@Jeannette_FB (5-1, 2-0) vs. @GCC_Centurions (5-1, 2-0) @wpial7 Class 1A Eastern Conference Showdown Two of the top teams in the WPIAL Class 1A Eastern Conference meet Friday night when the Jeannette Jayhawks take on the Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions in a matchup that could have major implications in the conference race. Both teams enter Friday night with identical 5-1 overall records and 2-0 conference marks, making this one of the biggest games on the Eastern Conference schedule. Jeannette Jayhawks Head coach Tommy Paulone Jr. has the Jayhawks putting together another strong season. Jeannette’s only loss came in the season opener against South Range (Ohio), but the Jayhawks have responded by winning five straight. Jeannette opened conference play with a dominant 33-0 victory over Southmoreland, followed by wins over New Brighton, Springdale, Riverview, and Serra Catholic The Jayhawks have plenty of playmakers on both sides of the football. @jaycepowell12 - Jayce Powell has been one of the team’s biggest difference-makers. The wide receiver/safety leads Jeannette with eight total touchdowns and has added two interceptions defensively. Powell is averaging 57.4 receiving yards and 36.0 rushing yards per game, giving the Jayhawks another weapon to account for. QB @StuchellAnthony - Anthony Stuchell has stepped into the starting role and has provided steady play through the air. Stuchell has thrown eight touchdown passes while completing nearly 60 percent of his attempts and carrying a 118.6 quarterback rating. Defensively, linebacker/fullback @MajhiSanders4 - Majhi Sanders leads the team with 5.6 tackles per game, while @SteeleMcalister - Mcalister Steele has been a major presence up front. Steele has recorded five sacks and is also averaging an impressive 40.0 yards per punt. Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions Greensburg Central Catholic comes into the matchup at 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play under head coach John Thompson. After opening the season with a 41-0 win over Yough, the Centurions suffered their lone loss of the season against Apollo-Ridge. Since then, GCC has put together four consecutive victories, including a 49-21 win over Leechburg last Friday. The Centurions have been especially impressive offensively during their winning streak, scoring 41 points against Carmichaels, 28 against Bentworth, 56 against Springdale and 49 against Leechburg. @BlaseBugosh - Blase Bugosh has been a major reason for that production. The two-way standout is averaging 125.3 rushing yards per game and leads the Centurions with an eye-popping 17 total touchdowns. @dlugos_tom - Thomas Dlugos has emerged as a key target in the passing game, averaging 42.5 receiving yards per game. Defensively, @BrockMcmull43 - Brock McMullen anchors the middle of the field and leads GCC with 5.7 tackles per game. @LukeSemelka - Luke Semelka has been a problem for opposing quarterbacks, leading the Centurions with four interceptions. Up front, @Aidenlent3709 - Aiden Lent has recorded four sacks, giving GCC another player capable of disrupting the opposing offense. A Game With Plenty at Stake With both teams sitting at 2-0 in the Eastern Conference, Friday night’s matchup is more than just another regular-season game. It’s a chance for one team to establish itself as the early favorite in a competitive Class 1A conference. Jeannette brings a balanced attack and several experienced playmakers, while GCC enters with one of the conference’s most productive offenses and a defense that has consistently created turnovers. The battle between Jeannette’s Jayce Powell and GCC’s Blase Bugosh will be one to watch, but the game could ultimately come down to which team wins the line of scrimmage and limits the big plays. @TheWPIALEdition will be on hand Friday night providing coverage of the matchup.