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Mike White's high school sports chat: 08.27.24
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Mike White
11:00
Well, one week of high school football is in the books. A few eye-opening things occurred, you could say. But aren't teams supposed to make improvements from Week 1 to Week 2? As for me, well I'm glad I went through heat acclimatization typing practices a few weeks ago. I can handle the heat now while typing for this chat. So let's get started. Fire away with questions.
11:02
By the way, the WPIAL did a really good thing a few years ago when it started making non-conference schedules, trying to match up teams of similar strength. Remember all those years when the WPIAL claimed the non-conference matchups were pretty much by random draw. This is much better now. This week, there are a number of really good non-conference games.
By the way, if you didn't know. Teams can schedule their own Week 0 games. It's totally up to them who and where they play. The WPIAL schedules all games from Week 1 on out.
11:04
For those top games this week, how about Belle Vernon at Aliquippa? Two defending state champs meet and it's the first game for both. How about McKeesport at Peters Township, Central Catholic at Pine-Richland, Thomas Jefferson at Central Valley, Montour at Moon, Bethel Park at Mars, Penn Hills at Woodland Hills, West Mifflin at Avonworth. I'll stop there.
Mr Ed
11:04
I know it’s only first game of year but how did Westinghouse look compared to their teams of the last two years?
Mike White
11:06
Westinghouse will be fine. They will be good. For anyone who doesn't know, Westinghouse lost to Beaver, 28-26. Many people don't know that Beaver is good. I think they were my No. 1 "sleeper" team at the beginning of the season. Heck, Beaver was 9-3 last year and has all starters back on offense and many on defense. Brady Mayo and Amari Jackson are one of the best receiving duos in the WPIAL. Mayo is going to Bucknell and Jackson to Villanova. It was a close game with Westinghouse. Remember, Beaver is 3A and Westinghouse 1A. Sure, there are things House needs to clean up, but believe me, they will be good.
11:08
Speaking of Beaver and Amari Jackson, receiver going to Villanova. I found this out Saturday night when I ran into former Lincoln Park star hooper and current Pitt player Brandin Cummings at the Westinghouse-Beaver game. I asked Beebah why he was there. He said to watch his cousin, Amari Jackson. That's a factoid I didn't know. By the way, Brandin looked good. Pitt has put a little bit of muscle on him already. A little.
Why ? Why ? Why ?
11:08
Chartiers Valley once again continues to break my heart to be a laughingstock. They make the Pirates look competent. Should they maybe just drop football at this point ?
Mike White
11:11
Yep, stop the sport right now. Collect all the equipment from the players. Tell them there is no more football at Chartiers Valley. Good Lord, drop the sport? Who are you and where do you come from? They were 3-8 last year, but they did make the playoffs, you know? Back in 2020 they were 6-2 and finished second in the conference to Aliquippa.
RollVikes 05
11:11
Central used to be known as a D-Line factory under Totten. Last year they lost 2 games because teams basically ran the ball up the middle on them and even with a slew of D1 linebackers they couldn’t stop it. What was it 57 times Pine Richland ran the same guy/play? I watched online the St. Francis game and it seemed their DL is even worse this year? What gives?
Mike White
11:14
What gives? Well, St. Frances was like a college team. Their offense line averaged 6-4, 319 pounds. St. Frances is not a high school team. They are an all-star team. Sure, people say Central is no different because they have kids from all over the Pittsburgh area. But St. Frances has players from all over. They are Central times 10. I'd rather judge Central after a few games against WPIAL teams. By I will judge Central linebacker-receiver Bradley Gompers right now. He's a bad, bad dude. He was terrific against St. Frances. He missed almost all of last season with a broken collarbone so we didn't see him much. I saw against St. Frances that he was a stud.
Ryan
11:15
Good afternoon Mike What do you think about Kiski week Zero I think they looked Good Led my Landon Kucic who’s wins this week game Between The Cavaliers and Norwin i think KA wins GO KISKI 🏈🏈💪💪
Mike White
11:17
Kiski Area beat Knoch. Good win, but this week will tell a little more about Kiski Area. Norwin beat an always-good Penn-Trafford team. Norwin now might be one of the top four teams in 6A. I don't know how much that says because there are only seven teams in 6A. By the way, 6A was 2-5 in first games. Maybe Kiski Area will be good this year, but I think it's too early to tell yet.
Shut it down
11:17
Saw the video of the brawl in the parking lot at the USC/Lebo game on Friday. Clearly these two school need to stop playing each other in sports because their fans can't handle it. Agreed ?
Mike White
11:19
No, do not agree. I just saw video of that altercation last week. Not good. But something happens in the parking lot after the game between two people and you want two rivals to stop playing in all sports? That's just downright silly. Any other questions, Mr. Overreaction?
Gerry M.
11:19
Seems like Robbins (USC), Wallace (Neighborhood), and Schachter (Alderdice) are early locks for Fab 5. Who are some sleeper candidates this year?
Mike White
11:23
Oh, we're talking hoops already. That's fine by me. But easy there, Gerry M. Yes, Tyler Robbins and Courtney Wallace are prime candidates for Fab 5, but how about let's see what kind of seasons they have. As for Schachter, let's just settle a little. I know he has two Division I offers (Green Bay and UC Santa Barbara. Good for him. But we are talking about someone who didn't even start for his team a year ago. I'm not saying he's not talented, but how 'bout let's wait until he starts for his high school team and plays this season before we say he's a Fab 5 lock.
Ryan
11:24
How good can PR be this year
Mike White
11:28
I think that remains to be seen. First off, Pine should always be pretty good. Too many athletes at that school not to be. But this week should tell a lot more against Central Catholic. Pine beat a team from Ohio last week but I have no idea what that Ohio team was like. Pine lost a lot of starters to graduation. I think the biggest question mark with them is offensive line. They lost all five starters to graduation, including that man Ryan Cory. I think line play might decide Central vs. Pine.
TM
11:38
With WPIAL scheduling non-conference games, how much stock will committee put into these games (early in the season) when deciding wild cards for playoffs?
Mike White
11:40
Hard to say because the committee picking the wild card teams on their own is something totally new. Honestly, I don't know if they will put a ton of stock into the openers, but you have to consider the other games, I would think.
WPIAL Lifer
11:40
Not quite ready to elevate Norwin to 6A title contender just yet, but win vs Penn-Trafford has to be the biggest since Norwin advanced to WPIAL quad A semifinals (where McKeesport flex boned them bad). Proof positive of what can happen if Norwin can just keep it's talent from transfering to Pitt CC and elsewhere.
Mike White
11:42
Yes, Norwin has lost some talent to Central. Cole Sullivan and Payton Wehner come to mind immediately. Oh no, I'm not saying Norwin is St. Frances of Md. But beating Penn-Trafford looks good at any time. Plus, Norwin does have some talent, don't they? I mean, the QB (Tristyn Tavares) led the WPIAL in passing last season. And remember what I said, it doesn't take a ton to be in top four or five teams in 6A. There are only seven in the classification. After Central Catholic and North Allegheny, does Norwin now look about as good as anyone?
X
11:43
Do you think it was a mistake for Central Catholic to schedule a team that plays a national schedule?  It seems like Ohio teams have given WPIAL teams all they can handle over the years.   I don't think any WPIAL team are at the level to play a team like a Saint Frances.
Mike White
11:46
Most "high school" teams aren't at the level to play a St. Frances. Like I said, St. Frances is an "all-star" team. Heck, they don't even play in a conference in Maryland. Teams in their conference refused to play them because of all the transfers and alleged recruiting. So St. Frances went and played a schedule on their own and they can do all the recruiting they want. I don't think it was a mistake. Even coach Ryan Lehmeier said it was good for Central to play against that team. I don't think Central was really concerned about winning and losing. And let's not kid ourselves. Central has some talented players, too, future major-college players. That wasn't a bunch of tomato cans that Central put on the field Saturday.
Mr Ed
11:47
Blackhawk 56 Beaver Falls 0. Yikes. Was Blackhawk supposed to be much improved from 1-9 and BF that worse from last year?
Mike White
11:50
Honestly, I don't know if we could know what to expect from either team. Blackhawk new coach. Beaver Falls new coach. And Beaver Falls has only three offensive starters back from last year and two on defense. That's a lot to replace at the 2A level. I bet they improve as the season goes along. As for Blackhawk? Let's wait and see. They play a good Beaver team this week. Looks like Blackhawk definitely has improved, but let's remember they are in a conference with Aliquippa, Montour, West Allegheny.
Ryan
11:50
Yea PR definitely had a turnover from graduating seniors but this O-line is going to be good.  Not to mention their running back Mac Miller and  QB strader.
Mike White
11:51
A chance for newcomers to step up. Let's see what happens this week.
Freddy Football
11:51
Bethel Park trounced Seneca Valley in week Zero.  SV has some D-1 talent but really struggled offensively.  Is BP really good or could this be a LONG year for SV?
Mike White
11:55
Well Freddy, I will tell you this: Bethel Park has nine starters back on offense and 10 on defense. That says a lot right there. QB Tanner Pfeuffer is a senior and has been a starter since sophomore year. Lineman Clancy Orie is committed to Navy. Although WR-DB Ryan Petras is out, this team has talent. As for Seneca, I thought they might be better this year. Maybe they still will be. But it wasn't a good start. Losing to Bethel wasn't all that surprising, but giving up 50 points? Yikes. Lot of football left, though.
X
11:55
RollVikes makes some good points.  Is Central D different in the post Totten/Fleming era?  They had 4 power 5 lb recruits last year and Ethan Pillar ran for 295 yards against them from the Wildcat.  Logan Kushner also had his way in the WPIAL final. As i recall, he had way over 100 yards.  Can't really tell much against a Saint Frances.  The PR game should be more revealing.
Mike White
11:57
Well X man, I will tell you this. All of those Division I kids from last year were also on the team in 2022 that gave up 36 points to North Allegheny in the WPIAL championship when Terry Totten was still the coach.
Underrated
11:57
Would you ever consider an "Underrated Player" list of players by position ?
Mike White
11:59
No. What would be the point? There are around 130 football-playing schools in the WPIAL. List of underrated players would be a mile long. And what is the meaning of underrated for a high school player? Are they underrated because they don't get a lot of publicity? Are they underrated because their parents think they are a Division I player?
Wpial GURU
11:59
Thoughts on montour as a real competitor? More questions should be answered with a tough test at moon this week.  Any prediction for that game?
Mike White
12:01
Montour's good. A lot of players back. I really like the receivers Alston and Batch. The big question is how would they replace Wolfe? Well, Hopper certainly looked solid in first game. They will be a player in 4A. But 4A has a number of good teams.
X
12:01
What's going on with Gateway?  It's hard to believe that State College is that good.  I really liked Don Holl's offense early in his tenure at Seneca Valley, but he seems to run his course wherever he goes. Gateway wasn't much last year.  Not a good start to this year.
Mike White
12:03
Hey, State College regularly makes the state playoffs. They were in the state semifinals in 2021 and 2022. Not exactly a tomato can. Maybe Gateway isn't tremendous, but I thinkt he Gators might be a little better than people think.
WPIAL Lifer
12:04
This might be deepest 1A class in memory. Neshannock drops down, Clairton roars in week one, Jeannette is back, Fort Cherry ready to defend, plus SS Beaver, Canevin, Cal all looked real good in week zero, not to mention the House in city. It'll be a real solid playoff for sure. 7 in 6A and nearly 3 dozen in 1A....welcome to western PA in 2024!
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