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Mike White's high school sports chat: 09.02.25
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Mike White
10:57
Good morning. How 'bout this weather? I don't ever remember Friday night in August where we had fall-like football weather. Love it. Now, "weather" or not you like it, let's chat.
JP
10:57
Good morning, Mike. I believe one of the two people killed in the shooting yesterday in Pleasant Hills was the QB on the Thomas Jefferson team that won the WPIAL and State championships in 2004.
Mike White
10:59
Just a horrible, horrible story. So sad. Yes, one of the people shot was Brad Dawson, quarterback-defensive back on Thomas Jefferson's first WPIAL and state championship team in 2004. TJ coach Bill Cherpak confirmed this. Again, just horrible. Brad's older brother, Brian, also was Thomas Jefferson QB and is current QB coach for Cherpak and TJ. TJ was in middle of morning practice yesterday when Brian called coach Cherpak and told him the news. "We couldn't even function after that," Cherpak said.
11:02
More on Brad Dawson. He was a standout on the 2004 state championship team. During the regular season in 2004, he was 11th-leading passer in the WPIAL. He was the star of the Class 3A state championship game when Thomas Jefferson defeated Manheim Central, 56-20. Completed 11 of 16 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 52 yards and scored a touchdown and intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. Dawson had 11 interceptions for the season. This is just a tragic story. Cherpak said Brad was tremendous kid. Still talked about his high school days. Brad cut hair on the side. Just cut Cherpak's hair last Wednesday.
TW
11:02
I would have thought Chartiers Valley won the WPIAL after their victory over West Allegheny on Friday evening….first time in 16 years…some of the players were not even born then.
Mike White
11:02
Well, good for Char Valley. Hey, kids should celebrate big wins. I don't fault them.
TW
11:03
high school athletics are wonderful for so many reasons.  Nice to see excitement instead of disappointment!
Ryan
11:03
does Kiski win this week even though it’s non conference GO Cavs beat hempfield
Mike White
11:03
No, Hempfield wins.
Mr Ed
11:04
I figured it was a foregone conclusion that Clairton-Fort Cherry would meet in a championship game rematch, but Laurel’s first two weeks results may make them a dark horse contender?
Mike White
11:05
No doubt, Laurel has opened eyes. Beat Ellwood City 43-14 and beat what was supposed to be a pretty good Mohawk team, 36-6. Laurel has definitely thrust themselves into conversation of one of the top 3-4 teams in Class 1A. I really believe that now.
Plumber Mike
11:05
Do you think any of the WPIAL's top recruits will opt out of playing in the WPIAL/state playoffs due to forthcoming college NIL deals?
Mike White
11:07
Man, I sure hope not. I don't think we are at that point -- at least not yet. And it's not so much the NIL deals now that is getting kids big money. It's the revenue sharing model from the House settlement. I don't think you'll see kids sitting out. But with what is going on lately in the world of sports, it wouldn't surprise me, either.
Rob S.
11:07
Given what they did to Penn Hills and how they almost beat an NA team that destroyed Gateway, you buying Woodland Hills as a top tier contender in 5A?
Mike White
11:08
Yes, I'm definitely buying Woodland Hills is a top 5 team in Class 5A. I think we have them ranked No. 3. They have some standout players, a very experienced QB, the most exciting player in WPIAL in Scoop Smith and a number of other returning players. I don't know if they're good enough to win it all, but I think right now they are most certainly a top 5 team.
0wen Two
11:09
Lebo is a disaster. A laughingstock of a program. Who knew ?
Mike White
11:10
I'm not going to call a high school team a "laughingstock." C'mon. These are high school kids. And they did lose to two pretty good teams -- Upper St. Clair and Penn-Trafford. I think Patrick Smith is a very good QB, but do they have much else? They're giving up a lot of points.
Mighty Panthers
11:10
USC is making it look easy. Junko for Governor.
Mike White
11:11
Wait. Someone on this chat praising Mike Junko? Incredible. Where's the Mike Junko-Upper St. Clair hater that usually gets on this chat?
Jealous
11:11
Sounds like TW is jealous. Listen when you have been as perennially wretched as CV has been over the years, a win like this is great for a program. I think this new coach is gonna change the culture in that program. Last year, they'd have folded like a cheap suit down 2 TDs, but this year feels different.
Mike White
11:13
Char Valley was 12-28 last four seasons. Let them feel good about themselves after a big win.
Mr. Wrong
11:13
Hello, love reading the chat every week. What are your thoughts on 5A schools playing 4A schools. I understand 6A having to play 5A schools because there aren’t enough teams. But there are more than enough 5A schools to play each other non conference. Peters Township plays three 4A schools. Seems kind of dumb.
Mike White
11:17
I don't have a problem with it. 3-4 years ago, WPIAL said they were going to try and match up teams in non-conference games that might be competitive against each other, regardless of class. So, good teams against good teams. I think the league has done a pretty good job of that. Don't forget Peters played a 6A team the first week (Canon-Mac) and plays another this week (Mt. Lebanon). Peters plays 4A McKeesport, but McKeesport is always good and was in the WPIAL final last year. If Kemon Spell would not have been hurt, that would've been a good matchup. And Peters plays Trinity (4A) and West Allegheny (4A). Trinity is decent now, and although West Allegheny is not what they used to be, they're still formidable opponent. I have no problem with it.
Pr fan
11:17
Nice to see central catholic finally beat pine Richland in the battle of non boundary schools
Mike White
11:18
Ohhhhhh, I see what you did there Pr fan. Don't like all the P-R transfers, I take it?
Roll Vikes
11:18
Lot of big mouths on other sideline Friday. Not alot of action. Roll Vikes!
Mike White
11:18
You talking about P-R? How do you know? Were you on the sideline?
Junko Lover
11:18
We are happy with the football team now. It's the Boys Soccer team that's a mess. 0-4 start. Terrible. Not like this program. Embarrassing
Mike White
11:19
Oh, my gosh. Sound the alarm.
Pr fan
11:22
No problem with legitimate transfer but when two kids live in McKeesport rocks I have a problem.
Mike White
11:22
Well what is it. McKeesport? Or McKees Rocks?
Beaver County Fan
11:22
I know it's football season, but I have a question about a former local great baseball player. What became of Blackhawk's Brendan McKay? The last I saw he was released by Tampa, but did he decide to retire or is he rehabbing? There is literally nothing on-line about him anymore; even his social media has gone radio silent.
Mike White
11:25
Sad, sad story. Injuries derailed him. One of best baseball players ever in WPIAL and one of best two-way players in history of college baseball. From Blackhawk High. Great family. I got to know Brendan some and even was at his house. Drove to Louisville once to do a story on him in college. Anyway, he shot up major leagues. First game pitching for the Rays, had a perfect game for five innings. Future looked so bright. Was even going to try and be two-way player. Then the injuries. Tommy John surgery. Some other surgery for something different. Was in spring training last year, throwing live again for first time in long time. Then another elbow problem. Had to be shut down. Rays eventually released him. He's living in Florida with wife and child. Don't know if he will try to make a comeback or not. Career that was so bright at one time ended way too soon.
11:27
Surprised no comments or questions yet on column/story I did last week naming top 10 high school football players in WPIAL-City from first 25 years of this century.
Ice Cream Man
11:27
Are you expecting any major enrollment jumps or falls in the next cycle?
Mike White
11:28
Hard to say. Just really never know. Hard to say because just don't know. Sometimes a difference of 20 kids or so could change a classification. Hard to believe that Pine-Richland will stay 5A. But you never know.
Pr fan
11:28
Not the kids fault. Administration and coaches should be held accountable
Mike White
11:28
What's the subject you're referring to?
PR Recruiters
11:30
Has PR hit the transfer threshold to get bumped to 6A if they make the state championship?
Mike White
11:34
Yes, but they must also hit the success points. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I believe they have to get to the state semifinals this year to reach that.
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