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Mike White's high school football chat: 10.08.19
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Mike White
11:00
Here we are, yet another sunny Tuesday morning. Hasn't it been great weather every Tuesday for this chat? And I know this chat just brightens your day more.
11:02
Only three weeks left in regular season. Some teams have now clinched playoff spots. I think of the most interesting games this year is this Friday and it's a non-conference Class 1A game - West Greene at Clairton. Yes, West Greene. The team that rarely makes the playoffs is undefeated and faces the team that always seems to be in at least the semifinals. It's interesting because what will this Ben Jackson (19 yards a carry) do against the Bears?
Let's get started. Fire away with questions.
DT
11:02
Derry's defense has been solid this year, but do they have enough offense to get to the final again?
Mike White
11:05
Yes, Derry offense has been suspect at times. But they just scored 52 against ... oh yeah, it was Uniontown. They should finish second in conference. That's a home game in the first round. So I could definitely see them in semifinals. And if you get to final four, who knows. But I think Aliquippa and Central Valley are definitely above rest of Class 2A, but North Catholic is intriguing.
NorthSouth
11:05
How do you see the Allegheny 8 conference playing out after Moon beating Peters?
Mike White
11:07
Well, Bethel is 4-0. USC, Moon and Peters are 3-1 and Baldwin 3-2. Five teams definitely go to playoffs and a possibly sixth as wild card. USC plays at Moon this week. Many are anticipating Peters at Bethel next week. I thought Peters and Bethel were the two best teams - until last week. Now I don't know. I think Bethel still might be best team. But that could change.
SLS Alum
11:08
Mike- What are your thoughts on Coach Z and SLS.  Program has the lowest number of kids participating ever, many just quit after he cancelled the JV season.  I still see a lot of talent, but just seems like an awful fit.  Going to be a difficult rebound.
Mike White
11:10
I have not seen them play and have no idea how many players they have. I don't know about cancelling JV season, but these days, that is not uncommon because of roster sizes. They are 1-5 but seemingly have a chance still to make playoffs. Big game this week against S.Side Beaver. Obviously, Seton not real good at 1-5. But to say it's a bad fit? I don't know about that. You know, they were only 5-6 last year.
Stan Kachowski
11:11
We only have 3 games left in the regular season and I think it is pretty safe to say that Aliquippa, CV, Derry and NC are all 3A playoff teams.  Who do you have rounding out the last 4 slots?
Mike White
11:13
Looking like South Park and Beaver Falls in one conference. I think EF gets in from other conference most definitely. Final spot too tough to call.
Wike Mhite
11:13
Another Friday, another conference win by South Fayette - what else is new, haha.  Knoch fought hard but clearly did not have a plan for stopping the SF passing attack. Mike, thoughts on the Knoch vs. New Castle game this week?  That OT loss to Montour could come back to haunt them.  If they lose this week to NC a 5-0 start by Knoch could turn in to sitting out the playoffs in a tie for 4th with Montour at 4-3 in conference.
Mike White
11:16
They did not have a plan to stop the South Fayette passing attack??? Really??? Please. It's no secret that South Fayette passes a ton. To say Knoch didn't have plan? Did you ever think maybe they weren't good enough defensively to slow down South Fayette? I mean, South Fayette has torched many opposing defenses over the years with their passing. Knoch isn't the first. But yes, if they lose this week to New Castle, they might have problems. And about that 5-0 start. Besides Blackhawk, not one of those five teams even close to .500.
NorthSouth
11:16
The weather this year on Friday nights is as good as it's ever been.  Do you have a favorite "Weather" game that you've covered?
Mike White
11:18
That has to be the Pine-Richland vs. Manheim Central state championship in 2003 in Hershey. Played in a snowstorm. It probably snowed 6-7 inches by halftime. That was Neil Walker's last game. Unbelievable game. Manheim Central won 39-38 in OT. Game was decided by missed extra point by Pine in OT. Snow was so much that they postponed the two finals the next day and put them on Sunday. That was Darrelle Revis' day.
D9 Dave
11:18
What are your thoughts about the portion of the rule that allows a transfer to play in the regular season and be ineligible for the playoffs?  Don't you think it puts the coach in a tough situation and is it really fair to the team?  In my opinion the transfer should either be eligible or ineligible for both.  Your thoughts?
Mike White
11:22
The PIAA put in the rule. They thought it would address at least a little the many transfers for athletic intent. People complain about all the transfers. So the PIAA put in a rule that would maybe address it a little, and people still complain. I don't have a problem with rule. Kids know the rule before they transfer. It's a chance they take. There are waivers. And please don't anyone start with the "kids have a right to go to any school they want. No one has the right to tell them they can't play football." Kids most certainly do have a right to go to any school. No one is stopping them. But you know, there are rules for things. You might not like the rule, but there are rules everywhere. And yes, it does put the coach in a tough situation.
Wike Mhite
11:22
Lots of exciting matchups coming down the stretch in the 5A Allegheny 8.   Any thoughts on how you think that might play out?  Depending on the ohtci
Mike White
11:22
We talked about this above.
Robert katich.
11:22
When are realignment going to be done.
Mike White
11:23
Schools must turn in enrollment figures to PIAA later this month. PIAA usually has classification enrollment cutoffs in December. WPIAL won't do any realigning with football until after the new year.
TM
11:24
Peters Twp. lost a close game to Moon and you dropped them out of your top 5...can you explain the reasoning? Penn Hills is 5...PT beat them?
Mike White
11:27
Peters Township did NOT beat Penn Hills. They don't play. Penn Hills is 6-1 just like Peters. Penn Hills' only loss was to Pine-Richland. Class 5A is very hard to rank because of depth of quality teams. We felt like we should have someone from Penn Hills' conference in the top 5. Penn Hills is in first place. We have Bethel and Moon ranked from Peters' conference. Really, it doesn't matter at all right now. If Peters wants back in top five, they simply need to beat Bethel next week and they will probably be back in.
Big bob.
11:27
When are the realignment going to be announce
Mike White
11:27
Read above. Already answered that. Not until new year.
11:28
Could be some major changes, though. WPIAL will most likely survey schools in near future to find out their feelings.
NorthSouth
11:28
Is there a Running Back in recent WPIAL history that you would compare Ben Jackson to?
Mike White
11:31
A number of Class 1A running backs have put up big numbers. Maybe not like this kid, though. And this kid is 6-1, 220. I have only seen highlights of him. I met him in person two weeks ago when we had him on weekly Thursday night show on KDKA and The Fan. The kid passes the eyeball test. Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz hosts the show with me. Eric brought up a great comparison. Now don't get me wrong. Neither Eric or myself are saying Jackson is as good. But with his size and running style, he reminds you of Paul Posluszny in high school. Again, please, I am not saying Jackson is another Posluszny. But his running style seems to be like Posluszny. And Jackson is a linebacker who realizes his future might be on defense.
Alex
11:32
Do you think the winner of the Burrell-Freeport this Friday will be the final playoff team in the 3A Big East Conference?
Mike White
11:33
Most likely. Because they both beat Deer Lakes and if they would tied Deer Lakes, head-to-head is the first tiebreaker. Plus, Deer Lakes has to play Derry and North Catholic yet. So, barring some major upsets, the Burrell-Freeport winner should be in.
Mark
11:33
Hi Mike.  Gateway has a balance offensive attack. I think they can whip Massillon this week and roll to the 5A WPIAL title.  What do you think?
Mike White
11:36
Whip Massillon? Settle down, Mark. Don't get delusional. Massillon is really good. No. 1 in the state in Ohio in Division II, second-largest class. They already beat Penn-Trafford by three TDs. Penn-Trafford beat Gateway. Gateway is better than it showed against Penn-Trafford (Gateway had five turnovers). And it would not be shocking if Gateway beat Massillon or if Gateway won WPIAL title. But  "whip" Massillon? Stop being silly.
Stan Kachowski
11:36
On the transfer issue: I don't have a problem with making kids ineligible for athletic intent.  However, do you not think it is a little unfair to automatically disqualify a kid who actually moved to a different district because his parents decided to buy a house there? I think it is going a little too far when a kid - who has no say in the matter of where his parents buy or build a house - is automatically disqualified from the postseason.
Mike White
11:38
As I said, there are waivers and they can be ruled eligible. Some have been ruled eligible for postseason after transfer. They have to apply for waiver.
Quip-Town
11:38
How many rushing yards do you think SP will gain against Aliquippa this Friday?
Mike White
11:40
Hmmmm. Well considering Aliquippa has allowed only 49 all season. ... That's surreal when you think about it. I don't care who they played.  But the problem isn't always the rushing yards gained. It's the yards lost. Sacks go against rushing yards. And Aliquippa's front is so big, and good. Rudy Mihoces leads South Park with over 600 yards rushing. I say South Park gets 50-60 yards rushing this week.
11:44
In Class 2A, top two teams in four conferences get a home game. So an Apollo-Ridge win or a Shady Side loss clinches second for A-R. It would be shocking for A-R to lose to Steel Valley. But even if they do, I think A-R will still finish second. Shady Side would have to win its final two conference games. And one is against Avonworth. Shady Side isn't beating Avonworth.
Big Mac
11:44
Canon-McMillan's coach was suspended a couple weeks for something that occurred in a locker room at one of the early games. Never saw a reasoning, but players, parents, etc. were very upset with the suspension. What happened there?
Mike White
11:46
He reportedly was upset at halftime of game and knocked over a cooler or soda machine. Apparently that was it. But it was enough I guess to upset some parents. And ... Wait I'll stop there about sports parents.
X
11:46
I didn't like the menu of 6A games Friday, so I was down to Moon/Penn Trafford and TJ/Central Valley.  I chose the latter and it was a good game for a half.  Studly Dudley was pressured all night but kept getting up. He has a cannon for an arm...had a completion that was about 50 yards from line of scrimmage in the air. He has good feet, too.  Who are your top 5 jr qbs?
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