One stadium. One day. Five games. Ten teams. Three states. What do all those numbers have in common? They all, in a way, relate to the 2nd Annual Friends of Coal Prep Football Classic, which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5 at Wheeling Island Stadium.
The line-up features four Keystone State teams, two of which will face off against each other in the second game of the day. The five-game line-up also features programs from West Virginia and Ohio.
A one-day ticket for all five games will cost $20, said event coordinator Ken Halloy.
Here is the order of games for the day:
Game 1: Akron-Buchtel (OH) vs. Wheeling Central Catholic (WV)
Game 2: McKeesport Area vs. St. Joseph’s Prep
Game 3: Woodland Hills vs. Steubenville (OH)
Game 4: Pittsburgh Central Catholic vs. Youngstown Ursuline (OH)
Game 5: Bellaire (WV) vs. John Marshall (WV)
If some of those out-of-state program names sound familiar, it’s because PA teams have played them recently.
Wheeling Central Catholic handed Pittsburgh City League affiliate Brashear its only regular season loss last year. Youngstown Ursuline throttled Bethlehem Catholic in a Week 1 opener last year at Banko Field in Bethlehem. Lastly, John Marshall played, and lost, to State College Area in Week 4 of the 2008 regular season.
Looking ahead, Halloy will bring a five-games-in-one-day event to Pittsburgh in 2010. The event will be held at The Wolvarena, also known as Turtle Creek Stadium, which serves as the home for Woodland Hills High School.
That event will feature five WPIAL teams: Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Thomas Jefferson, McKeesport Area, and Penn-Trafford, in addition to host Woodland Hills. Five Ohio schools will compete in the event.
Also in 2010, Halloy mentioned that he’s bringing traditional Harrisburg and Mid-Penn powerhouse Bishop McDevitt to Wheeling. There is a distinct possibility that McDevitt will bring a high national ranking when it descends upon Wheeling Island Stadium in 2010. The Crusaders figure to be ranked in 2009 as well – they boast 11 Division-1 recruits on their team.
Halloy is also hopeful that nationally-recognized and ranked Gateway, from Monroeville, would make a 2010 trip to Wheeling as well. Gateway was, at one time last season, ranked 3rd in the nation by the USA-Today. The Gators entered the 2007 season ranked 10th in the nation by the same publication.
