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Mike White's high school sports chat: 09.23.25
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Mike White
10:57
Regular season in football is half over. There have been some surprises. Some disappointments. Some memorable performances. So let's talk.
Dan from Cleveland
10:57
How long does it take for the WPIAL/PIAA to return high schools to their “correct” classification. Aliquippa does not have the numbers to continue to play up in 4A. Their numbers put them in 2A, where they really belong.
Mike White
11:00
PIAA realigns classifications for all sports every two years. Realignment will be for the next two years. But there is the competition classification formula affects teams. It takes too long to explain here, but formula has to do with transfers and success points (how far teams go in the postseason). Let me just explain Aliquippa's situation. They were bumped up in class under the formula. I wrote this last week. In short - and this is confirmed by PIAA - if Aliquippa goes to the WPIAL championship this year, it will stay in 4A. If Aliquippa doesn't go to the WPIAL championship, it will be in 3A next year.
Hsfan
11:00
If all goes well, Marino Graham will be a 4 year starter at both QB and Point Guard for New Castle. Do you know of anyone else that has done that?
Mike White
11:00
Not often. But Sto-Rox's Adam DiMichele comes to mind right away.
Shills
11:01
Mike- thx for continued coverage-reading your column last week on number of football players at the next level.  It made me think back to the number of resources districts used to employ for football, from district jobs to support services.  Seems like many of those supports have totally evaporated over the years due to budget challenges.  Friday nights continue to be community events, and so much is expected of football programs-the thriving programs fight to maintain those supports.  While districts that have fallen behind do not have those resources to push past mediocrity and simply hope to be competitive.  Don't get me wrong, there are districts that have a lot less and are very talented and have culture engraved through the program and do very well year in and out.  Blow outs continuing to grow, what is the answer for some of these programs at the bottom? As a whole, we have fallen behind with football support services but high expectations remain of all programs.
Mike White
11:04
Sorry, Shills, but I have no idea what you mean about "support services." I mean, coaching staffs are larger than ever before. Some schools have staffs of maybe a dozen or so assistants. Facilities at many placers continue to get better. Look at how many stadiums now have turf compared to maybe 30 years ago. Many stadiums have been renovated. I'm sorry, but many teams have plenty of support. Maybe they don't always have support from administration against parents, but resources are pretty darn good.
Ringgold
11:04
I noticed for years stats and game information were not posted about Ringgold games in saturdays paper.  Is it because they were so bad?  Now they are somewhat functional and game information  is posted.  Do teams tell you and their opponent not to share their info when they are bad?
Mike White
11:07
We ask every school to please send in their score, scoring summary and stats for their games every Friday. Nowdays, they email it in. Many are very cooperative. But there are always some that don't send in info, no matter what we do. I never understand it. They're only hurting their own players. Or they only send their team's info and not the others. We can't chase down the info of those that don't send in. Yes, Ringgold has not sent in info sometimes. But they apparently are this year. And yes, teams that struggle often don't send in into. Just how it goes.
Paul
11:07
Who would you say are the best players you ever saw that didn’t play D1 football?
Mike White
11:07
Ohhh, I'd have to think.
Dr Know
11:09
What’s your take on Southmoreland? Are they for real?
Mike White
11:12
Well, they're 5-0. And first off, kudos to the Scotties and first-year coach Dustin Shoaf. First time 5-0 since 1964, the first year of Southmoreland. Are they for real? Well, what's "for real?" They can win a conference this year. Their conference isn't too strong, although there is Elizabeth Forward. I don't think they are good enough to win a WPIAL title. Hey, you've got Avonworth, Imani Christian, etc. But let's let them feel good for what's going on right now. It's great for Southmoreland.
WPIAL The Best
11:12
Mike...New Castle v Aliquippa...Your feelings on the game?
Mike White
11:14
Interesting game. Remember, New Castle started 5-0 last year and never won another game. Now, New Castle is 4-1. What should we expect? Well, I think this is a different team than last year. I think this QB Marino Graham is a big difference. Only a freshman, he might be the freshman of the half year in the WPIAL. I understand he might be the starting point guard in hoops. Kai Cox didn't play football last year and is having an effect. But I still want New Castle to show me. I'll still take Aliquippa this week until New Castle "shows me."
Dog
11:15
SLS Rebels seem to have adjusted and are running the ball a ton and effectively. You think they get back to the championship game?
Mike White
11:15
Yes, they certainly have a chance. First off, they still have talent. Secondly, 2A is not real good with depth of quality teams. So, Seton certainly has a chance.
TJ
11:16
With Brad Dawson suddenly passing earlier this month, do you have any memories of him that stand out in that 2004 season when he led TJ to their first state title?
Mike White
11:16
Such a horrible story. Brad Dawson was very good. Had great state championship game. I remember that.
Ryan
11:17
do the Cavaliers get this win this Week i think so since it’s at Kiski LETS GO KISKI
Mike White
11:18
Ahhhh, the weekly Kiski question. It's a 1-4 Kiski team against 0-5 Franklin Regional. Who is worst? I'll take Franklin Regional to win. Sorry.
Bobby B
11:18
Fall basketball leagues are going on now.  I watched my kids play the past couple weeks and I can't help but think how much the game has changed since I played in the 90s.  There may be 20 total people watching the game and kids are celebrating made shots including open lays pretty often.  We used to make fun of kids that did that.  Am I just an old guy who doesn't get it?
Mike White
11:20
Yes and no. Kids these days do seem to celebrate the smallest things and it is over the top sometimes. Act like you've done it before. But it's OK for them to have a little fun also.
Pine
11:20
Who would you take on your high school team, Dinucci or Jurkovec?
Mike White
11:20
Jurkovec, no question.
Caesar
11:20
Do you still go to games every Friday night now that you don’t cover the games anymore? Or are you glad to have fridays  free now?  I bet it was hard in the early 90’s having to work Friday nights and missing new episodes of Full House and Family Matters on TGIF
Mike White
11:20
Go back to bed.
Dynasty
11:20
Who would you say is player of the year so far?
Mike White
11:21
I don't think there is a leader. It's hard to pick anyone. I picked someone in my Prep Talk column which will be out tomorrow. Ahhh heck, I'll tell you know. I picked Co-Players of the Half Year. It's Reston Lehman and Lucas Shanafelt of Peters Township.
Big Tex
11:22
Thoughts on the 1v1 tournament played over the weekend?  Another AAU organization try to do something like this last year.  I saw that they weren't going to pay the winner until they graduated.  That seems like a bs loop hole.
Mike White
11:23
No thoughts on it. This organization finally got things cleared up with WPIAL and PIAA, so I guess it was OK. Really, I couldn't care less about a 1 on 1 tournament.
PanthersFan123
11:23
Looking through some schedules at the halfway point, and it’s wild to see how tough West Mifflin’s schedule is. Avonworth, TJ, Bethel, McKeesport, Mars, EF. Especially with them being one of, if not the smallest 4a school.
Mike White
11:23
I agree. Really tough. There are others who have tough schedule, too.
Battle Royale
11:23
USC/PT game of the year ? USC has a score to settle.
Mike White
11:24
Game of the year? C'mon, man. It's a good one, but I wouldn't go that far. USC might have a score to settle, but they won't score enough to win.
A disgrace
11:24
Could what happened at Baldwin be the breaking point for the program ? Would they leave the WPIAL or just fold up altogether ? When was the last time a HC was fired mid-season for the team not being good ?
Mike White
11:26
I do not remember a coach being let go in midseason for not winning. Maybe for other reasons. Baldwin is a mess right now. But c'mon, they're not going to fold the program altogether. That's ludicrous. I don't think they'll leave the WPIAL, either. You know, Baldwin has had really bad periods before. This isn't something totally new. But it is a real mess right now.
On the take
11:26
We know PT beat USC in the playoffs last year with the officials help. A HS football team with ZERO penalties ? The game winning TD had 2 blocks in the the back that I counted. Is the WPIAL gonna try and screw USC again this year ?
Mike White
11:26
Do you need some more tissues for your tears?
Dog
11:28
1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex lineup of WPIAL football players since 2000 to lead you to the state championship?
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