Mike White: How goes it, everyone? Another beautiful day. Weather has been great this year for Friday nights, too. We're lucky. So don't rain on my parade in this chat. Let's go.
John: The forfeits are not fair to the other team, the bands, the cheerleaders, etc. WPIAL should impose harsh discipline for schools that can't field teams after agreeing to pay a full schedule. Am I right?
Mike White: You are talking about the forfeits of Bishop Canevin last week and Shady Side Academy this week. I don't know what you want these teams to do? They might have had 20 players to start. Because of injuries, they are down to 11 or 12. And some of those are freshmen or maybe sophomores who really shouldn't be on the field in a varsity game. There is danger of getting hurt. I think these teams are trying to keeping a team going. Would you rather they come play, lose something like 70-0, get a few more players hurt so they only have 9 or 10 to play with. I know it stinks for other teams, but it's the way it is now with football in small schools. That's why I believe you might see 8 man leagues in Pa. This year, there already is one small 8 man league in Eastern Pa.
Ballerz: What game are you heading to on Friday night? Some good matchups in the WPIAL this week.
Mike White: Most likely Pine-Richland Central Catholic. McGuffey at Southmoreland is certainly an interesting one. Both teams 5-0. Southmoreland hasn't been to playoffs since 1979. Not an overstatement to say this might be biggest regular-season game in Southmoreland history.
Ballerz: Who are the top QB's in the WPIAL this year?
Mike White: I don't think you could point to one or even two and say they're the best. Eric Wilson of Sto-Rox is throwing for ton of yards again. I saw him. He's nice. Not a big-timer but possibly could end up a MAC recruit. What smallish Ethan Dahlem is doing at Upper St. Clair in first year as a starter is impressive - with passing and running. Cole Spencer is so much improved at Pine-Richland and throwing the ball well - and running. Aris Hasley of Deer Lakes is second leading passer in WPIAL. North Catholic's Zack Rocco and Washington's Zack Swartz just surpassed 5,000 career yards throwing. Bethel Park's Anthony Chiccitt is a great comeback story. Norwin's Jack Salopek is heading to a MAC college. Those are some of them.
Ballerz: Do you have any insight on what took place with the Canon-Mac coach?
Mike White: Supposedly at halftime of Mt. Lebanon game in second week of season, he was a little upset at team and trying to motivate them and knocked over a cooler in locker room at halftime. Supposedly.
Guest: Mike, How about a shoutout to Tom Loughran for his 250th win on Friday. He is one of the best coaches in the WPIAL and a fantastic person. Congrats Tom.
Mike White: OK, shoutout to Tom. One of the good guys in WPIAL coaching and one of the all-time coaches wives in Dink. Still hard to believe South Park pushed him out years ago. But let's get things correct. He won his 200th game. NOT 250.
TM: Peters Twp. is the only undefeated 5A team...are you making any plans to see them play? I have seen 2 of their games, they are fun to watch. Big game in a couple weeks @ Bethel Park.
Mike White: I don't really make plans for games weeks ahead of time. Too many variables and things change with losses. Maybe Moon. Maybe Bethel Park. We'll see. Yes Peters is really good. Everyone knew they had a lot of skill back and star LB Corban Hondru. But people wondered about the lines because they lost a lot on the lines. Apparently, those lines have come together.
Golf Pro: Mike, another week, and another chance for Pat Carey to get his elusive signature win is gone. I thought this might be the year North Hills makes some noise in the 5A playoffs (they have some decent team speed this year), but it looks like another one and done type season. Please tell me I'm wrong about my assessment.
Mike White: Well Golf Pro, you ever think maybe North Hills just hasn't had enough talent past few years to be up with the best in the class? They are better than last year. I don't think they will beat Gateway this week earlier. They are a decent team. Not a really good team. They played with Peters Township for a while. But Peters Township is a really good team. Have more talent than North Hills.
GH: Can’t believe WPIAL has postponed racial slur hearing.
Mike White: They didn't. Allderdice asked for the postponement. Don't know why. It will still come off but it's been almost a month now since this game. You'd think maybe the schools could handle this themselves and WPIAL wouldn't even have to get involved. But apparently, Allderdice parents don't want the schools just to handle it.
Wike Mhite: At the halfway point of the season, who is your “surprise” team of the year (in a good way)?
Mike White: Have to say Southmoreland. Not that they are winning, but how they are winning. We've talked plenty about how they haven't been to playoffs since 1979, but this team is averaging over 50 points a game. Second in WPIAL in scoring. That's the surprising part. I know they haven't played good teams, but still ... Southmoreland averaging more than 50 a game? What's next? Pigs flying? Or Penndot fixing this landslide on a road near my house?
Wike Mhite: I’m sure I underestimate the difficulty of making the schedule, but why can’t the WPIAL schedule better non-conference matchups? In the last decade I can’t remember South Fayette having a competitive Non-conference game. It seems that issue is true with other schools also. It’s hard to convince casual fans to drive 60+ minutes to watch huge blowouts. I know that they don’t “know” who will be good each 2-year cycle but perhaps use the prior year’s standings to at least attempt to schedule competitive games.
Mike White: I agree to a certain extent. WPIAL claims when they make schedules, they have a formula and these non-conference games are by chance. Hogwash. You can fix some of them. However, their hands are tied somewhat by these six classes. You know six classes has caused much more travel for some teams and this is just another offshoot of that. One of South Fayette's nonconference games was against Greensburg Salem. Not good. But one is against Hopewell. Is that one really that bad?
Wike Mhite: Re: John, I understand being upset about forfeits but player safety is important. No team can foresee having 8+ injuries at this point in the season. It’s sad, it’s unfortunate, but discipline??? That would have terrible ramifications - do we want teams trying to force injured kids to play to avoid a penalty?
Mike White: Thank you Wike Mwhite
Batko is the GOAT: Why such a big disparity between the “haves” and the “have not’s” in the WPIAL? Coaching?
Mike White: Nope. This has been going on now for probably the past decade. Six classes has something to do with it. That has watered down the product some. But that's not the only reason. It's the way football is going and it started a while ago. One of the reasons is offense and scoring. So much more scoring and throwing nowadays. With more scoring, you're going to have more blowouts with a team that is a lot better. Go back maybe 30-35 years ago, there wasn't as much throwing. Teams ran more. There was none of the no-huddle. Teams didn't run as many plays, so they didn't score as much.
STANDINGS: WPIAL | City League
Team Pages | Sortable Statistics
burt reynolds: I agree that the forfeits are unfair to the other team. They seem to be increasing this year. Maybe the WPIAL should look at things like there should be a minimum number of players to even field a team to help prevent the possibility of a forfeit. 23 players seems like too few. Or maybe the AA and A classifications should play 8 man football or perhaps look into a co-op
Mike White: Come on Burt Reynolds. You want the WPIAL to set a minimum number of players to have a team? That's crazy. If you want a minimum of 23 players, you would cut out football from a number of small schools. Football is losing players and you want to cut programs so even fewer kids will play? I doubt that is the way to go. I keep saying 8 man football. Could it be right around the corner? You also mention co-ops. I agree with you on that. But so many of these schools don't want to do it because they say, "they will lose their identity." Hogwash.
Wpial fan: After seeing PCC offense come alive think Pine and PCC could be a classic. PCC def is one of the best I have seen in in a few years pine off playing great. Looks to be a great matchup Friday any early Picks?
Mike White: It's a really tough game to pick. I keep going back and forth. Yes, Central's offense has come alive the past two weeks. I actually think line play will be the difference. I've changed my mind so much on this game. I'm taking the easy way out and won't decide until later in the week.
Batko fan club: I really thought this was the year Varsity Extra would win an Emmy award.
Mike White: So did many people. From what we were told, there were five nominations for best series and Varsity Xtra's This Week In High School Sports was next right behind Chernobyl. I don't know if you saw, but Brad Everett was at the Emmys. He was sitting next to Barry. But Brad had his own meltdown after Chernobyl won yet another Emmy and had to leave.
‘T’ from Green Tree: Aliquippa beat Beaver Falls pretty good! Are they that good again. I was expecting a closer game. Someone told me that section had the last three state champs?
Mike White: Yes, that conference has produced the past three champs - Aliquippa, Quaker Valley and Beaver Falls. Quips are undoubtedly good again. I haven't seen them yet. I keep saying they aren't as dominant as they were last year. That's hard to say when they've given up only 45 yards rushing for the year. I still don't think they are quite as good as last year but that doesn't mean they won't win WPIAL and PIAA titles again. But I know Central Valley is good also. Should be a heckuva regular-season finale.
Wike Mhite: Is Woodland Hills the biggest surprise (negatively) at 0-5? This is not dissimilar from last year. Do you think they can turn it around again this year and salvage a playoff slot? It feels odd to say this, but they seem like a “good”
Mike White: If there is such a thing as a "good" 0-5 team, Woody High is it. Lost two close games. They are 0-5. I don't know if they can make it this year. They started 0-4 last year and won fifth game against Baldwin. That probably ended up putting them in playoffs. Obviously not the same program any more. But remember five teams from each conference in 5A and one wild card sixth place team make playoffs. Another big game this week with West Allegheny.
Batko fan club: Anyone hanging with the Quips this year? CV?
Mike White: We talked about the Quips earlier. As I said, Central Valley and Aliquippa could be a classic regular-season finale.
TM: Who is your underclassmen/newcomer of the year so far?
Mike White: Most people think "underclassmen" is junior or younger. But the definition says someone who is a freshman or sophomore. The top junior I would say is still Derrick Davis of Gateway. He isn't getting a ton of attention even though he's ranked in top 100 juniors in country. But he was averaging 18 yards a carry heading into last week. Best sophomore, I'd really have to think.
Wike Mhite: With these new transfer rules in play, are there any players right now making a reg. season difference for their teams who will be “out” come playoff time?
Mike White: Yes, Kyros Thorpe, senior at Avonworth. Top receiver transferred from Central Catholic. He's also done some damage running the ball. He't not eligible for playoffs although he can appeal to PIAA.
Mick Black: Do you think that AAU or club football teams will emerge from the lack of participation at high schools? I'm sure there are a lot of kids who still want to play but are unable to because their school has an noncompetitive team or no team at all.
Mike White: No. So-called "AAU" football teams are 7 on 7. They aren't real teams. Don't even wear uniforms. It's not like basketball. It takes lots and lots of money to start a football program. There are more 7 on 7 teams but they play in spring and without full pads.
Wike Mhite: Interesting thing to remember is the Quips lost 14-8 to CV last year on a miserable rainy night. Cost them an undefeated season last year. That should be a great finishing game this year!
Mike White: Yes, that was mentioned above.
Jenks: Do you think Southmoreland is for real??
Mike White: I really don't know. McGuffey game should tell us a lot. I think McGuffey is pretty good.
Mike White: Hey everybody, that's it for now. Hope to hear from you next week at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Everyone, be good.
First Published: September 24, 2019, 1:57 p.m.
Updated: September 24, 2019, 3:47 p.m.
