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Mike White's high school sports chat: 09.07.21
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Mike White
10:59
Good day to everyone on a beautiful Tuesday morning. Really close to great football weather. Temperatures in the 60s are the best for that. Well, let's get started. Store is now open for questions.
Patrick M
10:59
Is it time for Pine Richland to hit the panic button?
Mike White
11:04
Please. 2-0 is certainly not what P-R wanted. But let's look for a second. They lose a close one to Harrisburg that they could've won. No shame there because Harrisburg is always a good team. They lose in last minute to Seneca, another team that is pretty good this year in 6-A. Is it a surprise? No. Both of those games could've gone either way, but there might be something to learning how to win. Here's the problem: Central this week, then USC and then Gateway. They could easily be 1-4. But still, that wouldn't be all that surprising. With all the starters lost and the turmoil and the inexperience of some coaches, are we really surprised? But then you have to look at it this way. They could still win that conference. But I lnow if they start 1-4, the residents will be restless. And you have to worry about keeping the team together. Those players won't give up, though.
Guest
11:04
Where do you think Mt. Lebanon finishes this year?
Mike White
11:05
Anywhere from a WPIAL semifinalist to a WPIAL champion. They're good enough to win it all. Then again, maybe we all thought that last year, but Lebo got trounced in semis by Central Catholic, a team they beat in regular season. Lot of Lebo players back from last year, but still have to prove they can do it in the postseason.
Coach O
11:05
Maybe I should change my name to Sleeper. Last week I brought up North Hills as possible surprise team, this week how about Ligonier Valley? Truthfully, given their location and newness to WPIAL I know very little about them. But to me their win at a ranked EF was most surprising result of week 1.
Mike White
11:07
Ligonier Valley shouldn't be a surprise. They have a "program." Weren't world-beaters last year, but were in state playoffs in 2019 and 2018. State quarterfinals 2017 and state semis 2016. Now do you believe me you shouldn't be surprised?
Guest
11:07 
What team had the best performance you have seen so far?  What player had the best performance so far?
Mike White
11:09
Good lord. There are almost 130 teams in the WPIAL and there have been two weeks in the season. And you want to give the best performance by a team? Let's just say there have been a lot.
SouthHillsguy
11:09
With Lebo winning over BP and USC are those schools good? Or is Lebo just that good?
Mike White
11:10
Lebo is very good. I said above they will definitely be in semis this year - and then we'll see how it goes. Remember, Bethel didn't win a game last year and USC lost a number of good players from last year. Not to take anything away from Mt. Lebanon.
Ryan
11:10
What do you think about Kiski so far 2-0 go Kiski
Mike White
11:13
Good for them. Good start. They didn't exactly roll over a juggernaut in the first game. It was .... ahhhh .... Butler. They beat Franklin Regional 24-14 last week. But I don't know how good FR is. Franklin crushed Plum in Week 1. But Plum might have some trouble this year. Plum was crushed by North Hills. With games against Latrobe and Connellsville in next two weeks, Kiski could be 4-0 - without beating anyone of significance. But Sam "I am" Albert has done a nice job this season. Hey, they were 2-4 last year.
Wpial god
11:13
Honestly, where do you say pine Richland finishes this year?
Mike White
11:13
Once conference play starts, either first second or third in the Northeast Conference.
PR Fan
11:14
Mike, what insane version of the Twilight zone are we living in where Shaler is 2-0 and Pine-Richland is 0-2? PR is playing the Top team in 6A Central this week. They may very well start 0-3. Do you see PR in the 5A playoff picture this year?
Mike White
11:16
A Shaler question? This must be from Brian Batko. Nice for Shaler. 2-0 for first time since 2009. But before we go nuts over the Titans, remember four of their next five games are Hampton, West Allegheny, Penn-Trafford and Pine-Richland.  Things will certainly get much tougher.
Wpial god
11:16
Who takes 4a title this season?
Mike White
11:16
Thomas Jefferson or Belle Vernon, but how can you ever count out Aliquippa?
11:17
We will know more about Belle Vernon and Thomas Jefferson in two weeks.
The real pt
11:17
Game of the week? Peters and Lebo?
Mike White
11:17
That's a good one. But P-G Game of the Week is Central Valley at Aliquippa. Another really good one is Penn-Trafford at Belle Vernon.
11:18
OK, we're almost 20 minutes through and no questions yet from Quad North? What's going on.
JP
11:19
Could the Birch brothers transfers cause Gateway to get bumped up a class next year?
Mike White
11:22
You're asking about the PIAA's competition formula, where you could get bumped up in class if you go far in the postseason for two years and also have three transfers in football over a two-year period. No matter the transfers, they can't reach the required number of "success points" to be bumped up. They did not get any "success points" last year after losing in WPIAL semifinals. Even if they would go to state championship this year, they can't reach the "success points" needed to be bumped up.
Wpial god
11:24
What do you think of Cole Boyd’s struggles this season? Or do you think he’s doing just fine?
Mike White
11:26
I don't know if he has "struggled." He was 19 of 34 for 253 yards in first game. He did have a couple turnovers, but that was his first varsity start ever. I don't know what his stats were last week but he ran for a 48-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left to put Pine-Richland ahead. Could he do better? Sure. But so could a lot of players. He has been a starter for only two games.
WPIAL Fan
11:26
Since you saw them up close last week, what do you think of TJ's ability to slow down those big time play makers from Belle Vernon?
Mike White
11:28
It will be interesting, to say the least. TJ was awfully impressive against Gateway. But Belle Vernon QB Devin Whitlock is a much different player than Brad Birch and Quinton Martin is a "freak" of an athlete. Martin is looking like a future stud. Man, is he impressive. And Whitlock is a playmaker. But TJ has been known to control some pretty good players over the years. I don't know the answer but it should be one of the most interesting games of the year.
AB
11:28
Why hasn’t tj been bumped up classes? Seems like they win every year
Mike White
11:35
You have to reach six "success" points -- and also have three transfers over a two-year period. You must have both to get bumped up. I won't get into explaining "success" points but they are earned by going far in state playoffs for two years. You need six. Over the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Thomas Jefferson had only 5 success points, one short of the number needed. I don't know if they had transfers in those two years, but it wouldn't matter. They didn't have 6 "success" points. They already have 4 "success" points for the 2020 season. If they win WPIAL championship this year, they will have 6. Then if they have had three transfers in the past two years, they will be bumped up to 5A. I don't know if they've had transfers.
Wpial god
11:35
Is the Rodney Gallagher/Laurel highlands hype real?
Mike White
11:36
He's doing quite the job as a QB in first two games. Competition hasn't been great, but he's making plays running and also a few throwing. He is NOT a quarterback in future. If he decides to play football in college, he will be either a DB or receiver. Athletically, he's pretty impressive. Games coming up later in year against Belle Vernon and TJ. But let's give the kid credit. A really gifted athlete in two sports.
Guest
11:39
What are your thoughts on Seneca Valleys offense? Do you think they could turn some heads?
Mike White
11:42
I saw them in Week 1 against Moon. They looked good on a couple early drives, but hardly were on the field the rest of the game because Moon controlled the ball and time of possession. OC Ryan Lehmeier brought over the offense from Pine-Richland. It's a style many teams use nowadays. It's not like this is the first time anyone has used it. It's fun to watch and it can be successful. But you better have a pretty good QB to run it. Hancox kid looks like he has potential. Nice-sized kid. Good athlete. Not ready to make judgments after two games, though.
Guest
11:42
do you think if pine Richland still had their former coaching staff they would be 2-0 right now?
Mike White
11:44
That's hard to say. Like I said before, Pine has a lot of new players - and Harrisburg and Seneca aren't slouches. 0-2 isn't a real surprise. But like so many coaches have said, there's many times that fine line between winning and losing. Some teams and coaches can't get on the right side of the line, for whatever reason. Like I said before, I could see Pine being 1-4 and then finishing first or second in conference.
Guest
11:45
Does Colton Boyd go D1?
Mike White
11:46
Ahhh, are you talking Cole Boyd from Pine? I know him as Cole. No knock against him. Just my opinion, but not he's not an FBS QB. Doesn't mean he can't be a good QB. Just not at that level.
Cherrington
11:49
Does it makes sense for Pat Carey to let Robert Dickerson have 2 touches on offense per game?
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