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Mike White's high school sports chat: 09.21.21
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Mike White
10:59
After this Friday, half of the football regular season is over. But this chat is just starting to heat up. So take off the warmups, and let's go.
WPIALMAN
10:59
Mike- great coverage thus far.  What are your thoughts on the large scoring differentials in 6A?  Seems like 4 of the teams can compete, then a huge drop off.  Most games are over after one quarter.
Mike White
11:01
It's same old, same old WPIALMAN. There is the front four, and then everyone else. I did a column on 6A football last week. It's almost boring - until the semifinals. Or at least monotonous. Classes will be realigned next year. I dodn't see much changing. Might even have fewer 6A teams. What can be done? I don't know. WPIAL teams didn't want hybrid - 5A and 6A together - a few years ago. We shall see. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2021/09/16/Mi...
Almost there
11:02
Mike, well that was fun while it lasted for North Hills, looks like back to a 5-5 season and a first round playoff elimination.  Do you think I'm wrong and things will be different this year?
Mike White
11:03
Well, here we go. North Hills questions. I was wondering how long it would take. North Hills is pretty decent this year. Again, not great. Hey, Moon is good. And it was a close game against Seneca, a good Class 6A team. No shame in losing to them. I don't think North Hills is one of top 5 teams in 5A, but I think they have a chance to finish second in the conference.
Coach O
11:03
I was impressed with your recall about WPIAL champs from 1988 on your widely popular podcast yesterday. So let me run this by you: when was the last time Baldwin had a really good football team? I’m in my 60s and I can’t remember them being in a championship game. I recall when Yannessa was there they had some respectable seasons but that was about it.
Mike White
11:07
Lots of useless info in Mike White's brain, right? Ha ha. It stays there, too. You have to remember, when Don Yannessa took over, they were one of the worst programs in WPIAL. He got them to respectability. Made playoffs some. Beat North Hills in a playoff game when Eric Kasperowicz was a junior in 1991. Only playoff win in school history. They did play for the 1953 Class A (second biggest class back then) championship. Lost to Leechburg, 26-21. No, I did not cover that game.
Quad North Fan
11:07
First big game of the season in 6A. PCC at NA. I like PCC defense vs. NA's new offense. PCC young skill a question mark but RB is real deal. What are your keys to the game and who you taking?
Mike White
11:09
I'll go with Central. NA doesn't have an offensive star. But the offense came alive last week. Central far from unbeatable. But maybe Central's defense has clamped down since the second half of Pine-Richland game. I think Central's defense might be difference. And watch that sophomore LB Anthony Speca. Stud. Was just offered by Michigan. Pitt, PSU, WVU, Notre Dame, Purdue, Colorado had already offered. Really like that kid.
Quad North Fan
11:09
Lebo looks to be the cream of the crop, including a very nice win over Peters Twp. How dominant do you think they are compared to other great teams. Thinking 2015/2016 PCC or 2017/2020 P-R?
Mike White
11:11
Hey, just chill Quad North fan. That 2017 Pine team should go down as one of the best in past 30 years or so. That Phil kid that had at QB is just a little different than Joey Daniels. Pine team last year also was terrific and dominant. It wasn't in biggest class, but so what. I think they win the WPIAL in biggest class, too. Mt. Lebanon is very good. But to be considered among greats, you have to win win WPIAL, win state and do it emphatically. I'm not cutting down Lebo, but let's just relax a little bit until we see a lot, lot more.
Quad North Fan
11:11
Back to NA. Been watching a lot of them. It look like Coach Walker has adopted a spread look nearly all the time. Surprising, since in years past it was all wing t and I. New blood out in Wexford coaching on the offensive side of the ball?
Mike White
11:13
I have no idea who is coaching offense at NA. Haven't seen them yet, either. Like I said, no real stars on offense. I think Art Walker has tailored his offense to personnel over the years. How is the QB this year?
Quad North Fan
11:14
Speaking of new blood, SV has rebounded nicely after an opening loss to a really good moon team. Offense and defense seem to be getting better ever week. Big games from PCC, NA and Lebo coming up - I say 50-50 chance to beat one of them and not be stuck in the 4/5 slot in the playoffs.
Mike White
11:15
I would say they have a chance at beating one of them. That would not surprise me. QB seems to be getting better. They were handled physically by Moon. Maybe they learned from that game.
Quad North Fan
11:15
Norwin, Hempfield, Baldwin and Cmac lost by 50, 49, 47 and 30 last week to the Big 4 in 6A. That's just crazy because I don't think that any of the Big 4 are particularly good as compared to other great 6A teams. (see last question). Those teams are bad. And even SV and PCC got all they could handle from Moon and P-R. Not much fun. What can be done to make 6A more competitive - or at least interesting.
Mike White
11:17
As I said earlier in chat, 6A is the same old, same old. Almost monotonous. Same 4 teams up top. Canon-McMillan has gotten better, but can it get into top 4? Doubt it. What can be done? I don't know if anything can be done. It is what it is with 6 classes and only one conference in Class 6A. Big divide between Haves and Have Nots. Are you a Have or Have Not?
Guest
11:17
Mike, Big matchup in the Quad Greater Allegheny Conference Hampton @ Highlands someone will get their first loss and this could be determine section Champ. Do you have a prediction on this game?
Mike White
11:19
I predict that a team starting with letter H will win. ... Hampton has won last two games by three and one point. Highlands is 4-0, but really hasn't played anyone of significance. I don't feel confident about this pick, but I'll go with Highlands. I'll put on the Rams head for this one.
wyv4407
11:20
I hear they are expecting 5,000 + Friday at the beach. Is this the year BVA takes down almighty TJ?
Mike White
11:22
I say this is the game of the regular season. These two have had some big ones before, but it seems the buildup for this one is even more. Great to see after last year with few fans. i love Belle Vernon's stadium, not just because of gold turf, either. One of the best in WPIAL. Has historic feel to it and those steep bleachers are right up on the field. TJ power against some finesse of Belle Vernon. Until TJ loses, I'm going with them. Key is Belle Vernon against TJ defensive front, which is really good. Can I play Cedarbrook golf course before I go to the game?
Ryan
11:23
What do you think about Kiski so far 4-0 go Kiski
Mike White
11:25
Oh, that Sam Albert the Great is doing great, isn't he? 4-0 for the first time since the 1980s, per colleague Brad Everett. But they've beaten Latrobe, Butler, Connellsville and Franklin Regional. They aren't tomato cans, but they aren't IMG, either. But hey, give Kiski credit for being 4-0. Will know  more this week after playing West Allegheny.
Almost there
11:26
Mike, that is the story of the Pat Carey era at North Hills, pretty decent, not great.  I think with another coach who is currently on the North Hills faculty we might actually see the first playoff victory in 10 years, don't you agree?
Mike White
11:27
No, I don't think taking Vertus Jones from wrestling to football will make a difference.
WPIAL Lifer
11:27
Now that Clairton is in stride, they are certainly the team to beat in 1A. Beyond that, the classification seems as wide open as I can recall. I see a lot of teams knocking each other off over next several weeks. Wouldn't be surprised if playoffs are a jumble of 2-3 loss teams.
Mike White
11:28
Yes, lot of people started to doubt Clairton after going 0-2. But those losses were Washington and Steel Valley, two pretty good teams in bigger classes. Clairton was 0-2 two years ago and won WPIAL. I don't think this is a great Clairton team, but certainly one capable of winning WPIAL again. Bears hunt WPIAL championships like honey. Bishop Canevin intrigues me, though. Could be good.
The goat
11:28
Pine takes 5a title no question right?
Mike White
11:30
Yes, just send them the trophy now. But seriously, my prediction is they lost to Gateway this week to go 1-4. Then they win the next five to win the conference. Let's not kid ourselves. There are still players there. But no, I don't think they win WPIAL.
Tri County
11:30
I assume you're going to be heading to the BV TJ game on Friday.  Any early thoughts on what we can expect here?
Mike White
11:31
I am not going. I am going to Central Catholic at North Allegheny. But I talked about BV-TJ earlier in chat. One key is BV controlling TJ defensive front. TJ's DLine is really good and so are linebackers. But TJ can't give up big plays to big-player master Whitlock. I think TJ will need to hit a few big pass plays.
Chooch
11:32
So, the WPIAL has decided their refs do not need to be vaccinated for the playoffs. Is the pool of available refs so low that they needed to make this decision?
Mike White
11:33
No, it is not. They feel they already have system in place where if an official has had contact with COVID case, or feels ill, they should sit out. However, WPIAL boss Amy Scheuneman said they use about 50 percent of their officials pool for playoffs. So they need just about everyone.
BCman
11:33
Any news on Phil Jerkovec’s future?
Mike White
11:34
Wrist surgery. Probably done for the year. A shame because I think he was headed for big year for Boston College. Would've been interesting with a good year where he would go in NFL draft. I've seen mock drafts with him going high. And some not so high. Seems to be differing of opinions. But I think he probably comes back to BC next year. Just my hunch. Still some things to prove.
Almost there
11:34
what are the odds that Tyrese Fearbry ends up in the transfer portal after one year?  That
Mike White
11:36
How in the world do I know? Not fair to the kid to predict something like that. He changed his mind. Kids do it all the time. Let him try it. Maybe he'll be like M.J. Devonshire and be out of there. But I looked. Kentucky has had eight other WPIAL signees in the past 35 years. Some have done good things there, just not lately.
Coach D
11:36
With the continuing trend of low numbers in many sports at most schools, more lopsided outcomes, high property taxes, and smaller total population over the last few decades, have you heard any talk of more school consolidations.  Worked very well for Central Valley and even Armstrong.  The school districts in Western PA are very small compared to most parts of the country so it seems to make sense but I also realize most people in Western PA are not very open to change.
Mike White
11:38
You are right on everything you say Coach D. To me, yes too many school districts. Too many small ones. Doesn't make sense to have so many small ones. But a lot of these districts don't want to close. They say they will lose their identity. While other districts don't want a neighboring district coming in. But yes, I think there should be more mergers. But I doubt you'll see it.
The goat
11:38
How is the competition shaping up in 5a? And if it comes down to a Pine vs Moon title game who are you taking?
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