The media are probably the most guilty parties in pointing to a team and accentuating the merits of "skill position" players without giving ample credit to the linemen.

In fairness, it is a lot easier from the press box to notice the fantastic efforts of a guy running free in the open field with the ball, than it is to see the specifics of a hulking brute waging a battle in a confined space.

But for Bethel Park coach Jeff Metheny -- whose team went to 1-0 on the year with a win against Kiski Area last week -- it is very simple to fully grasp where games are won and lost.

Sure, Metheny's offense "features" running back Lyle Marsh, who ran for three touchdowns against Kiski Area, and quarterback Erik Olson, who is on everyone's short list of the best in the WPIAL, but he understands that his Bethel Park team will only go as far as the linemen will take it.

"We don't really care about that stuff and who gets recognition and who doesn't," Metheny said. "It is funny, you do read the newspaper and see the same kids mentioned a lot of the time.

"But the coaches know, and the kids especially know, that to have a good football team, everyone needs to come together and do their job."

In the Kiski Area game -- a runaway 47-20 victory -- Metheny had no trouble pointing to some players who might not get that much recognition, but who played a pivotal role.

There were seniors Brian Vukela (listed as a tight end/nose guard) and Rock Vomer (a fullback/outside linebacker), who Metheny lauded time and again.

Also, senior Andrew Pierson and juniors Anthony Herko and Corey Spegal -- all down linemen -- stepped up and performed tremendously in the win.

The Black Hawks, ranked No. 3 in WPIAL Class AAAA this week by the Post-Gazette, have a formidable test tomorrow, when they travel to play No. 4 Penn Hills (0-1).

The Indians, who lost to powerhouse Gateway in their season opener, had been ranked No. 1 by the Post-Gazette in the preseason.

Upper St. Clair coach Jim Render has been around Western Pennsylvania.

He is in his 40th season as a head coach -- 30th at Upper St. Clair.

He's won more than 320 games.

But there is something he will do for the first time tomorrow night -- coach in a game at Pine-Richland High School.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said.

To explain, Pine-Richland grew to the point where the school jumped to Class AAAA status this year, after competing in Class AAA since 1996. Before that, Pine-Richland competed in Class AA, even back to the days when the school was simply known as Richland.

All that causes a little bit of concern for Render, a coach known by his peers as one of the most diligent game-planners in the business.

In particular, his concern centers around his unfamiliarity and lack of history playing against Pine-Richland.

"In some ways, it is like preparing for a playoff game," Render said. "When you don't have a history with a team, as we don't have with Pine-Richland, sure it makes it tougher.

"You have to do everything quicker, like a playoff week. We have schools we traditionally play, and this isn't one of them, so that makes it tough."

There is one thing known to the Upper St. Clair contingent, though -- the Panthers will play at a palatial venue tomorrow when they make the trek north for the non-conference clash.

"What I know about Pine-Richland is that everyone else is envious of the stadium they have there and it will be very nice to play there," Render said. "Their school board had some foresight, a lot of foresight when they built that place. It is kind of like Yankee Stadium or Ohio Stadium in that it is a place that, when it was built, was very much ahead of its time."

Serra Catholic's bounce-back ability after losing a tight game against North Catholic in Week 1.

The defending WPIAL Class A champions came out last week and dropped a 21-20 decision, and now coach Rich Bowen's team has to go down to Washington County to take on another group of Trojans at California, never an easy place to play.

The age-old football axiom is that teams make their most improvement between Weeks 1 and 2.

We will find out if that is true for the Eagles because, if they drop another game, being 0-2 is vastly different to a player's psyche than having a 1-1 record.