Saturday, October 25, 2008

Friday night thoughts, Week 9

Looks like the Monessen defense, blessed with a strong secondary, is ready for postseason play.

A week after shutting out Carmichaels - no small feat since the return of Joby Lapkowicz - and finishing with nine sacks, the Greyhounds sacked California quarterback D.J. Martinak 11 times and posted another shutout.

As the second-place team in the Tri-County South, Monessen is likely to draw the best third-place team in Class A as it's first-round opponent in the playoffs. Now, it sure seems like the Greyhounds are more prepared for better competition than they were to open the year.

** At times this year, Trinity has drawn criticism from Hillers fans questioning the offense to outsiders calling them pushovers. Say what you want, but Trinity coach Ed Dalton has accomplished the unthinkable - Trinity is a perennial playoff team.

The Hillers' 14-7 win at Ringgold Friday night continues a trend. Trinity wins regular season games when it has to win them. The Hillers defense will cause problems in the postseason. The offense will determine if Trinity can advance.

** Fort Cherry defeated Chartiers-Houston, 14-6, to clinch second place, and a home playoff game for the second straight year, in the Black Hills Conference but the Bucs got the better of play in the final three quarters.

It goes to show, it's not how many chances you get, it's what you do with them. Fort Cherry made the most of its early chances thanks to some great throws by quarterback David Phillips in the first quarter. Chartiers-Houston squandered a few opportunities and it cost them.

** Has anyone else noticed Beth-Center tailback Josh Lockett is tearing up defenses the last few weeks?

Even without Jeff Tarley, B-C's backfield is scary good.

** Not much Mike Hull, no problem for the Big Macs thanks to a breakout performance from Chad Hagan and another strong defensive effort.

If Canon-McMillan is to advance in the postseason, the vast improvement on defense will be the reason why.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hate to burst beth centers bubble but if chariters houston plays beth center in the first round of the playoffs chartiers will when by a td

Anonymous said...

beth has beaten chartiers-houston thoroughly the last couple games and will continue that streak this year if they happen to meet in the playoffs.. BC defense is better and more skill players BC prevails if they happened to be paired!!

Anonymous said...

Ringgold looked like garbage last nite. You'd expect a team to get better as the season progresses, but they seem to get worse and worse. Now with the loss of their starting QB, Ringgold's chances of winning a playoff game are shot.

Anonymous said...

Ya i agree. Ringgold's "high-powered offense" has scored a meager 7 points in the first half of their last 4 games.

Anonymous said...

The defense of CM +would have been better if junior Dominic Broglia was not injured - he had a torn ACL as a sophomore and a stinger injury this year - feel sorry for this kid - such a nice boy

Anonymous said...

what is a stinger injury?

Anonymous said...

I am posting anonomously in this post, because I have to rip into the team that I love so dear. I am so upset that Ringgold lost to Trinity. The better team lost. I will elaborate: The Rams lost their aggressive edge that they had earlier in the season. I think Jeff Petrucci has done wonders with developing the team and creating a "team/family dynamic", but his play calling days are well past him. The run was not working at all, so what do you think the Rams did? Hand it off to the fullback on 2nd and long. Losing Shane Mountain at QB may not be as bad as people think. I feel that David Bassi brings a lot more balance to the offense. Mind you he is not as fleet footed as Mountain, but he is poised and can actually see over the line. He also will not get brought down as easy. However, it will not matter who starts at QB, the Rams will lose an upsetting game. The Rams will lose because of the sequence of playcalls. (J. Petrucci: Man up, and actually call plays that work. I have played with these boys and they deserve better than what you are doing for them. Do not be afraid to be aggressive, you might be suprised.)

Anonymous said...

maybe Ringgold just isnt as good as you people think...

Anonymous said...

I also have no idea what a "stinger injury" is, but I do know what a stinger is. I know that it is not that serious and not that uncommon of an injury to get during the rigors of a football season. I also heard that Dominic had the option to try to play through his ACL injury last season and have surgery when the season was over, but opted for an early surgery. Does Dominic really want to play football? Or does he just want the accolades?

Anonymous said...

Funny, the Rams also won a few games with Petrucci on the sidelines. Did you blame him for the wins too?

Anonymous said...

Funny, the Rams also won a few games with Petrucci on the sidelines. Did you blame him for the wins too?


HAHA, this is the best post i have seen on here in a while. I guess wins versus southmoreland, albert gallatin, peters, west mifflin, ef, and belle vernon should go down as huge accomplishments and petrucci should be praised since the combined record of those teams is 14-40. Ringgold is probably going to get a team from the Greater Allegheny or the Parkway in the first round and will lose by 20 points...you heard it here first!

Anonymous said...

Why are there big expectations from Ringgold fans? Am i missing something?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

voice of reason is a varsity letters critical theorist. all we need now is clartin alum to say how good clairton is.

VCTMbrian said...

Making player abuse comments like that is not cool Anon. I don't really think accusations like that are appropriate.

Anonymous said...

Clairton is good...

there you go.

Anonymous said...

Regarding The Big Mac's Dominic Broglia - I am a physician knowledgeable about torn ACL's. A torn ACL is a season-ender for an athlete. Note Tom Brady had a torn ACL and out for the season. Also NFL team doctors recommend surgery soon as ACL injury occurs and an intensive rehab program for about a year. Persistent "stingers" indicate a more serious injury with nerve damage - here an athlete needs rehab for about 8 months. This is what happened to this player. No accolades needed!!

Anonymous said...

ya anon, if you are to think that someone even has the ability to play with a torn ACL, you need to go back to elementary school.. some ACL tears do more than end a season, sometimes a career

Anonymous said...

back to elementry school? tom brady did not just have a torn acl, he also tore almost every major ligiment in his knee. and by the way, were not talking about tom brady. im pretty sure the coach from canon mac's daughter played basketball with two torn ACL's. if you dont believe me ask him. so please tell me how a girl basketball player is twice as tough as a defensive lineman. plus the canon mac defensive line is doing just fine without him.

Anonymous said...

whoever is posting anonymously here saying a KID should be playing on a torn ACL is either A) of their mind or B) doesnt have a kid playing competitive sports (or both). We arent talking about a pro athlete or even a college player...we are talking about a teenager in highschool. You would want to see this kid play on a torn ACL just so he can "tough it out" or "play through pain"? Are you crazy? This kid can do permanent damage to his knee and for what? Highschool football? Come on people...

VCTMbrian said...

Anon wishing Dominic to play through serious injuries,

I don't really get why you are questioning his toughness/integrity. The young man has to do what is best for him. I'm all for playing hurt. I've always felt that no matter how much something hurt, as long as it wasn't going to get worse and it wasn't going to limit me physically, then i should go through it. If the injuries being speculated here are accurate, clearly they have significant additional risks if one were to try and play through them. If the doctors and coaches feel that he is alright to play and that no further damage can be done, then by all means he should play. But there is absolutely NO reason for a young kid to risk his future at this age. Sure his presence would be appreciated on the field, but if he has a significant risk of doing more harm, then he needs to stay off the field

Anonymous said...

I don't know why people are arguing whether this kid couldve played through these life altering injuries when it doesn't matter because I feel that there isn't a place on cm's defensive line.. Maybe he would have a spot on their j.v. Team

Anonymous said...

I agree with you 100%, anon. Canon Mac's defensive front 8 is one of the best in its history. I dont believe that Dominic Broglia has the experience, technique, or raw athleticism as a Butchie Cumpston or a "Big John" Corey. I'm not trying to be offensive, but this isn't Lil' Macs anymore. Its not just a game, its a job and you have to treat it as such

VCTMbrian said...

Anon...

It's a job? Please tell me you are kidding. He's playing high school football. I hope you're not at your job at 9:46 in the morning.

Anonymous said...

The kid should be playing football with a torn ACL or a series of stingers?


Folks, wake up. It's only HIGH SCHOOL sports. It's not the NFL. Stop trying to live your life through the athletic feats of 16 year old kids. In other words, get a life.

Anonymous said...

he does not have an acl injury anymore so I don't know why people are arguing whether he should play through it. And in regards to him playing with a stinger.. His teammate mike hull has not missed a start throughout his 3 years of varsity football- having played with several severely sprained ankles, 2 concussions, a fractured back, a fractured thumb, and a shin injury. Dominic went to 2 doctors, both of which said that he was cleared to play with his stinger inury. He then sought out a 3rd opinion and this doctor contradicted the other two. Mike hull goes to get 3rd opinions only when the other two doctors say he can't play. He's a true football player

Anonymous said...

Alright, whether Dom Broglia is faking his injury we will never know. However, if I was in his situation I would do whatever I could in order to play for the Big Macs this season. The Big Macs have a great team and could go as far as they want to. Their front 8 is quite possibly the best in the history of the W.P.I.A.L. if not the universe. Their d-line are not the biggest guys around but they are fast and they are technicians!! Their linebackers are also very very good. Hull and Stimel, granted, are the ones usually making the tackles but that is only because Pozonsky and Baker are doing their jobs as outside backers along with Pihakis, Cumpston, Nackoul, and Coury doing their jobs as d-linemen. This is one of the greatest teams in CM history and I can't see how one of the team members can just sit out because he has a minor injury. Again, it may be a very serious "bee stinger" but I could never sit out if I thought I could play.

Anonymous said...

I hope Shaler puts an end to CM's season this friday night so this madness can stop.

"best front 8 in WPIAL History"?

"best front 8 in the universe"?

questioning a HIGH SCHOOL KID's toughness because he is injured?

I know there have been several posts describing CM fans as "great", i think i would describe them as dilusional. CM has a couple winning seasons and you think they are the greatest team in PA history? It wasnt that long ago this team couldnt win a game to save their lives.

CM out in the first round to Shaler, right it down, you heard it here.

Anonymous said...

Severely sprained ankles, 2 concussions, fractured back, thumb. etc. What is high school football coming to. Since anon seems to know so much about the Broglia boy, maybe he can tell us what 2 doctors he saw and who the third doctor was. I can't believe all this chatter. I know Dominic and I know he is not faking. Granted, the ACL healed after much rehab with brace-wearing for about a year. The stinger injuries caused nerve damage, hopefully not permanent. I can't imagine these "anons" - I only hope they are not his coach or parent of somebody on the team or worse yet, one of the "two doctors" who said he could play!

Anonymous said...

regarding anon's last post: high school football isn't coming to anything. It's the same it has always been but only more competitive. Why do you think there are so many good players now a days??

mike_kovak said...

Let's stop it with the accusations. We're talking about teenagers, not multi-millionaire athletes.

I get the feeling anon was kidding a bit when he called the C-M front eight one of the best in WPIAL history.

I do believe they have been the strength of this particular Big Macs team but they don't rank among the all-time greats.

Anonymous said...

extremely ignorant anon,

Don't try to get smart bc your posting under anonymous too. Also don't try to act like you know anything about football. Ask anyone who has ever played football if they played through injuries and I guarantee you they all have. You can keep arguing all you want but you'll never win

Anonymous said...

WIN WHAT!!

Anonymous said...

cm's defense would be a lot better if Ryan Foth was starting at corner. I know him personally- such a nice boy

Anonymous said...

I hear Mike "Turtle" Toward will be starting this wk for the Macs a position yet to be determined... Any truth to this rumor? And will this give them the edge vs Shaler?

Anonymous said...

Michael Toward will only brought into the game when the Big Macs unveil their much-anticipated "wild turtle" offense.

mike_kovak said...

Mike Toward is not on the C-M roster. Please stop the stupidity.

Anonymous said...

the insanity will stop tomorrow night at about 10:15 when Shaler is victorious...

VCTMbrian said...

The wild turtle(cat) offense... i'm sure that would be a good one. *sigh*

Back to reality...
Good luck tomorrow night CM!