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Mike White's high school football chat: 9.11.18
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Mike White
11:03
Happy rain-free Tuesday. Well, it has kind of stopped raining. The open sign is on. Store is open. Let loose with any questions.
2AFootballFan
11:03
The Steel Valley - Avonworth game last weekend was incredible.  Two very good teams fighting it out until then end.  Do you see this as a preview to a possible 2A Championship game?
Mike White
11:05
Well Steel Valley is our No. 1 ranked 2A team. Avonworth almost won. That says something for Avonworth. Washington lost to Charleroi. Steel Valley squeaked by Avonworth. Maybe 2A is more than just one or two teams that will contend for title. Big game this week is Shady Side at Steel Valley. We'll know more about Shady Side after this week. I think many people at start of season, including myself, thought there was Steel Valley and Washington, and then everyone else. Wrong!!!!!
11:08
News on the recruiting front this morning. North Allegheny's Joey Porter Jr. commits to Penn State. Can't say I'm surprised. He had Miami, LSU and Nebraska on final list. I always thought no way he goes there. Had to be Pitt or Penn State and I got the indication earlier this summer that Penn State might be leader. Will Ju-Ju go to Penn State games like he does NA games now.????
john from BV
11:08
Big upset this week CV over NC
Mike White
11:10
If you say so. Central Valley has given no indication so far in three weeks that would make me think they will win this game. Obviously not one of Mark Lyons' best teams. But I bet they get better as season goes. I can't see a win this week. They'll be going crazy on Mastrangelo Hill if that happens.
Quad North Fan
11:10
Went to Wexford for the NA-PCC game. Got a little rowdy at the end on the field, but it seemed like NA handled them. I know this is a dead horse, but PCC's offense isn't very creative to put it mildly. Also, is this the best bunch of skill players NA has had since their State Championship teams? Those kids can all run.
Mike White
11:11
Easy now. NA has had some pretty good QBs the past two years. Not a great running back. And NA did go to the WPIAL semifinals last year and gave a really good Pine-Richland team a decent game. RIght now 6A is a two-horse race. NA and Pine.
X
11:11
I watched the NA/CC game Friday and i've seen the big 3 (PR) in 6A now a few times.  I think NA is clearly better than CC.  Shut down the run (easier said than done) and CC seems to struggle for a Plan B. They don't seem to have the home run hitting rb these days and having their young back hurt didn't help.  CC passing game was anemic at best...door may be opening for the sophomore.  I was really impressed by NA's toughness and team defense.
Mike White
11:13
Not a great Central offensive team. That happens. NA winning was not a shock. Best part of NA's team is still defense.
FanStan
11:13
OLSH vs Rochester who do you got and why?
Mike White
11:14
I'll take OLSH - just because. No, they seem like they might be better all-around team. But if that Rochester gets into Leather again - Noah Whiteleather - then Rochester will win. He ran for more than 300 yards last week. OLSH offense is impressive but key to game is OLSH defense.
AA Arnie
11:14
Are the Freedom Bulldogs for real?
Mike White
11:17
Nice to see what Freedom is doing. Good for a team that hasn't won much over the years. I'll say this: It's very possible that Freedom goes undefeated in regular season - in fact I'll say likely - and we still may not know if they are "really" good. Why? I gotta be honest. Conference is weak. Riverside isn't as good as they were last year. Neshannock isn't as good as they were few years ago. Then there's Ellwood City, Mohawk, Shenango, Western Beaver. See what I'm saying? I think Freedom is probably better than they've been in a while. Just don't know how good.
X
11:17
How do you think the NA/PR game will play out?
Mike White
11:19
The quarterback for one of the teams will run to the center of the field and plant a flag into the turf and he will be barred from a field hockey championship. That's how I think it will play out. Oh I'm sorry. Did that already happen????
Mike
11:20
Clear favorite in Class 2A Three Rivers conference? Seems like it could be a coin toss, that comes down to the last week
Mike White
11:21
Who knows? Another conference filled with teams that haven't had a lot of success lately. We will see some new faces probably winning conferences in Class 2A this year. The six class thing has helped some of the teams in 2A immensely.
OBSERVER
11:21
Don’t sleep on Beth-Center or Charleroi in AA. Those two can light up scoreboard.
Mike White
11:21
What Charleroi did to Washington was shocking. As for Beth-Center, they are always pretty good Playoff success is another matter.
X
11:21
I know it's early, but which WPIAL teams have the best chance to bring back a state title?
Mike White
11:22
Aliquippa.
Wike Mhite
11:22
4A seems to lack competitive games between top teams.  Looks like it’s basically TJ and SF and then everybody else.  SF’s only challenge on paper the rest of the year seems to be Blackhawk.  Maybe West Mifflin challenges TJ...  Any other thoughts on 4A Mike?
Mike White
11:24
Agree. 4A is not good, but what do you expect with only 16 teams in the class. That's what happens with six classes. Can you say watered down? I think TJ is on a different level right now. Yes, South Fayette is good again. But don't give up on Belle Vernon. They had some injuries/illness to key players. I'm not saying they will beat TJ if they played again, but I think they are better than they showed Friday.
WPIAL Fan
11:24
Given how competitive 5A is and how bad 6A seems to be (other than NA and PR), are you surprised in hindsight that no 5A teams elected to play up to 6A this cycle?
Mike White
11:25
Not at all. Why play up and knock your heads against the wall against NA and Pine and the likes. Do you know that a few of those 6A teams would still be about twice the size of 5A teams. You think Penn Hills or Peters regrets having dropped to 5A?
Dfresh
11:25
Seneca Lebo seems to be the best matchup this week.  Seth Morgan Lebo QB is leading 6A in Passing with over 700 and has rushed for over 200.  Who you picking?
Mike White
11:27
This game likely will determine fourth place in 6A. That might not sound like all that much because only nine teams and six go to playoffs. But finishing fourth gets you a home game in the first round. Finishing fifth or sixth puts you on the road. Top two get byes to semis. I'll take Seneca.
Wike Mhite
11:27
I know it’s early but the 5A playoffs seem like they could be a real treat!   In my opinion, 5A is the deepest class we have by far!  Seems like that enrollment level is very common with WPIAL schools.  Might be a class that continues to grow in size (# of teams) in future years.
Mike White
11:29
5A is definitely the best class in WPIAL, as far as depth of quality teams. Most people thought that before the season started. Team that intrigues me the most is McKeesport. Gateway and Penn Hills deserve to be 1 and 2. But McKeesport might be right with them in a game. Remember, as coach Matt Miller once said, McKeesport has guys again who can take it to the barn at any time.
Jim Rivers
11:29
Went to the TJ vs BV games this week. Wow TJs O line was monster. Their Center set the tone for that game. He was a beast on D too.
Mike White
11:31
You're talking about Dom Serapiglia. He's the "Dominator." One of best linemen in that class. Mac Duda is a junior who Bill Cherpak said could be their next D-1 lineman. The rest of 4A should've taken notice at that Belle Vernon game and also when Cherpak admitted that if his team keeps improving, it could be one of his better teams. That's saying a lot. Good enough to beat Erie Prep?
WashCoFan
11:32
Interstate Conf 2A looks for grabs this year with Wash High looking down and Charleroi, Beth Center and McGuffey all looking strong.  How do you think they finish?
Mike White
11:32
Tough call. I haven't seen any of them. But right now, I think Charleroi has to be the team to beat. Easy Ed Dalton might have the sleeper in McGuffey.
X
11:32
I've looked for the show that used to run on Saturday mornings that you did with Missi Matthews and couldn't find it.  Is it going to air this year?
Mike White
11:34
You're talking about the Steelers Show. They used to air it Saturdays when it was more Youth show. But the last two years, it had become more of a high school show and aired Thursday nights, sponsored by the Post-Gazette. Well it's not on TV this year but still a weekly segment on Steelers web site previewing top high school games. Steelers also post highlights of game of the week on their web site Saturdays.
Guest
11:34
What do you think of what happened yesterday with Sewickley Academy and Lincoln Park on both exchanging blows on Recruiting players
Mike White
11:35
Lot of he said, she said stuff. Nothing will happen. Just gives more fuel to the fire of private/Catholic/charter school thing. Now you have a private and charter accusing each other of recruiting.
Wike Mhite
11:35
I was pretty upset when Aliquippa ran off coach Z.  While I still think the way they did it wasn’t ideal...I must insert my foot in my mouth on thinking that it was a mistake.  It seems they have a balanced attack, can kick extra points... perhaps coach Z’s old school mentality was actually holding them back.  Aliquippa is scary good this year!
Mike White
11:38
Aliquippa was scary good last year - and many other years. Remember, got to the finals 10 consecutive years. Yes, Aliquippa throws the ball more this year. Just proves more than one way to skin a cat. Mike Warfield has done a very good job there. He stands for a lot of good things. He's trying to do things right way. But so did Mike Zmijanac. Why would Z throw the ball a lot when he had people like Terry Swanson and Dravon Henry in the backfield with a big line? Mike Warfield is excellent. But the Quips would be good this season if Big Sean was coaching them.
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