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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.19.24
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1A Football
11:40
Game between Fort Cherry and Clairton looks to be the best game of the weekend. Clairton defense very fast and athletic vs Fort Cherry offense and Matt Sieg. Been a while since Clairton has been to Acrisure. Looks like a great game to watch
Mike White
11:41
Yes, I've said, going into the game, this is one of the best Class 1A matchups, as far as storylines, maybe ever.
Football Dude
11:41
The WPIAL Championships tend to feel like a "family reunion" for many of the media members.  Who is a person or people you enjoy getting to see that you normally don't associate much with this weekend?
Mike White
11:42
I wish it was Deuce. But if Bill Priatko is there, I always like to see him. Longtime former high school AD. Oldest living former Steeler I think. Don't know if he'll be there. .. There's also people I don't care to see.
Chief Powhatan
11:42
Mike, have you had to chance to look at what's happened in the West Virginia playoffs? (sarcasm).  That's right, it's in the courts at the moment.
Mike White
11:42
Yes, what a mess.
Todd
11:42
I think Palko still has the edge over Cherpak.  He won titles in multiple classes with different schools and West A was a perennial loser before he showed up.  Thoughts?
Mike White
11:44
Palk indeed was a great one. It's a good debate. You know Thomas Jefferson was 2-8 the year before Cherpak took over?
Todd
11:44
Where did Lavar live?  Was it true Jack would bus him in from Pittsburgh?
Mike White
11:45
Please stop with such stupid crap. People will start believing. LaVar and family lived in North Hills. Lived in Kinvara neighborhood. Nice house. I was at his house even when he was there.
WPIAL Nut
11:45
Both Seton LaSalle and South Park are championship contenders after dropping a class. We saw Belle Vernon win states twice after dropping a class two years ago.

Any school you can think of that might be in this situation for the NEXT alignment?
Mike White
11:45
Hard to say because I just don't know enrollment figures. Hard to figure who might drop a year before it happens.
Ghost of Duece
11:46
Quite a Fray at Martorelli….not the Barnburner that was predicted….
Mike White
11:46
Pine-Richland is very good. Pushed Bethel Park around. Pine's physicalness is impressive - and I didn't realize how big they are on the lines.
Dev Whitt
11:46
I could be wrong, but it seems that football teams value WPIAL titles move than state titles, Am I wrong?
Mike White
11:47
No, you're not wrong. WPIAL title is still gigantic. Means a lot. And I think maybe it's almost case by case. For someone like Aliquippa, the state would probably mean more. And let me tell you, teams like winning the state, too.
Trash
11:48
I believe that some of these officials who work HS games carry a bias against certain programs. Be it because they went to a rival school or live in a rival area, they let that cloud their judgement. It's a shame that adult behave that way
Mike White
11:49
Yep, it's all a big conspiracy. Before the playoffs, I think the WPIAL requires the high school transcript of every official, checks their high school alma mater of every official and puts them on games against their old rivals, just so they can get back at that stinkin' team. This needs exposed!!!!! You've uncovered it.
Coaching news
11:49
Rumor has it Dan Derose is back as the Carlynton Head Coach. Thoughts?
Mike White
11:50
As of last week he hadn't been hired, according to AD.
Ryan
11:50
Who wins the pine Richland peters township game Saturday go Pine Richland
Mike White
11:50
I'll take Pine.
40stripes-retired
11:50
Hi Mike.  This is a message for "Great job" and "Biased refs" (possible the same person using two screen names) - go to the PIAA website and take your football officiating test.  We need unbiased, knowledgeable people like you wearing a striped shirt of Friday nights in the fall.
Mike White
11:51
But what about when they all officiate games against their high school rivals? Don't you know about that conspiracy going on? Look above.
40stripes-retired
11:51
Mike, I'm sure Deuce will continue to be missed in the press box.  And don't forget about my dear friend Schaasy.
Mike White
11:51
For sure.
Field Goal Kickers of the NFL
11:52
I supposed your little playoffs are gonna rip up the grass this weekend at Acrisure. Thanks a lot.
Mike White
11:53
The field at Acrisure is much better than it was 15-20 years ago. In recent years, after the final high school game Friday, I'm one of the last ones to leave stadium because I'm writing a story. I see workers coming out starting to put down totally new sod.
Dev Whitt
11:53
During the regular season when teams play-up (5A playing 6A; 4A playing 5A) etc, is it based on the W-L record? So good 5A teams will play the good 6A teams?
Mike White
11:54
The last few years, when WPIAL has made non-conference games, they tried to put teams against those of likewise success. So really, the recent good teams play the recent good teams. They call it competitive balance.
ZEBRAS
11:54
To all those badgering the officials. Do you really think the officials sit at home with their significant others and tell them tonight we are going to call nothing for school ABC and everything against school XYZ. C'mon man the officials are human beings officiating for the love of the game and to give back to the game. If the fan abuse continues it won't be log before there aren't officials to officiate the games. Use some common sense.
Mike White
11:54
Thank you, Zebras.
X
11:55
I had seen Upper Saint Clair, Bethel Park, Peters, and Pine Richland play multiple times going into last weekend. I thought USC was the best top to bottom, but PR with a healthy Strader I gave the best chance of winning the title. I taped USC/Peters. I thought USC would win...that Dahlem would find a way to get in the endzone a time or two and the other rb for USC was back for this game.  That one surprised me.  I also thought BP Park would give that PR a really tough game. That wasn't the case.   Strader didn't run read option one time. In fact, he didn't have to run at all.  Peters Twp likely won't be so fortunate. Crazy to me that PR dominated w/o Strader's legs.     The O-line for PR is very physical.  I"d say the defense is a bit small, but they have some studs in the secondary and it is a very fast d in general. The sophomore black kid on the dline is a house.   Who do you pick in PR vs PT?
Mike White
11:57
Well X, I thought Pine would win. I thought USC game was a tossup. You say Pine's defense is a bit small. I get what you're saying at linebacker and maybe DB in some spots, but those two DTs? They're over 300 pounds. It's like two refigerators sitting in middle of line. I'll go with P-R over Peters.
X
11:57
How about TJ's Tyler Ebbert for Fab 22?  I realize he's not a d1 recruit, maybe won't ever even be a PSAC recruit, but doesn't durability count for something.  Guys like Tatsch are very good, but if you aren't on the field, it really doesn't matter. To a lesser extent Tikey, since he played a lot more than Tatsch.  But high average yards per carry vs. a kid carrying 30-45 times a game thru a dozen games...who meant more to their team?
Mike White
11:58
I agree it would be hard to pick Tatsch when he didn't even play half the season. But disagree with Tikey. He still played enough.
X
11:58
I can't believe the way CC ripped NA Saturday.  I think it was the second play from scrimmage and nobody was covering a wide open Gompers down the sideline.  How does that happen?
Mike White
11:58
Gompers might be player of the year. Love the kid.
X
11:59
I'm not sold on CC.  I hope they beat SC, but it wouldn't surprise me if CC goes down.   I can't put my finger on it, but they seem to lack a little continuity to me...running game isn't dynamic and they take some penalties. I hope i'm wrong.
Mike White
12:00
Running game wasn't tremendous for a lot of the season, but Faulkner did just run for 190 yards against North Allegheny. It wouldn't surprise me if State College gives them a battle. State College has done that before to WPIAL teams.
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