Be Determined
Fri, Dec 3rd	PIAA Semifinals	Neutral Site - To Be Determined
Fri, Dec 10th	PIAA State Championship	Hershey Stadium

Go Tigers!!!!!!!!!!!

Directions to Slippery Rock University

Cross Sewickley Bridge, turn right onto Ohio River Blvd and proceed to Interstate 79 (I-79).  Follow I-79 north toward Erie for approximately 40 miles.  Get off I-79 at Exit 105 (PA-108, Slippery Rock).  Turn left onto PA-108 and drive approximately four miles into Slippery Rock to the major intersection in town (BP Gas Station will be on your left).  Turn right and drive to second stop light.  Turn left onto Kiester Road.  You should be able to easily see the stadium lights at this point. Stadium is about a quarter of a mile away to the left of the tennis courts.   Allow an hour to an hour and a half driving time.