On my way to Soldier Field in Chicago, the home of the Bears, everyone who claimed Chik-a-go as their town and their team were hopeful that this game would jumpstart their miracle machine. As I settled into the press box, the first person I ran into was Lou Ransom, former Courier managing editor and current executive editor of our sister paper, the Chicago Defender. I was sworn to secrecy as I knew he was rooting for the Black and Gold. The mystique surrounding this game would stir up memories of Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Mike Ditka and Dick Butkus. This was the Super Bowl in September for the Bruins from the Windy City.
The standings are changing in the ACMFL with two ‘leap-frogs’ in the standings. Let’s give a round of applause for Wilkinsburg and West Pittsburgh for making their jumps and getting themselves in condition for championship contention. Also, big “ups” to North Shore organization, who split the series with the number one seeded Hill District team that only had one loss coming into the last weekend of the season. Last but certainly not least, we want to give a special shout out to the Baby Twerps team of the Homewood Bulldawgs. They are ripping their competition with a 4-0-1 record. This is who will do battle this week: OFFENSE FIREWORKS—Northside Steelers wide receiver Mark Peters takes this one to the house as the Steelers offense visited the end zone many times. Northside quarterback Blaze Canning (5) scored five touchdowns in this game.
The recent contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans was supposed to be for all intents and purposes, a “clash” of the two Titans, not just the boys from Tennessee. The game or event, whichever name that you prefer to call the competition, was the kick-off for the 2009 NFL season, was billed as a bloodbath waiting to happen, and a war in cleats. AUBREY BRUCE However, it turned out to be anything but. There was supposed to be a high level of intrigue attached because of the way that the Titans who earned the No. 1 seed going into the 2008 post-season, easily handled the Steelers and “desecrated” the flag of the Steelers nation when the Black and Gold visited Tennessee as the regular season drew to a close.
by Darlene Superville WASHINGTON (AP)—President Barack Obama welcomed the 2009 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins to the White House Sept. 10 and celebrated the hockey team for its performance on and off the ice. The Penguins won the best-of-seven series in June, defeating the defending champion Detroit Red Wings. They then took the cup on a road trip to thank their fans, an act that earned the players the thanks of a grateful president. ON ICE OR GRASS—President Barack Obama holds a ceremony to honor the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the East Room of the White House Sept. 10. At left: Sidney Crosby, behind Obama, at right, is former player and current owner Mario Lemieux, and top left is Stanley Cup MVP Evgeni Malkin.
Schenley’s Jerome Mathews was the hero of the game against the Perry Commodores for two reasons. Numero uno—he combined with junior running back Shawn Davis to accumulate 109 yards rushing on 33 attempts, 18 of which he carried for 53 yards. Then he intercepted a Greg McGhee pass inside the Schenley 15-yard line within the final minute of the game to seal an 8-6 victory on Friday at Cupples Stadium. SCRAMBLING— Dante Jeter from Oliver scrambles away from Devin Palmer. Jeter threw two touchdown passes in the Bears win.
AMHERST, N.Y. (AP)—Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt was wary of the Buffalo Bulls. He knew the defending Mid-American Conference champion’s home opener wouldn’t be easy for Pitt, which hasn’t forgotten year’s loss to Bowling Green. TALENTED FROSH—Pitt’s Dion Lewis (28) gets hit by Buffalo’s Mike Newton (30) in first half of an NCAA college football game at Alumni Arena in Amherst, N.Y., Sept. 12. Pitt won 54-27. “I wanted to see how we would operate as an offense, particularly as a team, on the road,” Wannstedt said. “We created some turnovers and capitalized on them. That was key for us.”
by Rusty Miller COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—In one of the biggest games of his young college career, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor said it was his fault his team lost. Pryor threw an early interception that led to a Southern California touchdown. Then he failed to rally an offense that mustered just 265 yards against USC’s defense as the Buckeyes again lost a high-profile, national television game, 18-15 Saturday night. PREMATURE CELEBRATION— Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) celebrates with Ross Homan after a safety against Southern California in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Sept. 12, in Columbus, Ohio.
by Alan Robinson PITTSBURGH (AP) — The game lasted 64½ minutes, yet it seemed only eight minutes mattered to Ben Roethlisberger. The two minutes at the end of the first half. The two minutes at the end of the second half. And the slightly more than four minutes in overtime that decided a Titans-Steelers game controlled by two of the NFL's best and most physical defenses, except when Roethlisberger had the ball in his hands and little time to work with. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is tackled by Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan after making a catch for a first down in the fourth quarter Sept. 10, at Heinz Field. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Happy belated holidays everyone, but without further adieu, let’s cut to the chase. There have been many and I mean quite a few arguments and questions in reference to what Pittsburgh Steeler team qualifies as the greatest. Was it the “Mean” Joe Greene crew from the Studio 54 “psychedelic shack” disco era of the ’70s or is the Lil Wayne, PovertyNeck Hillbillies squad of the current millennium the best of all time? AUBREY BRUCE
The Gateway Gators, who played in the WPIAL Quad-A title game at Heinz Field three times over the past five seasons, came into Yuhas-McGinley stadium unranked to face the heavily favored and No. 1 ranked Penn Hills Indians. Many feel this is perhaps the most talented team Penn Hills has ever had. They have as many as six players drawing Division I interest and that includes the “Fab Four” of Aaron Donald, Brandon Ifill, Myles Davis and Cullen Christian. BIG RUN—Gateway’s Orne Bey scoots past the Penn Hills defense for a 34-yard TD run in the Gators 19-7 win over the Indians in the season opener Sept. 4.
