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Mike White's high school football chat: 11.13.18
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Mike White
10:59
Back at ya. Missed the past two weeks, but ready to chat. Super Saturday at Heinz with four WPIAL title games. Four semifinal games Friday. And hey, official start of high school basketball is Friday. Let's go.
Quad North Fan
10:59
Two old Quad north teams meet again at Heinz. It seems like SV could be this year's team of destiny with a great senior class and the size the match up with P-R. If you can't choose the SV and/or the P-R defense being the keys to the game, what would you say are the things to watch for? I would say it comes down to both team's ability to throw the ball just a little in what looks to be cold and possibly snowing conditions. And - wait for it - special teams play.
Mike White
11:01
Pine is definitely the favorite. Great job by coach Ron Butschle to get Seneca to the title game again. Dave Vestal got them there two years ago when Butschle was OC. I think key to the game will be whether Seneca can generate enough offense. Defense has been good all year, but offense has sputtered at times, but not against NA last week. I'll still take Pine.
trojan tears
11:01
Surprised North Catholic fell apart the way they did?
Mike White
11:03
Derry was down 29-8 late in the third quarter. That has to be one of the greatest comebacks in WPIAL history. Seriously. Down three touchdowns late in third quarter? Derry made plays and North Catholic made mistakes. I guess Justin Flack was terrific. Gave NC a lot of Flack.
MonValleyRivalry
11:03
Who do u think makes it to the 2A final at Robert Morris?
Mike White
11:04
Semifinals are Friday. I'll take Steel Valley over Freedom and Charleroi over South Side Beaver. Wonder if Skyy Moore didn't get hurt would we still be talking about Shady Side?
6 A hoops
11:04
With 3 strong teams in PR, NA and Butler who has a chance to grab that last playoff spot in the section?
Mike White
11:05
There's only three teams left - Central, North Hills and Seneca. Just going by tradition, you would think Central.
Turkey Jones
11:05
Big time excited for the 5A semis...Peters Penn Hills is going to be a war. Gateway comes in so hot they use smoke canisters to make their entrance. What do you think will be the matchup at Norwin next week and is it true if you don’t use it you lose it?
Mike White
11:06
Smoke canisters??? Awwww yeahhhh. I'll take Gateway against Penn Hills. The one everyone has been waiting for. But believe me, Peters can beat Penn Hills. In fact, colleague Brad Everett predicted it on our This Week In High School Sports Show this week. He also predicted Seneca and Rochester to win last week. So if Big Brad says it will happen, it might.
2AFootballFan
11:07
I blame the NC loss on the offensive coordinator.  There is NO WAY they should have been throwing the ball in the 4th quarter.  What did Chuck Noll say about passing?  There are 3 things that can happen and 2 of them are bad.  Especially when you have a 21 point lead.
Mike White
11:08
I wasn't there. I don't know the particulars. But you can't just run the ball every play, right? North Catholic has been a throwing team a lot with Zack Rocco. I can't blame them for throwing, unless they did it too much.
Not to get off subject, but did you see Robert Foster (Central Valley) had a big game at WR for Bills? Nice.
11:09
Also some checking out some former WPIAL hoopers, Austin Butler (Latrobe) had a big game for Holy Cross in opener. Robby Carmody (Mars) started first two games for Notre Dame. Had 11 pts. in opener.
11:10
Reminder that all four of WPIAL title games Saturday will be on TV. All on CW and first one also on KDKA. I have pleasure of doing color with Bob Pompeani on first two Saturday.
2AFootballFan
11:11
Skyy Moore getting hurt destroyed SSA chances.  As soon as I heard about the injury I knew that they were going to have a hard time.  He was such a huge part of their team.   I wish him all of the best in the future.
Mike White
11:11
They were running past Serra until he got hurt. Certainly not a one man team, but they were nowhere near the same team without him. Shows how good he is. He still has to be candidate for Player of the Year.
Class A
11:12
Who do u think wins OLSH or Rochester and  any chance of them beating  Farrell
Mike White
11:14
Farrell is good. Really good. They've had a number of good teams over the past decade or so. This might be their best. OLSH proved last week it can win without Tyler Bradley throwing a ton. Weather not supposed to be good Saturday. Might have trouble throwing again. Rochester must run the ball well to win. Shoutout to Gene Matsook getting Rochester back. People forget about his success. He has four WPIAL titles.
2AFootballFan
11:14
Weather is supposed to be cold but no rain this Saturday.   Everyone is Aliquippa is celebrating!  No 2-0 this year.
Mike White
11:14
One of biggest upsets in WPIAL championship history - and one of the worst games in WPIAL championship history.
Legendary
11:15
I see you and Brad picked against Charleroi last week, and now this week your piv
Mike White
11:15
We're PIV???
Class A
11:15
any chance Derry upsets the quips
Mike White
11:16
No, no chance. Derry should just stay home. .... Of course, there's a chance. There's always a chance. Who would've thought Central Valley would beat Aliquippa? Who would've thought a 2-0 loss for Aliquippa last year?
WPIAL Zone
11:16
Which surprise is bigger to you south side or freedom making it to the semi finals? South side has shown its offense can put up points, and freedom has shown it has a defense that has not gotten a lot of credit it deserves? Both teams have been led by a good group of players
Mike White
11:17
South Side. I think Freedom is a lot better than people think. They have some good players. South Side isn't bad. Great job by Luke Travelpiece. But you have to wonder if they get by Shady Side if Moore plays.
Class A
11:17
Who are your 4 winners this Saturday
Mike White
11:18
Well on our This Week In High School Sports show, I went Pine-Richland, TJ, Aliquippa and OLSH. There are no lines but if there were, Pine-Richland, TJ and Aliquippa would be definite favorites. I think OLSH would have to be the favorite also, but maybe by not as much. But remember, OLSH crushed Rochester earlier this season.
Gunner
11:18
If you only got to watch one championship at Heinz which would you pick?
Mike White
11:19
For some reason, I think South Fayette vs. TJ might be interesting.
Tw
11:19
Saw Woody High on Friday......not the same without Deuce......got wet from the rain.....not from Deuce!
Mike White
11:20
Got that right. ... He was annoying as heck, but only one Deuce. Hey, did you hear about the Spanish fireman who had twin sons??? Yeah, he named them Jose ---- and Hose B. ...... Awwwww yeahh. One of Deuce's "staple" jokes. I saw him once tell that to Dick Vitale at the 5-Star basketball camp.
Andrew
11:21
What happened to Belle Vernon? What do you think about their future moving forward?
Mike White
11:22
What happened was they met a good South Fayette team. It's not like they were defeated by a tomato can. I know Belle Vernon has a number of players back next year. The thing is, so does TJ. It will be TJ No. 1 and Belle Vernon No. 2 heading into next season.
2AFootballFan
11:22
Pine vs. Seneca Valley has the chance to be a great game this Saturday.  If SV defense can hold, they will be in it until the end.  Pine is still the favorite but I think it should be an interesting match up.
Mike White
11:22
Yes, we talked about this earlier. Seneca's offense must go to another level if they are to have a chance at winning. Pine-RIchland's defense is pretty good, too.
hoopster
11:22
Do you think that the up-tempo AAU style of basketball is hurting the quality of high school basketball?  Last year I watched a lot of games void of defense with a "pick-up" game feel to it.
Mike White
11:24
Maybe a little, but not that much. Teams in Western Pa. are still pretty decent defensively I think as a whole. AAU is a total different game than high school. High school much more organized. Much more coaching in high school because they're with team 6 or 7 days a week. Some AAU teams might practice 6-7 teams the entire spring.
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