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Mike White's high school football chat: 10.01.19
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Mike White
10:58
I mentioned in a Tweet last Friday that it seemed every Friday this year had great weather. And it seems like every Tuesday that we do this chat has great weather. If you're with me knock on wood - because I probably just jinxed it. Watch, it will rain four of the next five Fridays.
10:59
Let's get started. Fire away with your questions.
Ballerz
10:59
What game are you heading to this week? Not many great matchups in my opinion...
Mike White
11:02
Sorry Ballerz but have to disagree. Number of good matchups this week. I'm going to Thomas Jefferson at Central Valley. It's non-conference but is really interesting. Two undefeated teams. TJ is 4A and Central Valley 3A, but I'm telling you Central Valley is good. Athleticism, experienced. Don't be surprised if it's a game. And then you have Knoch at South Fayette, although Knoch loss last week took some shine off that game. New Brighton at Freedom is really good. Elizabeth Forward at North Catholic. Charleroi at Southmoreland. California at West Greene, too. What will Ben Jackson do against this team?
Ballerz
11:02
I know you were at the P-R vs CC game. What was the story there? I was surprised by the score mainly because I didn't think CC would score 29. I know they have a great O-Line and D-Line but I would have expected a closer game. Any insight?
Mike White
11:04
Not surprised Central won. In fact, I predicted it on our This Week In High School Sports show on Post-Gazette web site. But surprised how easily they won. Difference in game was lines. And I was really impressed by Elliot Donald of Central. We knew he was good and he proved it. Big timer. Pine-Richland couldn't throw, either. They need to throw. Penalties killed Pine. 13 of them.
Ballerz
11:04
What is your favorite WPIAL stadium to watch a game in (considering press box, stadium seats, atmosphere of the crowd, etc)?
Mike White
11:06
Funny you ask. We have a big story in Friday's Varsity Xtra print edition about best stadiums in WPIAL and City. It will also be on our web site. We invited every coach in WPIAL to pick the top three stadiums. About 65 coaches voted. I won't reveal the top 10 now. You'll have to wait. But a panel of so-called "experts" also voted for a top 10. Current, retired sports writers, longtime radio announcers, retired coaches on panel. Check it out later this week.
SheforcedBobout
11:06
Do you know when they will be voting on the Bill to separate Public and Private schools?  Thanks
Mike White
11:07
Have heard nothing about it. Aaron Bernstine had said he hoped one vote would be before summer recess. Haven't heard another thing from him or anyone else. Just hearing reactions from regular people, coaches I talked to, athletic directors, I don't think the thing has a lot of support.
Guest
11:07
Will penn trafford win it all in 5a
Mike White
11:09
They might. But 5A is really good. Best class in WPIAL as far as depth of quality teams. Coach John Ruane said he hopes maybe their top two RBs will be back later in season. Knee injuries. I guess what I'm saying is Penn-Trafford is one of the favorites, but few other teams gotta look at in 5A also.
Dan
11:09
Who you like this Friday between Charleroi vs Southmoreland
Mike White
11:10
Scotties bounce back from McGuffey loss. Gotta fix up defense.
Windians
11:10
Does Shady Side have to forfeit again this week?
Mike White
11:10
I don't know. Originally, they had planned to play.
Scott M
11:10
Have you seen Moon? Turning it around or lesser competition? Thoughts on Jamal Littlejohn?
Mike White
11:12
Have not seen Moon. Yes, they've turned it around. They were 2-8 last year for goodness sake. Now they're 4-2. How can you say it was lesser competition. They almost beat a very good Bethel Park team. They clobbered decent Baldwin team. Beat a pretty good Mars team. I'm not saying they are going to win WPIAL but I think they are pretty good.
jim
11:12
What do teams that win a WPIAL or PIAA championship actually receive (from the WPIAL or PIAA)? A trophy and a pat on the back? Are any funds given to winning school [district]? Are expenses for food, travel, lodging, ... reimbursed? If so, is it a 1:1 repayment, or is it some type of predetermined per diem?
Mike White
11:16
They get a trophy and players and coaches get medals. Like just about every other state. What else do you want them to get? Expenses for food, travel, lodging are not paid. For WPIAL, there is a 50-50 split for sports that make money from playoff ticket sales - football, basketball and I believe soccer. It used to be that teams that went far and had a good following, they could maybe get back 15 thousand or so. Not that much any more because playoff attendance is down in football. Big school that sells lot tickets and goes far might get 3 thousand or so back. Making PIAA playoffs and going far is not a money-making thing for a school. So what. It can be a great thing for a school and a community.
Stan Kachowski
11:16
Mike I know we've had the discussion on stadiums on several occasions (and I'm in the camp that thinks Martorelli is the best HS stadium to take in a game), but I want to know do you feel there is a difference in atmosphere between the big schools and the little schools?  Northgate is tiny but that place was pretty rockin' this Friday.  Freeport is a really nice stadium that is packed with a good crowd.  On the other hand, I've been to games at Fox Chapel and Butler and felt like it was just "meh."
Mike White
11:18
Yes there is obviously a difference in atmosphere at bigger and smaller schools. Because a big game at a big school draws more people. But there are certainly some great atmospheres at smaller stadiums, too, that might have a big game or a good team. Some small-school stadiums have a lot of charm, character and atmosphere, too. If you have a game with teams that are tomato cans, you aren't going to have much atmosphere, big or small.
Wpial fan
11:18
Was surprised PCC def was able to shut down PR run and shoot offense IMPRESIVE. That def line might be the most athletic I have seen.  Allen twin and Beatty kid seemed to drop or line up over slots. The way they covered flats was crazy. Donald was unstoppable. As a Pitt Alum/fan how do we flip Beatty, get Allen twins and Donald to Pitt? Would love to see them play St Joes not sure they can win but what a match up.
Mike White
11:20
Yes, they're line is good. I don't think Beatty is flipping. As for the Allen twins, Pitt and many other Power 5 schools apparently don't think they can play at that level. That's why they haven't offered. That's OK. Pitt is allowed to not offer kids just because they're local.
OldSchool
11:20
Thoughts on Burgettstown? I think they have the most well-rounded team in AA. McGuffey and Washington are explosive but don’t play great defense. Burgettstown’s special teams are way better than the other two. Freedom and Avonworth factor in. However, Blue Devils look tops to me.
Mike White
11:23
Haven't seen Burgettstown but I know they are good. What a job Mark Druga has done in getting that program going. Have chance to be undefeated for second consecutive regular season. I think they are definitely a player for title. As for Burgettstown special teams, our athlete of the week is Burgettstown's Seth Phillis. Tell me if you've heard many kids have a game like this: Intercepted 3 passes, returned one for TD. Had TD reception. Rushed 19 yards. Kicked two field goals. Kicked four extra points. Also 6 of 7 kickoffs into end zone for touchbacks. And he finished third in the WPIAL 2A 100 meter dash in the spring. Pretty impressive.
Moonship
11:23
Hey Mike, what do you think of Moon's chances against Peters this Friday? Moon played Bethel tough last week.
Mike White
11:24
How is QB Dante Clay for Moon? That means a lot. I heard he got banged up a little against Bethel. No matter if he plays or not, though, I'm going Peters.
Edmil
11:24
Hi Mike, what has happened over a Quaker Valley. State champs two years ago and now the team can’t score a point while giving up over 40 a game. How does a program go bad so quickly ?
Mike White
11:26
You have to remember how Quaker Valley struggled for many years before that few year run. Honestly, they just don't have the talent they had few years ago. No Ricky Guss. They had other really good players. And I know they have small roster. One and only Ray Fittipaldo (one of our Steeler writers) saw them last week and said they only had about 25 players dressing. Honestly, I saw this coming. I knew most of their top players were graduating either two years ago or last year, and I knew they didn't have a lot coming.
Wike Mhite
11:27
You mentioned SF vs Knoch as a top game this week.  Is Knoch still running the “triple-option” offense (I believe it was something strange like that)?  It seems that it can be difficult to prepare for since it’s pretty unique.  Do you see them hanging with SF?
Mike White
11:28
Yes, Knoch runs triple option offense. Yes, not many teams run it. No, I don't see Knoch beating South Fayette. I look for South Fayette to run conference winning streak to 61.
Quad North Fan
11:28
P-R vs. PCC was a stinker. P-R couldn't get out of its own way in Q1 and that hurt them. I thought defense was fine. Just couldn't get any help. Offense had 2 long TD's called back on legitimate penalties. Spencer was running for his life from opening snap. PCC offense looked solid. Rematch between them and NA for championship.
Mike White
11:29
Yes, we talked about this game above. Will be interesting to see a rematch. Playoff positions will likely come down to that last game - NA vs. Pine.
Quad North Fan
11:29
Back to P-R. How will they stack up against SV and Lebo? SV played PCC tough early and Lebo is coming on.
Mike White
11:30
Lebo could give Pine a game, no doubt. I'd still rate Pine as favorite, though. A lot depends on that Pine offensive line.
Ralphie
11:30
Mike, Gateway ran a modern offense and steamrolled North Hills.  Pat Carey looks like he dusted off his playbook from 1987 and has been using it since he became coach. I know Gateway has some top talent, but can't the talent disadvantage be mitigated somewhat by running a more modern offense?
Mike White
11:33
That offense was OK for North Hills to win first four games. Offense doesn't mean as much as when the opponent has a lot more talent than you do. Gateway is No. 3 in the state. North Hills is OK, but not at level of Peters Township and Gateway. And maybe North Hills just hasn't had the talent to air it out like so many people seem to want. There haven't exactly been a plethora of good throwing QBs at North Hills over the past 5-6 years.
Guest
11:33
What are your thoughts on the Moon and Peterstownship game?
Mike White
11:33
See above. I'll go Peters. Too much. With Casilli, Pfeuffer, Magiske and that Hondru on defense is a stud.
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