PUP high school football Game of the Week: Washington vs. Seton LaSalle (Week 9)

Each Wednesday, the PUP high school sports staff will preview the game of the week.

Between the hash marks

Who: Washington (8-1) at Seton LaSalle (8-1)

Where: Dormont Stadium

When: 7 p.m. Friday

The coaches: Mike Bosnic (Washington); Tim Storino (Seton LaSalle)

When they last met: Seton LaSalle capped a perfect regular season by winning at Washington, 52-28, on Oct. 25 of last year.

On deck: Both teams have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs, which begin next Friday.

This and that: The Class 2A Century Conference title will be on the line when No. 2 Seton LaSalle hosts No. 3 Washington. Both teams are 5-0 in conference play, and Seton LaSalle has won 11 consecutive conference games dating back to the beginning of last season. … Both teams are red hot. Seton LaSalle has won eight games in a row since a 47-14 loss to Class 3A North Catholic in the season opener, while Washington has won seven straight since falling to Steel Valley, 21-6, in Week 1. … Seton LaSalle notched its third shutout of the season and its second in three games by hammering Keystone Oaks, 55-0, in the Battle of McNeilly Road last week. Kymarr Freeman ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns, Kia Jones completed 11 of 15 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown to go along with a rushing touchdown, and Jonathan Wega returned a punt and kick for touchdowns. Freeman surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season and enters this game with 1,064 yards and 19 touchdowns. He ranks among the Class 2A leaders in both categories. … Washington is coming off a 62-0 rout of Carlynton, which was also its second shutout in three games. The Little Prexies have scored at least 48 points in each of their past five games. Jamarie Walker ran for 79 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries, while Tristan Reed was 4 of 4 passing for 90 yards and two scores. Reed is a Miami (Ohio) recruit who is having an excellent season. He has passed for 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 358 yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns, and leads the team with three interceptions. Walker has rushed for a team-high 383 yards to go along with seven touchdowns. Nine different Washington players have rushed for at least 100 yards.

Expert picks (records in parentheses)

John Santa (8-1): Washington 28, Seton LaSalle 21

Steve Rotstein (7-2): Washington 21, Seton LaSalle 20

Brad Everett (6-3): Seton LaSalle 29, Washington 22

On the radar

Montour at West Allegheny, 7 p.m. Friday

In what has been another wild season in the Parkway Conference, both West Allegheny and Montour are still in contention for a conference title. Those teams, along with New Castle, are all 3-1. Montour is looking for some payback after the Spartans, then unbeaten, fell to West Allegheny, 13-7, in overtime in last year’s final regular-season game. Montour’s Caden Halajcio (1,005 yards) ranks among the top rushers in Class 4A.

North Catholic at Hopewell, 7 p.m. Friday

Two of the top passers and most explosive offenses in the WPIAL will go head to head in a game that has lots of playoff implications. North Catholic’s Joey Felitsky (2,098 yards, 29 touchdowns) leads the WPIAL in passing yardage and touchdowns, but Hopewell’s James Armstrong (1,885 yards, 19 touchdowns) isn’t far behind. Armstrong, a super sophomore with Power Four offers, has also rushed for 611 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Steel Valley at South Allegheny, 7 p.m. Friday

The Cook brothers are looking to help South Allegheny cook up an unbeaten regular season for the first time in school history. Led by quarterback Alijah Cook and wide receiver Drew Cook, the Gladiators are averaging a Class 2A-best 49.1 points per game and have won all of their games by double digits. Their final hurdle is Steel Valley, which has suffered only one conference loss and is led by Pitt-bound running back Da’Ron Barksdale.

Westinghouse vs. University Prep at Cupples Stadium, 3 p.m. Saturday

Just when it looked like Westinghouse would once again cruise to a fourth-consecutive City League championship, University Prep stunned the Bulldogs, 20-14, earlier this month to end the team’s long league unbeaten streak. Two weeks later, the teams meet again for all the marbles. University Prep, led by longtime coach Lou Berry, aims to win its first title since 2016. Westinghouse is appearing in the championship game for the seventh year in a row.

PUP ‘underdog’ to watch

Mt. Lebanon (Plays at Norwin at 7 p.m. Friday)

Mt. Lebanon began the season with five consecutive losses and is just 2-7, but with a win here the Blue Devils would qualify for the playoffs as likely the No. 3 seed. A Norwin win would mean the Knights would be the No. 3 seed. That’s important because the No. 3 team will avoid playing No. 1 Central Catholic in their playoff opener, and both teams played No. 2 North Allegheny tight in the regular season (Norwin lost, 20-17, and Mt. Lebanon lost, 28-19).