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Mike White's high school sports chat: 11.25.25
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Todd
11:27
Is there any reason other than cost, that the WPIAL does not change the goalposts to adhere to NFHS and PIAA standards during the WPIAL football championships at Acrisure Stadium.  If the WPIAL would have had the correct high school goal posts (23’4” in width) rather than the professional and college goalposts (18’6”), Laurel would have beaten Clairton. Since one of Laurel’s FG attempts hit the goalpost and the other missed by inches.
Mike White
11:29
They do use high school goal posts. This changed in the 1980s. Old WPIAL boss Ace Heberling - God rest his soul - used to think they didn't need high school posts or high school hash marks. Then North Hills and Gateway tied 0-0 in 1985 4A final. North Hills' T.J. Osman, who went on to play DL at Michigan, had a field goal hit the upright on an NFL goal post. Would've been good on high school goal post. They started using high school posts the next year.
Basketball preview
11:29
Does basketball preview come out Friday or Saturday?
Mike White
11:29
Will be on our web site in next day or so.
independents
11:29
I am hearing Brownsville and Uniontown might be returning to WPIAL football? Anything on AG, Connellsville, Baldwin or Butler decisions?
Mike White
11:30
Yes, I talked to a few of those independent schools. They are thinking of coming back. But if 6A stays the way it is, Butler probably not coming back.
Opening Weekend
11:32
If you were going to one WPIAL basketball game this weekend, which one is going to be the most exciting and potentially a preview of playoff bound teams in 2026? I'm thinking TJ vs EF will be a good one to watch at West Mifflin. What other one is a must see in your opinion?
Mike White
11:33
Not everyone is playing this weekend. Some choose not to. No great games, but EF vs. TJ is pretty decent. Sunday Lincoln Park vs. Obama at Lincoln Park is pretty good.
Biggest comeback
11:33
Peters came back from down 19. What’s the biggest comeback in wpial championship history?
Mike White
11:33
That's it. I already researched it. I'll write about it later this week.
X
11:33
I thought Matt Miller was a shoe in for PG Coach of the year but now I'm thinking it's a toss up with Jon LeDonne. Can you give us some insight on the front runners?
Mike White
11:34
I think what happened in the championships changed a lot. I think now you have to look at T.J. Plack, Mike Warfield, Tim Storino and a few others. With losses in finals, no way it's Miller or LeDonne. Not saying they didn't do a good job, but no way can they be coach of the year.
X
11:34
What a pleasure it was watching Avonworth play. They are solid from top to bottom.   Their dbs send a message, too, and not just Neal.   I suspect if they going gets tough, they will go wildcat with Neal.   If he touches the ball 20 times, he probably takes a couple to the house. Do you think this will be their approach in a tight game?     Thank goodness for Avonworth...I wanted to poke my eye out watching Pine Richland.
Mike White
11:35
Avonworth is really good. I mean, really good. Good players all around. They've been saving Neal at RB or wildcat QB to use later in year. He's a heckuva player.
Hoops Time
11:35
Who are some of the areas basketball players that you are excited to watch this year - any must see teams?  When does the preview come out this week?
Mike White
11:37
Previews come out the next few days. Boys and girls. THe top player is Josh Pratt, who transferred from Aliquippa to Lincoln Park. I had said my early top teams were New Castle (6A), Char Valley in 5A, North Catholic in 4A, Mohawk in 3A, Sewickley or Jeannette in 2A and Neighborhood Academy or Serra in 1A. Maybe Obama this time in City.
Peters
11:37
Which football team do you think is better: 2023 or 2025 peters?
Mike White
11:38
Wow. Good question. Dang. I can't decide. I think I'll go this year by a whisker.
Down Beat
11:39
Preseason Fab 5 boys and girls...?
Mike White
11:39
Sorry not doing it.
Dice Hoops
11:39
Any word on dice will be this year? D1 prospect Zane Schacter transferred.
Mike White
11:39
Please.
X
11:40
Neupaver's long run was the key. How does he go around the corner 74 yards untouched given who Pine has in the secondary?  Makes one really question effort.   Peters Twp couldn't run before or after that.  Pine literally had to give up a huge splash play to lose that game the way Peters struggled to move the ball.   As far as the goofy formations on going for 2..how about just lining up in a regular set pretending it's say 3rd and 3 or 4th and 3?    Taylor gets hurt, doesn't play defense, then after they fall behind, they put him on kickoff return and lateral to a guy who can't run.   Maybe a lateral to Timmons would've made more sense.  It's literally like LeDonne was drawing up plays in the dirt with his finger.  There were no short passes making Peters tackle in space.    Pine made it easy on them.
Mike White
11:42
C'mon. Drawing plays in the dirt? I will say Strader ran around too much, but that's what he does. And how 'bout just giving some credit to Peters and Neupaver. It's not like he's some slow, skinny 9th grader who scored on a long run. Neupaver is good. He has over 1,000 yards. Bottom line is this. Peters totally was outplayed in first half. Pine was totally outplayed in second half. But I do agree with you on extra point plays. Just run a regular play. You've got enough weapons.
Junior
11:42
Does the state playoffs switch which districts play each other every year in the first round or is that set in stone? Was curious how they decide that
Mike White
11:43
Supposed to, yes.
Basketball preview
11:43
Tops bball teams in each classification this year?
Mike White
11:43
Check above. I gave top teams.
Historical matchup
11:43
What wpial teams from different years would you like to see play? 2007 Jeanette vs 2016 steel valley would be mine
Mike White
11:43
That would be a good one. Give me Jeannette. No way going against Terrelle Pryor in high school.
Dice Hoops
11:43
Dice hoops? How are they looking?
Mike White
11:45
A little sweaty after practice. That's how they are looking. Wooo hoooooo!!! But they have back City Player of the Year Lukas Stead. Only one other starter. Some others who contributed last year. But Obama returns entire team from last year. I might put Obama No. 1 heading into the season.
Next level
11:45
A lot of coaches went from HS to coaching at the next level, Joe Moore, Terry Smith, Palko, guys like that. Who of the current crop could you see coaching in college be it as an assistant or as a HC for a D3 program like Geneva or St Vincent ?
Mike White
11:46
Oh, definitely Fran.
Smith
11:46
LeDonne coach of the year.  You must be related they lost to the only two good teams they played.
Mike White
11:46
I didn't say that. The person asking the questions aid it.
USC Girls
11:46
How do you think Suzie will do with the USC Girls as head coach now that Pete has hung it up ?
Mike White
11:49
Well, USC lost a lot. But honestly, Class 6A girls hoops is down. No real super team. Not anywhere near as good as recent years. So I would say Suzie will have USC competitive. I heard Rick Carlisle wants her to be an assistant to coach the Pacers so she can tell Rick how to correctly use her nephew, T.J., more. Because when he has it going and is doing well in Pacers games, he has to always come out.
Baz
11:49
if Sewickley Acadmey does jump to 6A next year is that basically the Wpial saying they won’t look into them for recruiting since they’re going up classes to help make it bigger/more competitive. Reminds me of the Imani situation where they just look the other way now for what they do
Mike White
11:50
I have no idea what the WPIAL thinks of the Sewickley situation. But it has people all over the WPIAL just shaking their heads.
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