Only a month ago, Jax Miller was almost certain that he was going to play baseball in college. But the more Miller runs with a football and the longer Avonworth’s season goes, Miller isn’t so sure about his college future.
Miller is a senior running back-linebacker at Avonworth and his terrific postseason performances have opened a few football doors for him. And he hopes a few more could open in the future.
Miller (6 feet 1, 185 pounds) has rushed for 921 yards in the past four postseason contests. He had three consecutive 200-yard games in helping Avonworth to the WPIAL Class 2A championship and added 143 in a PIAA semifinal win Friday against Wilmington. Miller also has been a force on defense.
A few weeks ago, Miller said pretty much no colleges wanted him for football. He was an all-section shortstop in baseball as a sophomore and junior and was content to have a future on the diamond. But two days after the WPIAL championship, the University of Akron invited Miller to its final home game Tuesday. Miller accepted the invitation and Akron offered him a spot on the team next season as a “preferred” walk-on. Valparaiso, an Football Championship Subdivision college, plans to visit Miller at his home this week.
“The playoffs have definitely gotten Avonworth’s name out there and my name, too,” Miller said.
Miller said he likely wouldn’t accept the walk-on position at Akron. But at the end of the season, he plans on sending his highlight tape to 10 colleges.
“Just to schools I like and where I feel like I can play,” Miller said. “Most of them will be FCS schools like James Madison and Rhode Island. But if nothing opens up for football I’ll definitely go play baseball.”
Antelopes vs. state power
Avonworth will play in the PIAA Class 2A title game at 1 p.m. Friday against one of the greatest programs in the history of Pennsylvania football.
Southern Columbia has won nine state titles, more than any other team in Pennsylvania. Jim Roth, Southern Columbia’s coach since 1984, is the second-winningest coach in Pennsylvania history with a record of 443-64-2 and seventh in wins among active coaches in the country.
Southern Columbia is riding a 47-game winning streak. The Tigers won the 2018 PIAA title and tied the 2007 Jeannette team for most points in a season with 860. But Southern Columbia is only 40 points away from that record this season. The Tigers have outscored opponents, 820-75.
Avonworth’s Miller said the Antelopes know practically no one gives them a chance to win.
“They’re probably a 30-point favorite,” Miller said with a laugh. “Basically you just go and play your hearts out.”
Three from WPIAL
Three teams from the WPIAL have made it to a PIAA championship. The other two besides Avonworth are Thomas Jefferson and Central Valley. Thomas Jefferson will play Dallas in the Class 4A final at 7 p.m. Thursday, while Central Valley meets Wyoming Area at noon Saturday in the Class 3A championship.
The PIAA changed from four to six classifications in 2016. Since then, the WPIAL has sent four (2016), four (2017) and two (2018) teams to the PIAA finals.
Byes are good
Some coaches might not like a week off after winning a district championship late in the season. They think it might hurt momentum. But for the past four WPIAL Class 3A champions, a bye has been a wonderful thing.
Central Valley won the WPIAL title and got a week off and a bye to the PIAA semifinals for it.
Then Central Valley went out and crushed Bald Eagle Area, 45-0, Friday in the PIAA 3A semifinals. That was the largest margin of victory by a WPIAL team in any PIAA game since the advent of six classifications in 2016.
Byes to the PIAA semifinals started for WPIAL 3A champions in 2016. The WPIAL won every game by a combined score of 143-37. The only close game was when Beaver Falls beat Martinsburg Central, 14-7, in 2016.
Those WPIAL 3A teams that won the PIAA semifinal game the past three seasons also went on to win the PIAA title. Besides Beaver Falls, the other two were Aliquippa and Quaker Valley.
On the other hand, the WPIAL Class 1A champion received a bye to the PIAA semifinals the past two years. The WPIAL is 0-2 in those semifinal games after Clairton lost Friday to Farrell. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart lost in the semifinals a year ago.
Recruiting note
Defensive back Kenny White, who played high school football at West Allegheny and Pine-Richland, made a verbal commitment to Akron. White, who played three years at West Allegheny and one at Pine-Richland, played the past two seasons at Garden City Community College in Akron.
Sports@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1621.
First Published: December 2, 2019, 10:45 a.m.
