It's the first of August, so it makes sense that ESPN already released its preseason Top 25 for high school football. Note the lack of teams from Western Pennsylvania, or the entire state for that matter.
http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/football/news/story?id=4366865
64 comments:
These things fluctuate so much that 50-60% of this list will change by the time the season ends. Not to mention, these things are so speculative that it is barely news worthy.
But to answer the lack of PA teams on this list, I dont know if there really is a dominant team in this state right now outside of TJ...and they arent going to put a AAA team from PA as a top 25 in the nation especially when they were dismantled by Glenville last year in Wheeling. There are no real AAAA powers right now. Maybe one will present themselves at some point this season but right now I dont see it.
Canon-Mac could be the best Quad-A team with D-1 Studs in Mike Hull and Chad Hagan leading the way.
...and that statement just about sums it up. If CM is the best PA has to offer in Quad A then this state is in trouble.
Let CM win their conference, then you can start worrying about WPIAL and PIAA gold prior to national rankings. As long as Guy continues to run his 1970's offense, they will never be a power.
Speaking of teams that should be on the list, where is Trinity? I cannot beleive that Big Ed was not able to lobby his team onto the list? What has happened to the hype master? This is preseason, this is Trinity's time to shine, once the season starts everyone will see them for what they really are, A JOKE!
Will Mike Hull wrestle?
Hey Joepa, Play Pitt you chicken sh....
Does anyone other than TJ have a shot to win the AAA crown?
I think Penn Hills should be the favorite in AAAA. Not saying they will win it, but man for man they have the most talent in Wpial AAAA football.
No, TJ will win the AAA crown yet again. If I had to guess, I would say Hopewell with Rushel Shell will be playing them at Heinz Field this year but TJ is still the team to beat...at least this year. As for the rest:
AAAA - Penn Hills will be the preseason fav.
AA - I have no idea. Maybe the Quipps again? They are always tough.
A - Clairton.
Clariton wil probably win but Monessen swhould give them a run for their miney thiw year frim what I hear. They have a lot of young talent coming back...
Monessen is hyped every single year as "the next big thing" and every single year they disappoint. Clairton beat Monessen a combined 91-0 last season between the regular season and playoffs (38-0 at the end of the first qtr the first game, 38-0 at the half the second). Both teams have a lot of players coming back (basically their core) including Stepoli and Sheldon Miller for Monessen and Deontae Howard, Kevin Weatherspoon, Eddie Ball and Green for Clairton. Until Monessen scores a point on Clairton I wont believe the hype. Monessen starts with Rochester in game 1 and Clairton in game 2 (both away) this season before they go into Tri-County South conference play (the worst conference in single A by the way). We will find out real early if Monessen is all hype or a contender this year.
Peters Township could surprise a lot of people this year. They have a solid core, a great QB, and speed at almost every position.
I wouldnt be surprised if Trinity beats CM this year...
Peters has talent. But they will never be good because they are soft.
Did Canon-Mac switch to the Spread HD offense for the 2009 season? It would make sense considering Hull is going to PSU and Hagan might join him there.
Listen, Peters was 2-7 last year. 4-5 would be a surprise. As far as toughness...its a good thing they are in the conference they are in because none of those teams are particularly tough/physical. Id like to see Peters play Penn Hills, McKeesport and Gateway. They would get physically dominated and their "speed at almost every position" would be a joke against those three teams.
You're right, Peters speed would be a joke for those other teams because Peters players would be running past them all night long for big plays!
Peters is likely going to have three 500+ yard receivers, a 1000 yd rusher, and a QB that goes for 2,000 in the air and 300-500 on the ground.
They may have the most explosive offense since Woodland Hills had Breaston.
ha ha ha ha ha ha...are you dilusional? Where was all this speed last season? Did they get a freshman class full of track stars this year? Did they recruit? Lol...ha ha ha...they'll make the playoffs this season, go up against one of those 3 teams that were mentioned above and get smoked.
I have to agree, Peters is looking dangerous with their new wide-open attack. I could see those boys putting up huge numbers on offense this year.
I apologize...i forgot for a minute that this was a washington county blog. Your teams went, what, 0-8 or 0-9 last season in the first round of the playoffs? You people think CM is one of the best programs ever assembled. You people are dillusional on a daily basis. Keep looking for that big mighty PT offense to put up 50 points a game...lol...
hahahahhaaha i graduated from CM (so theres no bias) and i could tell you right now that they wont do anything. that double slot offense might be the worst offense ever. ever. its sooo predictable. it might have worked with wash high's speed and the AA competition but not in AAAA. CM will be nothing more than a one playoff game team with the double slot.
cm crushed pt last season with that crappy offense 34-7 without hull for basically the whole game. pt sucks and with hull and hagan returning they will get destroyed again
I'm pretty sure Chad Hagan will not be going to PSU. I don't even think he has a written offer from Pitt, PSU, or WVU.
He clearly wants to go to tO$U, as long as he is medically cleared and as long as they accept his commitment.
Who are the local division 1 football prospects this year? I know Hull and Wilkins... am I missing anyone?
Kevin Weatherspoon
Anyone here have any opening week predictions? Personally, I like TJ to win their opener, Canon-Mac to lose, Peters to win, and the Pitt Panthers to win.
Tyler Miller
jimmy giansante and ed hasis from TJ
Is anyone else looking forward to more fireworks when TJ and EF meet this season? I wonder if EF's coach will do his Prince Fielder impersonation and try to charge the TJ dressing room after the game.
Mike,
Is the Big 7 having a media day this year? Will you be attending?
Big Seven just had its Media Day and I was not present. On vacation this week.
this was recently posted by Mike White in the Post-Gazette Varsity Blog
Football recruiting updates: Hagan likely to pick Ohio State
By Mike White | Thursday, July 23, 2:10 p.m.
CHAD HAGAN, CANON-McMILLAN, LB-DB – It is almost certain Hagan will commit to Ohio State, possibly within the next two weeks. "Ohio State is No. 1. I love everything about them," Hagan said. "I plan on making a decision where I want to go soon, probably before the end of this month. I’m going to visit Ohio State again. If I go up there and I’m sold on it again, then that’s where I want to be."
The other two schools in Hagan’s top three are Wisconsin and Michigan. All of his favorites have offered scholarships. Neither Pitt or Penn State has offered. "That just drives me a little more," Hagan said.
Hagan looks different than last season. He has added 25 pounds and is now 6 feet 2, 230 pounds. He said he has not lost any speed, though, and said he can still run the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds. Most schools like him at either defensive back or linebacker. He also plays running back for Canon-McMillan.
preseason favorites
AAAA-Penn Hills
loaded with division 1 talent(as usual)Cullen Christian #3 CB and Brandon Ifill #18 S (both strongly favoring Michigan), Aaron Donald #14 DT (committed to Pitt), Myles Davis #38 MLB (committed to Syracuse). How can you argue against this defense? opener
against Gateway on Sept 4 might be a preview of Heinz Field
AA-Sto-Rox
Paul Jones is the #3 ranked QB in the nation and is committed to Penn State. Surgery was in early July, and doctors say 2 to 3 months of rehab till 100%, so he might miss a few games. WR Andrew Carswell (ranked #31) is 6'4 and has committed to Pitt. This combo is a problem for any defense in the WPIAL.
A-Clairton
WR Kevin Weatherspoon (committed to Pitt), RB Deontae Howard, FB/LB Eddie Ball. Junior QB Desimon Green is 6'4 and has Weatherspoon to throw to. It's single A. Clairton repeats.
AAA coming soon...
Anon, good picks...AAA needs no analysis, TJ wins.
As for fireworks...the only thing that will be lighting the night sky at the EF/TJ game will be half of the scoreboard when Chirp puts 100 on EF. And BELIEVE ME, if Chirp is in a mood that night he will try and hang 100 on EF...TJ scores no less than 63 points that night.
What was Hagan's 100 time?
He must be one of the fastest sprinters in the WPIAL?
Looks like Hagan committed to tO$U. Still surprising that no local teams offered. And if that 4.3 40 was timed by Montecalvo I would never believe it. According to Guy, Jeravin Matthews runs a 4.16.
actually montecalvo admits to the fact that his clock was wrong when jeravin ran a 4.16. Matthews who is definately quite the burner ran a 4.31 FAT. So i'm sure for montecalvo 4.2 or 4.3 would be real and relievent. Hagan on the hand ran multiple 4.3's for coach guy. he and matthews had some pretty intense races in the 40 yard dash around this time a year ago. So his 4.3 40 is legit and he is about 230 now thats moving
I spoke with Guy Montecalvo today. Hagan has not committed. That story is false. While he is certainly leaning toward Ohio State, that story jumped the gun,
Oh, and Wisconsin is looking at Hagan as a RB.
If Matthews ran a 4.31 Fully Automatic Time, then that is comparable to a 4.2 hand time! I've heard from many sources that he is the fastest player on the Northwestern team.
The question remains, with all that world class speed, WHY CAN'T Canon Mac win football games?
And while you are at it, why can't the greatest football factory in the WPIAL, Trinity, ever win?
To answer your question about CM and Trinity...its because football outside of Washington County is just better and more competitive. There are 2 football "hotbeds" in this area...the Mon Valley/South Hills area and Beaver County (i guess you could call it 2.5 hotbeds...the south hills and the mon valley inter-mingle). 14 of the last 20 WPIAL Champions were from those areas. Central Catholic (2), Jeanette (2), Franklin Regional (1) and Seton LaSalle (1) are the only other teams to win WPIAL titles in the last 5 years (and the argument could be made that Seton LaSalle is a south hills team, which would make 15). Its just a different brand of football in beaver county and the mon valley/south hills. The kids are tougher and more physical and the football programs are just better. Its a different brand of football. And forget the WPIAL championship titles in the last 5 years, just look back to the last few opening rounds of the playoffs in each class...how many games have Washington County teams won in the first round? Im not knocking your schools, your kids, anything...its just a fact.
A question for everyone. Where can I find out what McGuffey football records where the last 10 years or so and your opinion on what needs to change
I can't tell you McGuffey's records, but I will tell you that Derek Bochna is an outstanding coach and an even better man to lead those players. They are in a meat grinder of a conference so if your implication is they lose too often, take a look at the competition first.
Best place to find records of your team for the past 10 years is on a good website called the MSA Sports Network. It is msasportsnetwork.com, then go to highschools, then McGuffey, then football on the left, and then there is a drop down for each of the last 10 years.
Thanks, and no I was not implicating that they lose too much or concerned with that at all. I too have played in one of the toughest conferences. (Monessen, Monaca, Clairton, Duquesne,) In the 80’s it was known as the “Eastern A”. I moved here a year ago and was just interested. I was interested in helping the youth league in the future when my son starts school next year (2010) and just wanted to see.
Dale,
Did Montecalvo refute the Hagan commitment solely because he is a Penn State guy and Hagan settled for Ohio State? It seems to me that could be the main issue in him denying the rumor.
Responding to the Anonymous that is running down Trinity and CM, I am a PROUD Trinity grad., 30 years ago. I don't know if you know anything about the past football traditions of THS and CM but they were never stellar.
I didn't like your snide comments, about Trinity and Washington County football, so I got on the previously mentioned msa website for some history of the teams lately, because I knew THS has had an outstanding run and thought CM had also had some top years lately.
Well for your info., the Hillers have made the play-offs 6 or the past 10 years and CM has made it 7 times in the past 10! Can't win huh? Last I checked, you have to win some games to make the play-offs. To think that Trinity could beat a Penn Hills in the play-offs, and Blackhawk or even Connellsville( who was a proud program) and almost beat the likes of Gateway and Mt. Lebo would have been unthinkable for most years.
CM on the other hand beat Upper St. Clair, Woodland Hills, Mt. Lebo and almost beat Pitts. Central Catholic just last year. To my best recollection, they are pretty good football programs. I saw where they beat Lebo also in 2007, beat McKeesport and also lost a 30-28 heartbreaker to McKeesport and close ones to Upper St. Clair and Penn Hills in previous seasons. I would say you are way off base when you say Washington County teams can't win! You can pull your foot out of your mouth at any time.
Oh and by the way, they list male enrollment on that website and most of these teams we're comparing our schools to have significantly larger enrollments.
Peters has the most talent they have had is 6 or 7 years, the last time they won a playoff game. The question is coaching and game preparation. They never seem prepared on the defensive side of the ball. They will be vying for fourth place with Bethel, CM and St.Clair light years ahead with coaching Staffs and playoff experience.
Dude, who is "running down" CM and Trinity? They are mearley stating facts as it pertains to the last 5 years of WPIAL football.
Fact, Trinity has won 2 playoff games in the last 5 years.
Fact, CM was won 1 playoff game in the last 5 years.
Fact, the Beaver/South Hills areas have won 15 of the last 20 WPIAL titles and over the last 10 years Beaver, Allegheny and Westmoreland County have produced 38 of the last 40 WPIAL champs (washington in 2001 and waynesburg in 1999).
Fact, in the last 5 years CM has gone 7-3 against Washington County teams and 15-25 against teams outside of Washington County, including 9-15 against South Hills teams.
Fact, in the last 5 years Trinity has gone 5-3 against Washington County teams and 25-19 against teams outside of Washington County, including 8-8 against Beaver/South Hills teams.
Trinty hasnt done too bad but those are just average numbers at best...with CM being below average. Now, one of the anon posts was sarcastic about the football factory at Trinity and the world class CM...but the other anon post wasnt. You cant argue with the numbers. Have Trinity and CM won games? Sure they have, but not enough to matter. Sorry Mr. die-hard CM guy thats just the truth, the numbers dont lie. And there are two things I dont want to hear. 1, dont tell me "they almost won" because that doesnt count for anything and 2, dont tell me about enrollment numbers. CM is not playing up they are playing in the class they are supposed to be playing in. Whether they just squeaked by to get into that class or not, they are playing in the class designated by their enrollment numbers.
Dont get your flannel panties in a bunch, these are facts, these arent opinions.
Dude,
Nobody is disputing your 5 yr. numbers. Just the poster that said Trinity and Cm can't win ballgames. If you read the post nobody also said anything about anyone "playing up", just the numbers were larger. And finally don't EVEN call me a CM diehard, they're our rivals. We need to beat them more often and hopefully will this year!! I'm just standing up for the competitiveness in Wash. Co. And, my friend, it does matter if you are competitive when you haven't been for so many years! I wear briefs and their not bunched at all. I'm just proud of where our team has come from.
Scout.com lists Hagan's 40 time as 4.29. They do there timing at there own combine so it looks like he is a 4.3
I've been a McGuffey supporter ever since the district was formed 50 yrs ago. We have had some fine individuals coaching/teaching our children during those years. SInce 1994 our football teams have not been too successful, but Derek Bocna has the program on the upswing. He is a fine gentlemen and the players and students seem to give him their respect. Our youth leagues can always use more help and are welcoming to newcomers. Our teams might not always win, but I'm very happy that my children were educated in the MdGuffey District.
All these CM kids running world class track times but they cannot win a conference or WPIAL title? It just doesn't make any sense?
Trinity sends 3 LB's to D1 schools in one season and yet they get blown out by AAA teams, it just doesn't make any sense?
Scouted CM versus U.S.C. last year before we played them and was impressed how their offense kept U.S.C. off balance. If they are throwin it well off their play-action they are tough to stop. QB was hot that night. I know that offense has driven us crazy the past three yrs. we played them even though we won in '06, #21 hagan had a great game as a frosh. I see why he's being recruited.
The problem with Cannon Mac as I see it is they never seem to have the size up front to compete with the big boys.
scout.com says Hagan has verbally committed to OSU
Ok, just so I understand you CM supporters. The fastest WR at the NFL COMBINE last year ran a 4.30.
According to you lemmings, you believe that a high school kid at CM is faster than ALL WR's that went to the combine last year?
No wonder support a guy running the same archaic offense from the 1970's.
CM: WPIAL Champion 2008, Section Champion 2009. World class track times = Track championships. What doesn't make sense anon 11:30 am on the 11th?
You people have to remember you are arguing with and trying to have logical conversations with CM supporters. Logic and CM dont go together in the same sentence...kinda like capitalism and Obama.
hahaha amen. but anon, the logic ends at the sports talk. the cm graduating class of 09 is full of kids that are going to top colleges
Who's every talking bad about the Hagan kid really doesn't know sports he is by far one of the top kids in the class of 2010 in the USA not just in PA 4.3 40 40 inch vertical and is 6'2 230 and yea his vertical at 40 only 3 people at the NFL combine this year was higher.
believe me, i am not putting down the academic ability of anyone at CM...this strictly applies to sports.
I'm talking about sports not grades 4.3 is Hagans 40 time and 40 inch is his vertical jump put that with his bench press of 275 and squarts 350 he's a man child stop hating on the kid. Don't be mad cause u or whoever u root for can't put them type of number up.
First of all, numbers are just numbers. While extremely impressive to look at, they don't automatically make you a great football player. He has to prove it on the field.
Second of all, is he definitely medically cleared to play yet.
all collages are tops don`t go on praising these kids because they are not all that great i saw track meets this year and 4.3 wasnt there everybody runs a 4.3 until the clock comes out what happens when the pads get on how fast is he.They go to the big schools and you dont hear from them again
This is for that last comment! Did u or your son or sons get a full ride to a D1 school? Cause u talking like u know wats goin on and u don't and he's 4.3 was clocked and the scout.com combine camp not by just anyone but people who do that for a living!
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