When Football Is Outlined Against A Backdrop Of Futility

We’ve slipped into October, the heart of football season.

It’s entirely fitting that when sportswriter Grantland Rice composed his immortal lead about Notre Dame’s Four Hourseman backfield, its members were “outlined against a blue, gray October sky.”

October is the month when we’ve begun to separate pretenders from contenders. It’s the change of weather – at least here in the north – and a time to bundle up while taking stock of a season already under way for more than a month.

Begin with the pros. The Steelers lost again today, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Steelers partisans, known for their fine whines, will lament the late call that awarded the New York Jets a touchdown – correctly – despite an apparent fumble.

The truth is, the Jets did all they could to lose the game, especially by botching the end of the first half, costing themselves a field goal and handing the Steelers a field goal. And still the Steelers couldn’t get it done.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, winner of an Omar Epps look-alike contest, just might be on his way to his first losing season. The Steelers are 1-3 and have to end this month by facing Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Miami and Philadelphia.

Could 1-7 be in the cards?

Already this season the Steelers have proven they can’t beat New England, even with Tom Brady gone. They might soon show they can’t beat Brady playing for Tampa Bay, either.

They also can’t seem to win without the presence of oft-injured T.J. Watt on defense.

Things are looking bleak for the Steelers. But their woes pale in comparison to a pair of area high school football programs that can lay claim to being the most uncompetitive in their classes across the state.

Begin with Class AAAA Johnstown, 0-6 and having been outscored 280-26 over that stretch. That’s a minus-254 point differential.

I searched the Maxpreps web site and according to their statistics only East Stroudsburg North has a worse point deficit among Class AAAA schools, coming in at minus-274 (46 points scored and 320 allowed). But, somehow, East Stroudsburg has a reported 1-5 record.

Give the nod for futility to Johnstown.

Somerset is challenging for the least competitive program in Class AAA. The Golden Eagles are 0-6 and have been outscored 299-54, a minus-245 differential.

DuBois Collegiate Academy, 0-7, has been outscored 271-14, a minus-257.

Give DuBois the edge with one more loss and a greater points deficit. But Somerset is a worthy challenger.

If you are wondering how bad a Johnstown-Somerset game might be, you are in luck. The two teams are scheduled to play Oct. 14 at Somerset.

I think I might make the drive that night to see history. How often does one get to see two of the worst programs in the state on the same field?

I can only imagine what Grantland Rice would have to say about that one.