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Mike White's high school football chat: 11.12.19
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Mike White
11:00
Well the string of great weather Tuesdays for this chat is officially over. Snowing really hard right now as I look out my window. That must mean it's time for WPIAL football championships. Wonder what Heinz Field surface will be like Saturday after Pitt plays there Thursday. Oh well, let's talk. Fire away with questions.
Greyhound
11:01
Mike,  Do you think Wilmington can win it all  this year?  Thank you.
Mike White
11:03
Wilmington is District 10. Always good. They play Chestnut Ridge this weekend. Would be shocked if Wilmington doesn't play WPIAL champ in PIAA semis. Can Wilmington win it all? Well, there's this team in eastern part of state named Southern Columbia. They've had a pretty good team or two in the past. Ahhhh, they have nine state titles. Most of any team. And they crushed Wilmington in the title game the past two years. And SC has one of the top players in the country this year. So I would say I would not bet my house on Wilmington winning it all.
Whike Mite
11:04
Clairton defense vs Sto-Rox passing game, your choice?
Mike White
11:05
Clairton defense has really been impressive, especially last half of season. Must get pressure on Sto-Rox QB Eric Wilson. And for whatever reason, teams seem to have a little trouble passing the ball in that first game at Heinz. I like Clairton to win.
Ken
11:05
Does McKeesport have any chance of beating Gateway?
Mike White
11:06
No. No chance. McKeesport shouldn't even show up. Gateway should order the bus for Heinz right now. C'mon, man. We go through this every week. "Does so and so have a chance?" Of course, McKeesport has a chance. A decent chance, too. Gateway hasn't exactly set the WPIAL on fire in the first two playoff games. But I'll still go Gateway.
Tom W
11:06
Saw Aliquippa on Friday night.....lots of great athletes and speed......lack some discipline as lots of 15 yard penalties calling back a few touchdowns.....huge offensive and defensive lines....295 to 315... Can see how Central Valley beat them and will repeat on Saturday.
Mike White
11:08
Aliquippa is very big on lines. But they don't have the talent at the skill positions that they had last year. Not close. That doesn't mean Aliquippa can't win. Have to limit penalties and can't turn it over. Turnovers hurt the first time.
Ballerz
11:08
Any team on upset alert this weekend? I got McKeesport over Gateway in a close one. Love the way the Tigers are playing.
Mike White
11:10
McKeesport is playing well. Gateway won regular-season finale at McKeesport 36-7. But Gateway was held to 17 points last week. McKeesport seemed to make a change and put 6-6 receiver Diggs at running back last week. Will that make a difference this time against Gateway?
StanM
11:10
Mike - What was your biggest surprise (win, point spread, individual performance) from last week's football playoff games?
Mike White
11:11
Maybe that Gateway almost lost to Bethel Park? Although I've liked Bethel all year. Maybe how bad Pine-Richland beat NA again. And a surprise that Brentwood is in semifinals. But you know what, it's about time we give Brentwood coach Kevin Kissel some props. You know he's in top 25 for wins among active WPIAL coaches. Brentwood always competitive and has a very good team sometimes.
StanM
11:12
Brentwood blanking Neshannock was very unexpected, given prior point spreads vs common opponents Fort Cherry (Brentwood won 13-0, Neshannock 35-0) and Serra Catholic (Brentwood won 14-13, Neshannock 31-13).  Does this team have the pieces to make it a game vs Washington in the 2A semifinals?
Mike White
11:13
Well Washington beat Shady Side by only 21-7 in first round and won by 28-0 last week against Freedom. It seems Washington defense might be the team's strongpoint. I don't know if Brentwood can score enough to win but it wouldn't surprise me if they stay close.
whoyouknow
11:13
how can the WPIAL select Offutt field for a playoff game? have you ever tried to park there for a big game?
Mike White
11:14
Let's just get off it when it comes to site selection.
11:15
C'mon. Offutt is a historic field. Great stadium. It's good enough for the Steelers to hold public practices there? So why wouldn't it be good enough to have playoff games.
South Hills
11:15
Mike- you think Coach Z will return ?
Mike White
11:15
Yes, without a doubt. Seton LaSalle played a lot of young kids. A lot returning.
Miller
11:15
Mike last week you said as a father of WPIAL athletes, you believed in expanded playoffs.  Do you also believe in participation trophies?  A watered down playoff is very similar to that.  Let's not leave anyone out, even though you had a terrible season and don't deserve to be rewarded by being in the playoffs.
Mike White
11:17
Thanks Mr. Positive. I never said everyone should make the playoffs. Please. The current playoffs are NOT like participation trophies. There were 7-3 teams that didn't make the playoffs so spare me the idea that WPIAL playoffs are like "participation trophies."
Scooter
11:17
What's with Butler considering an independent schedule?  Who will they schedule? I don't believe Karns City will play the Golden Tornado.
Mike White
11:18
I have no idea what Butler will do. They just can't win and participation is at an all time low. I'm sure they looked at what Albert Gallatin did with pulling out of the WPIAL for for football. Maybe Butler could play some District 10 teams, too.
X
11:18
I've experienced quite a bit of "Beaver fever" over the years with Beaver County fans suggesting in 2012 that Aliquippa could beat NA, Quips over PR in 2017, etc.   I hope the thrashing Thomas Jefferson gave Central Valley this year put this to rest once and for all. That said, Central Valley played TJ tough for about a quarter and a half and i was impressed.  I figured that game would only make Studly Dudley better.  Do you think they take the Quip out of Aliquippa again and what do you think of their state title prospects?
Mike White
11:20
People don't realize the difference between a good Class 2A or 3A team and a good Class 5A or 6A team. It's huge. This isn't like basketball. Often times, best 2A or 3A team in WPIAL hoops can compete with best in 5A or 6A. Not the same in football.
DT
11:20
Your prediction on final score of TJ-BV game?
Mike White
11:20
I'll take the cats. Oh, sorry it's Leopards and Jaguars.
11:21
I'll take TJ.
X
11:21
I'm beginning to be convinced that Coach Kasper at PR is the best of many good coaches in the WPIAL. In fact, w/o a significant talent disadvantage, i doubt that they lose.  That seemed to be the case  in the first Central Catholic game.   Some nice coaching moves by Totten in that game....running ruthlessly at an experience and aphysical defensive back.  PR countered by moving their best lineman to beef up that side and within a few plays, Totten countered by adding a second tight end and lined him up on that side...the big kid going to UNC...and they continued to run at will.   Spencer had happy feet (understandably as i don't think Dan Marino could've done much given the pressure) and was out of sorts in the first one.  PR's offense struggled mightily.  Do you think the game plays out the same this time?
Mike White
11:23
Pine-Richland has made changes on offensive line since last time. Moving Miguel Jackson and Miller into the guard spots. Pine thinks that will help. But that Central defense is really good. Central won't have good linebacker Gus Sunseri, though. Tore his ACL in next-to-last regular season game. Certainly line play will be key. So will whether Pine's defense can stand up to the run. Pine would love to force Central into third-and-longs and make them throw. Central throws less than 10 times a game.
Stan Kachowski
11:23
Mike what're your thoughts on PR and SF moving to 5A?  Personally, I like it from the competition standpoint, as 5A is probably the most competitive division.  However, PR is probably going to roll through for quite a while, while I think SF will have some really good competition.
Mike White
11:26
Why are people criticizing Pine if they don't move up and play 6A? That's ridiculous. What's wrong with playing where your enrollment puts you. Pine was the second smallest 6A school in WPIAL. NA has twice the enrollment of Pine. Pine will still get plenty of competition in 5A. If they wanted to still play 6A that's fine. But I don't see how anyone can criticize if they stay at 5A.
StanM
11:26
Which 2A team has a bigger chance of pulling the upset this weekend: Brentwood over Washington or Riverside over Avonworth?
Mike White
11:27
I don't know. Make me pick one for the best chance of upset and I'd probably say Riverside.
Montel Monroe Staples
11:27
Does it make sense to play the games at Heinz Field?  Spread them around a little bit and have the games start at a normal time.
Mike White
11:28
This is an old subject. Debated year after year. Some like games at Heinz. Some say put them at high school stadium. I know this. The kids love playing at Heinz. It's a big thing for them. Crowds at Heinz have gotten smaller in recent years. WPIAL now happy to get 15,000. Had close to 40,000 first year of Heinz.
Scooter
11:29
How do you see football realignment playing out?  Do you see geographical sectional alignments combining 5A and 4A teams (or 4A and 3A teams)?  There could be a nice 5A/4A schools in the north, but they will likely complain about Pine-Richland.
Mike White
11:33
I think there will definitely be regional conferences next year with teams from different classifications playing in the same conference. The system I think that might be the most popular is this: They will leave 6A alone. The reason is you would probably take some 5A teams and put them in a conference with 6A teams. Then you would take some other 5A teams and play in conference with 4A teams. That's not really fair. So you leave 6A alone. Have four classifications with 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. But you'll still have six classes for playoffs.
2a upset
11:33
Any word on riverside running back - nolph, he went down with ankle injury in second half last week
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