One phrase sums up West Allegheny football:
Typical WPIAL.
Right, Mike Williams?
"They think they can run over you," Manheim Central's coach said. "We'll take the challenge."
Tonight at 7, the District Three champion Barons (14-0) face a WPIAL squad for just the third time in their 21-year state playoff history when they collide with the District Seven champion Indians (12-2) and 2,500-yard back Mike Caputo in a PIAA Class AAA semifinal in Altoona's Mansion Park.
The winner advances to next Friday's 7 p.m. state championship game in Hershey opposite either District 4 king Selinsgrove (14-0) or District 12 champ Archbishop Wood (11-2).
Central split its two previous meetings with WPIAL title teams, which occurred in the 20003-04 state championship games.
In '03, the Barons survived Pine-Richland, 39-38, in a snow-swept, double-overtime classic in Hershey. The following December, Central was handled by Thomas Jefferson, 56-20.
For Williams and his coaching staff, West Allegheny stirs memories of their WPIAL neighbors.
The Tribe will hit you.
They'll stick you.
Sound familiar? It should.
That's Barons football as well.
"They're very aggressive, they attack you," West boss Bob Palko said. "They're well-coached, so to beat them, you have to beat them. They're not going to beat themselves."
Small wonder that Palko agrees with Williams' statement that this semi should be "real thrilling, real close."
And one that may evolve into a battle of field position.
Which is where special teams come in.
Throughout this season, Central has won the field position battle. Won it because Taylor Groff routinely drills kickoffs into the end zone — he averages 55 yards per attempt and has 31 touchbacks this season.
And because Dan Trafford's rugby-style punts average better than 37 yards, with a long of 62, and have hit inside the 20 14 times.
"Some people overlook special teams," said Trafford. "Not us."
Their history suggests as much, suggests that special teams have been a Central theme in the Barons' success.
In their run to a state title in '03, Central beat Strath Haven in a wind-whipped semifinal on a Ryan Plowman field goal, then edged Pine-Richland in the snow via Shawn Wilt's block of a PAT attempt in the second OT.
This season, Central's MVP could be another special teams star, Trafford's contributions are that varied. In addition to starring on offense, defense and punting, he averages 41 yards per kickoff return; 12 on punt returns. And, he's scored on both.
Groff marvels at his versatility.
"Dan seemingly plays every position on the field," he said.
Groff was a school-record 10-for-10 in field goal attempts this season before missing a 34-yarder last Friday. He has 14 field goals in his career, two shy of the team mark set by his position coach, John Phillips, an all-state player on Central's 1993 squad.
"At the start of camp," said Groff, "Coach (Williams) was telling us we'd have the best (special) teams in the state because we were the only ones practicing it that much."
That their practice has paid off was on vivid display against Township:
Groff drilled a District Three championship-game record and career-best 45-yard field goal;
Trafford flashed in from the right flank to block a PAT attempt;
And, Derek Hart extended his 6-foot-5 frame to its absolute limit and made a one-handed haul of a late onside kick.
"They know what they're doing," said Palko. "Their special teams are very sound, very solid."
Indeed. The Barons' margin of victory in their 35-29 win over Township? Two Groff field goals.
Expect special teams to play a pivotal role again tonight. Expect it because both coaches do, seeing how evenly matched their squads are.
Both sides feature a dual-threat QB — Central's Justin Gorman (200 yards per game average) and West Allegheny's Jared Buck (124 per game).
Gorman is 34 rushing yards shy of becoming the 32nd player in state history — the third from the L-L and the second from Central along with Jarryd Moyer (2003) — to reach 1,000 yards rushing and passing in the same season.
Buck rallied the Tribe last week from an early deficit to outscore Erie Cathedral Prep 36-7 en route to an eventual 36-21 win.
The Barons' bruising ground game is geared to 210-pound power back Joe Gruber, whose rushing total this season stands at 1,352 yards following a 193-yard effort last week that marked a personal best.
The Indians counter with Caputo, and all the 190-pound junior has done is gash defenses for 2,526 yards and 32 TDs. He ran for 133 yards and two scores — including an 81-yarder — against Erie Prep.
"When they run out of the Wildcat," Williams said, "he's a one-man show."
Caputo also doubles at safety and owns a team-best 97 stops and 4 sacks.
Central has a deep receiving corps — Trafford, Royer, Hart and Casey Ebersole have combined for 111 catches, 1,685 yards and 14 TDs. West's is not as deep, but senior Bill Simmen (30-440, 14.7, 6 TDs) has gotten Williams' attention in film study.
The Barons have allowed almost 100 points less than the Tribe (140-233), and guys like John Fair, Eric Drake, Lowen Johnson and Jarryd Heisey will again be called upon to draw a line in the dirt.
A line they hope will be established in Central's favor by special teams.
"Our special teams have been successful all season," Groff said. "We started in the summer in two-a-days, and now here we are, so close to a state title.
"Pretty exciting."
Special, even.
egruver@lnpnews.com
