Dry weather in Western Pa let to a lot of points and a lot of prime time performances as the WPIAL hits the halfway point of the 2004 season.

Shane Murray - Pittsburgh Central Catholic:
In the biggest game of the night, the Vikings quarterback did it all in another marvelous performance by Class AAAA's top team.

Murray was 7 of 11 passing for 231 yards and 3 touchdown passes, plus a 19-yard run for a score as #1 Central Catholic beat back #2 Penn Hills 39-25.

Ed Collington - Penn Hills:
OK, so they didn't win the big showdown (see above), but you can hardly blame Collington.

The Indians back scored 1 touchdown and rushed for yet another 200 plus yard game as he ended up rushing for 238 yards on 22 carries to lift his season total to 1,049 yards in 5 games.

Justin King - Gateway:
It just wouldn't be a HighLight package if we didn't mention the Gators leading rusher.

King rushed for 331 yards (yikes) and scored 7 touchdowns (double yikes) in leading Gateway to its 4th straight win, a convincing 62-0 (triple yikes) victory over Latrobe.

Dorin Dickerson - West Allegheny:
In the other big #1 vs #2 game of the night, Dickerson helped bump the Indians to the top of Class AAA.

Dickerson gained 169 yards on 20 carries, caught 3 passes for 124 yards and scored 2 touchdowns on the ground and 2 touchdowns through the air to help #2 West Allegheny to a 35-14 win against #1 Blackhawk.

Jim Rockovich - Franklin Regional:
The Rock was on the loose again in Murrysville as the Panthers bounced back big time from a heartbreaking loss in Week 4.

Rockovich rushed for 240 yards and scored 3 touchdowns to pave the way for the Panthers easy 55-6 rout of the winless Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles.

Matt Dowdell - Moon:
In what was supposed to be another tight, hard fought Parkway Conference battle, Dowdell and his Tigers teammates turned the Bridgers inside out.

Dowdell was a near perfect 10 of 13 passing for 189 yards and 2 touchdown strikes, plus a scoring run as undefeated Moon rolled past Ambridge 38-14.

Mario Basira - Yough:
The Cougars had a pair of running backs rush for over 100-yards (Craig Sedunov-152, Cody Wilson-144), however it was the a little yellow flag and the foot of Basira that kept Yough from losing for a third straight time.

After an interference penalty against Uniontown put the ball at the Red Raiders 15-yard line with 0.2 seconds left, Basira booted a 32-yard field goal at the gun to help the Cougars to the improbable 28-27 victory.

Andrew DiDonato - South Fayette:
DiDonato started the week on Sunday by struggling in a tight come-from-behind win over Steel Valley. However he ended the week strong in a rout of Carlynton.

The Lions quarterback was 13 of 18 passing for 250 yards and 4 touchdown strikes in leading South Fayette to a 43-14 victory over the Cougars.

Carmen Connolly - Seton-LaSalle:
For some receivers in the WPIAL, 10 receptions might make for a good season...others, maybe a solid month. For Connolly, it was just another night at the office.

The Rebels wide out had 10 catches for 106 yards plus a 2-point conversion run as Seton-LaSalle improved to 5-0 in a 43-8 victory over the Sto-Rox Vikings.

Dom Scorza - Charleroi:
Don't look now, but the Cougars are all by themselves atop the Black Hills Conference thanks to another big game by Scorza.

Scorza rushed for 213 yards on 22 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. If that wasn't enough, Scorza also threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to lead Charleroi to a 35-0 whitewash of the Burgettstown Blue Devils.

Jeannette Jayhawks:
It came a week later than they would have liked, but congratulations to the Jayhawks for becoming the 3rd WPIAL school to reach the 600 win mark with a 32-6 victory at Waynesburg.