By Josh Rizzo
PITTSBURGH -- Rod Rutherford hasn't attended many Perry football games since he graduated in 1998. Being back on the South Side for a game night brought out a different feeling.

The former Commodores and University of Pittsburgh standout felt like a backseat driver during his coaching debut Thursday night at Cupples Stadium, a 49-0 Perry win over Carrick.

"It's hard, being that I played on this field," said Rutherford, who led Perry to the 1997 PIAA Class 3A championship game. "Not being in control of my destiny in a way I guess. All I can o is call a play. I'm not out here creating and doing the things I would love to do. It was interesting."

Rutherford, a former quarterback, bounced between the NFL and various indoor leagues from 2004-2012. He also had stints as a coach at Pitt, St. Vincent College and Indiana (Pa.). What he's trying to bring to Perry, which hasn't won a City League championship since 2012, is variety.

"I think it's a fun offense," Rutherford said. "I think it gives a bunch of guys opportunities to make plays. I want to put them in a position to be successful."

Perry quarterback David Freeman helped keep the ball moving. Freeman tossed two touchdown passes to Randy Williams and returned an interception 37 yards for a score. The Commodores, which led 12-0 at the half, broke open the game with 30 third-quarter points.

Maleik mania

Bishop Canevin transfer Maleik Hemingway left an immediate impression on his Perry teammates. Fielding a punt off several bounces, Hemingway weaved through Raiders defenders for a 78-yard touchdown with 9 minutes, 29 seconds left in the first quarter.

"I was thinking I had to take it to the house," Hemingway said. 

Hemingway spent a lot of time there. He also scored on a nine-yard run in the third quarter and had two other touchdown runs called back by penalties.

Last season, Hemingway piled up over 1,500 yards rushing for Bishop Canevin. Hardship forced Hemingway back to his hometown school.

"The tuition at Bishop Canevin was putting me in a deep hole," Hemingway said. "I had to go to my home town school."

Fitting in hasn't been an issue. He played at wide receiver in the backfield. On defense, he was tasked with playing cornerback.

"The sky's the limit for him," Rutherford said. "We have to continue to keep working him hard."

Carrick fights through low numbers

Carrick, which dressed 19 players, had its best scoring drive halted at the Perry 7. At the beginning of the second quarter, a pass by Raiders quarterback L.J. Orbovich was tipped and intercepted by Perry defensive back Jakar Tucker in the endzone.

The Commodores intercepted four passes and wore down the smaller Raiders' team. Carrick (0-2, 0-1) has lost 14 straight and hasn't scored in double figures since a 34-26 win over Imani Christian Sept. 25, 2015.

"The kids come out and fight hard," Carrick coach Ed White said. "We condition hard and the kids work hard during the week. Once we get down, we go to the old mentality of the old Carrick. They look down and they try to question themselves some times. We're trying to change the culture. That's the biggest thing we can do. Even without as many kids as we should have. We want to change the culture."

By Josh Rizzo
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- There is a certainly an expectation within the Westinghouse football program to return to the Pittsburgh City League playoffs for the second straight year. Senior running back/cornerback Jeremiah Nash believes getting there will require work beyond the football field.

The Bulldogs had a breakthrough last year, finishing 5-5 and qualifying for the City League Playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Westinghouse's four regular season conference wins were as many as the Bulldogs had in the previous four seasons.

Their return to the playoffs was spoiled with a 23-20 double overtime loss to Brashear. Westinghouse, which shared the City League regular season championship with University Prep, also dropped a 21-20 decision to Berlin-Brothersvalley in the PIAA playoffs.

Despite the success, Nash would like to see more focus on character building.

"We didn't focus on becoming men," Nash said. "That's the goal this year and will help us win the championship because we fell short. People need to stick together. They didn't pull together through the whole season. Our focus is to improve as individuals so we can become a team."

The Bulldogs will have plenty of experience coming back to make another run at their first City crown since 1996. Quarterback Tay'Von Lee-Mattox returns, along with linebacker Raimere Waters and defensive lineman/tight end Tyre Hicks.

Winning has been a big boon for Westinghouse. The Bulldogs have seen increased enthusiasm and participation.

"We're at about 40," Bulldogs coach Monte Robinson said about the team's numbers. "Last year, we were at about 27 or 30, something like that. We grew."

What impresses Nash, who would like to end up at Carnegie Mellon to play football, is how the group has performed. The players aren't thinning out once camp started as they have in the past.

"The numbers change every year," Nash said. "We have 30 or 40 every season. When the season begins, the numbers will go short. This season, everybody stuck together and they just stayed. I was surprised because it wasn't the usual thing that happens every year. I like it."

Robinson believes the success helped turnout. More importantly, it gave community members the impression Westinghouse could help build young men. Just as Nash hoped.

"Winning always helps," Robinson said. "Ultimately, I think we built the program up to the point where parents are seeing the benefits of being apart of what we're doing, not just athletically, but academically."

Westinghouse's rise
2016: 5-5, 4-1*       Lost 23-20 2OT to Brashear in City League semis, 21-20 to Berlin-Brothersvalley in PIAA 2A playoffs 2015: 2-8, 1-4        Lost 14-6 to Chestnut Ridge in PIAA Class AA playoffs.
2014: 1-7, 0-5         Lost 35-0 to Chestnut Ridge in PIAA Class AA playoffs
2013: 1-9, 0-5         Lost 55-20 to Chestnur Ridge in PIAA Class AA playoffs
2012: 1-7, 1-4
2011:  3-7, 2-5
2010: 1-9, 0-8
2009: 3-7, 3-5          Lost 29-6 to Bedford in PIAA Class AA playoffs
2008: 3-5, 3-3
2007: 1-9, 1-7
2006: 1-8, 1-7
2005: 0-8, 0-8

*Shared City League regular season title with University prep