High School Football Top 10: Rustin No. 1 In Power Points
Southeastern PA Top 10
Week of Oct. 18, 2013
1. Coatesville (Record: 7-0. Weeks Rated: 8.)
2. St. Joseph's Prep (Record: 5-1. Weeks Rated: 8.)
3. Archbishop Wood (Record: 6-1. Weeks Rated: 8.)
4. Imhotep Charter (Record: 5-1. Weeks Rated: 8.)
5. Neshaminy (Record: 6-0. Weeks Rated: 8.)
6. La Salle (Record: 5-2. Weeks Rated: 8.)
7. Garnet Valley (Record: 7-0. Weeks Rated: 3.)
8. Pennsbury (Record: 6-1. Weeks Rated: 3.)
9. West Chester Rustin (Record: 7-0. Weeks Rated: 2.)
10. Pottsgrove (Record: 7-0. Weeks Rated: 2.)
By Joseph Santoliquito
Philadelphia, PA (CBS) — Mike St. Clair doesn't know whether or not he saw 7-0 coming, but the West Chester Rustin football coach did foresee success this season. Where his mix of proven upperclassmen and talented newcomers has led is the top of the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA power rankings for Week 7, with 920 points and averaging 131.4 a game.
A Class AAAA (large school) earns 100 points for a victory over any Class AAAA team, 80 for Class AAA, 60 for Class AA and 40 for Class A. An additional 10 power points are earned based on the record of the teams you beat.
But entering this season, power points and district rankings weren't on the list of goals for St. Clair. He wanted to keep it simple: Just win.
That's exactly what the Golden Knights have been doing.
"I don't know if I saw 7-0 but every year we come out, we've been pretty competitive over the last seven or eight years," St. Clair said. "The kids expect to win, they train to win. We have a pretty good program going on right now. They work hard, they study hard. But 7-0 … we didn't know how we would be this year, because we graduated a lot of kids last year. I have a good group of seniors and some of the younger kids have come around really quickly."
Rustin has been winning with defense. Heading its attack is 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior middle linebacker Sean Steinmetz, who is getting FCS and Ivy League attention.
"It starts with Sean and I personally think he's the best linebacker in the area," St. Clair without hesitation. "Offensively, Terry Loper is running the ball as good as anybody in the area. Quarterback Dave Fithian makes all the right throws. He hasn't thrown an interception yet. And the offensive line with Phil Vecchioli, sophomore Ray Bordley (6-6, 300) and Matt Hosking have done a pretty good job."
Unionville poses a huge threat to Rustin's undefeated record. The Indians have a potent offense under head coach Pat Clark.
"This isn't the typical Unionville team," St. Clair said. "Pat's been a ground-and-pound team, but this year they're really balanced. They run and throw the ball really well, and size-wise, I don't know if there is a bigger team in the area. They have the whole package. They're well coached, they have a lot of talent."
Rustin is on top right now. St. Clair likes to keep three main objectives in mind: Win West Chester (accomplished in beating Henderson and Downingtown East); second goal is to win the Chest-Mont League American Conference (a victory over Unionville secures that) and make the district playoffs (currently standing No. 1).
It's looking good in October. St. Clair wants to keep it going into November.
Game of the Week
W.C. Rustin (7-0) at Unionville (6-1), Friday, 7 PM
This game is for supremacy atop the Ches-Mont League American Division. Both are undefeated in the league. Unionville comes in with a 4-0 league record, while Rustin is 3-0. Unionville's lone loss is to undefeated Garnet Valley, a 35-14 setback in its season opener. Rustin is winning with defense. The Golden Knights have only allowed double digits to opponents in two of their seven victories. Unionville, on the other hand, has scored 28 or more points in its six victories.
Prediction: Rustin 21, Unionville 13
Joseph Santoliquito is a contributing sports blogger for CBS Philly.
