With the exception of Quad A (where far too many teams make the playoffs), all other conferences are playing games that matter in the standings. Despite that, the local slate of games is a little lean this week.
Keystone Oaks at South Fayette
South Fayette opened play in the Century Conference with blowouts over South Park and Quaker Valley - games the Lions should win and games they had trouble with a year ago.
Keystone Oaks has been a dominant team in conference play since dropping to Class AA and many believe the Eagles are on of the elite teams in the classification. Their defense must find a way to slow Lions running back Jeff Davis, who already has eight touchdowns.
They didn't have any problems a year ago as KO came away a 53-3 knockout winner.
Serra Catholic at Burgettstown
At 1-1, Burgettstown is drawing much attention in Class A but the Blue Devils have payed well. They were tied with South Side Beaver (a team in the state rankings) with three minutes left in the fourth quarter of Week 1 and put together an impressive win at Beth-Center last week.
Now, Burgettstown plays Serra Catholic, the fifth-ranked team in Class A. Talk about a brutal three-game stretch.
Canon-McMillan at Woodland Hills
Canon-McMillan shut out Woodland Hills a year ago. No doubt the talented Wolverines are looking for revenge.
In a game filled with Division I recruits, many eyes will be focused on the return of Big Macs senior and Ohio State-bound Chad Hagan. After missing the first two games with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, Hagan is cleared to play.
This non-conference game will not impact either team's playoff standing, but it could be a determining factor come seeding time for the WPIAL playoffs.
38 comments:
With the exception of Quad A (where far too many teams make the playoffs),
Mike, I couldn't agree with you more. I think the biggest & greediest mistake the WPIAL has done is to water down the playoffs especially in AAAA. When a team only needs 2 conference victories to qualify for the playoffs that is wrong. The playoffs are supposed to be rewards for a successful season. Lately far to many sub .500 teams are being allowed in. This is nothing more than greed by the WPIAL.(what do they do with all the money they get) They should go back to just the top 2 teams in each section qualifying. This would insure that those most deserving qualify and it will reduce an already too long season for H.S. kids by 2 weeks.
If you go all the way to the WPIAL Championship that is 14 weeks and to the PIAA Championship makes 17weeks. That is longer than a BCS qualifying college team and almost as long a Super Bowl team. It simply is too long for high school kids.
Mike, Chad Hagan overcoming his heart problem is already a great story, everything he does from this point is simply icing on the cake. It's a great outcome for a great kid. While I'm a Peter's parent I hope he leads his Big Mac's to a big victory tomorrow night.
Why is it too long for HS kids? Ask any kid that has been on a championship team and made that run all the way to states and every one of them will tell you they wish it lasted longer. Those are magical times for kids, they are playing the sport they love with the teammates they love, there is nothing wrong with that.
AAAA playoffs watered down, ABSOLUTELY, its ridiculous when a team goes 2-7 and makes the playoffs, however if losing the championship games at Heinz is the other option, I'll take a bad initial round of playoff games any day.
Without that round chances are Washington County teams would never see the playoffs.
Anon...11:00AM
When high school kids are playing longer seasons than college kids and a season nearly as long as that of the NFL it is wrong. Because a kids wants to doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. If your kid wanted to drive at 14 would you put him/her behind the wheel.
I'm sorry but if you only want 2-7 teams or other poor records to make the playoffs because it is the only way Washington County teams would "see the playoffs" then to bad......they still would be deserving even if they do come from Washington County.
I agree about the number of teams that make the playoffs...but I'm not sure how to fix it without giving certain teams a bye week.
Going to Hershey to win a championship is absolutely amazing...I couldn't possibly do it justice by trying to explain it here in writing. 16 weeks really isn't that big of a deal - I've experienced it first hand more than once and it's fantastic.
Once you get past Heinz Field - the season is an entirely different experience and the kids seem to get an even sharper sense of purpose because you're playing teams that you really don't know. The idea that you are the only team from western PA still playing in your classification also adds to the excitement and enjoyment of the whole thing.
Those are experiences that I know I would never trade - and I know the kids involved feel the same way. The community also had a blast - I've never once heard a complaint about the length of the season. The hotel that everyone stays in up at Hershey turns into a class reunion of sorts which is also an experience all to itself. The length of season really only effects a few teams each year so why would you shorten it - plus if you do win down at Heinz, just decline the invitation to play on, you have that option. I guarantee that your kids would want to play on though.
This just sounds like an over protective parent who has never been a part of something like this so unfortunately they really don't know what they are talking about when they say they want to take this opportunity away from the kids., - but you are entitled to your opinion.
Anonymous...1:07
I don't think anyone said the opportunity should be taken away. The larger argument is that teams that don't belong with records of 3-6, 2-7 etc....don't belong in the playoffs and by taking 4 teams from a quad a conference this has been happening. By dropping the qualifiers to the top 2 teams from each conference 8 teams get eliminated and 2 rounds of the playoffs. Just how often has a 3rd or 4th seed won a wpial or state title. Those rounds are the wpial money makers for the boards big parties. Nobody said eliminate the trip to to hershey. It was simply pointed out that by eliminating unworthy teams will also eliminate 2 extra weeks.
I wish people would take the time to read an entire post rather than pick out 1 or 2 sentences and jump to ridiculous conclusions.
"AAAA playoffs watered down, ABSOLUTELY, its ridiculous when a team goes 2-7 and makes the playoffs, however if losing the championship games at Heinz is the other option, I'll take a bad initial round of playoff games any day.
Without that round chances are Washington County teams would never see the playoffs."
Please remember that there are 3 other classifications that are represented in Washington Co. I feel that those schools in AA and A will have something to say about that comment come playoff time.
By dropping the qualifiers to the top 2 teams from each conference 8 teams get eliminated and 2 rounds of the playoffs
It will only eliminate 1 week. The first round already elimantes 8 teams, the second 4, and the third round elimimates 2 thus deciding who goes to Heinz. By taking just 8 teams you realy only eliminate the fisrt round so what's the big deal.
I do however think teams should need at least a 5-4 overall record to qualify for the playoffs.
What A or AA team is going to be any type of a threat in the playoffs this year from Wash. County?
I cannot wait to hear this response.
Anon (8:01pm)...
How about McGuffey?
Didn't they just beat Greensburg Central?
Shut them out I heard!
McGuffey has a shot to make the playoffs this year as a 3 or 4 out of their conference. Do you really think they could beat a 1 or a 2 from one of the other conferences? If they draw an AFC team they have a shot at 1 win, but outside of that 1 and done.
Trinity 0-3 after tonight, I guess its time to start talking wrestling or rifle season.
Anon (9:29)....
An 0-3 start would hardly doom Trinity's football season. Keep in mind this game against TJ is only the conference opener.
"Without that round chances are Washington County teams would never see the playoffs."
Do Washington County teams really deserve to be in the playoffs? As you found out last year, the answer is no.
I wish people would take the time to read an entire post rather than pick out 1 or 2 sentences and jump to ridiculous conclusions.
The first sentence of my post read like this...
-I agree about the number of teams that make the playoffs...but I'm not sure how to fix it without giving certain teams a bye week.
(I hate when people don't read the entire post too.)
My long winded post was in reference to this...
When high school kids are playing longer seasons than college kids and a season nearly as long as that of the NFL it is wrong. Because a kids wants to doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. If your kid wanted to drive at 14 would you put him/her behind the wheel.
The length of the season is fine...only a few teams make it that far anyway; and if you don't want to play any longer after your trip to Heinz, just decline the state playoff invitation.
"Do Washington County teams really deserve to be in the playoffs? As you found out last year, the answer is no."
Really, you are going to just exclude the Washington Co. teams?? Give me a break.
"McGuffey has a shot to make the playoffs this year as a 3 or 4 out of their conference. Do you really think they could beat a 1 or a 2 from one of the other conferences? If they draw an AFC team they have a shot at 1 win, but outside of that 1 and done."
Last week McGuffey beat the #1 AA team in WPIAL. Some papers even had GCC as the #1 team in the state. I am not saying that they are going to win the WPIAL, I just think it would be stupid to look them over.
There is nothing better than watching the Trinity fans try to accept the 0-3 start as its ok, its just the first conference game!
Keep telling yourself that, when they end up 4-6 or 5-5, you'll look like a complete fool for believing in your boy, Big Eddie.
Anon September 17, 2009 8:01 PM
AAAA - Peters and CM will make the playoffs but both will be 1 and out.
AAA - Nobody (sorry Trinity, 0-3 reminds me of the old days)
AA - McGuffey (could make a serious run depending on seeding and where they finish in the conference)
A - Fort Cherry (from what I have been reading, this team seems solid on both sides of the ball)
Sorry I made you wait so long for a response.
After watching Woodland Hills manhandle CM last night Baldwin may be the only game that we can definitely mark down as a W. The line that was supposed to be 2 deep across has been pathetic against legitimate quad a schools. We are witnessing the beginning of the end of the average CM teams. From this point on it will be like the good old days when we regularly had 2-3 win seasons. After Hull & Hagan the cupboard is bare.
Trinity will either be 5-4 or 4-5. Their schedule is not real tough the rest of the way out. The threat is Char Valley. Elizabeth Forward will be the first win for the hillers. followed by BV, WM, yough, and Ringgold.
Mike:
Before the season I figuerd our Big Macs would be 5-4 beating Trinity, Butler, Baldwin, Mt.Lebo, & Peter's, after the past 2 games against aaaa teams I'm thinking 3-6 or even 2-7. Maybe Butler and definitely Baldwin. No ay against BP & USC and probably not against Mt.Lebo & Peter's. The line play is mediocre at best and it's probably more fair to say just plain poor. Hagan is as expected still playing his way into football shape having missed contact all of camp, scrimmages & the first 2 weeks and Hull looked beat up last night. It's going to be a long season and word has it nothing is on the horizon. Do you know if it's true that this Guy will retire as coach but stay on as AD after Hull is through....that is the word on the street. Please confirm or refute.
Thanks.
I've heard nothing to say he's leaving his position as football coach.
Anon (1:05am)
Nobody said they were accepting an 0-3 start. I've said before Trinity would win only 3 to 5 games this year. The Greensburg Salem loss stings, but it's not all that surprising.
Trinity has a few really good players, but overall, the team just isn't. I don't know where all these great expectations keep coming from. Maybe it's just a bunch of parents, I don't know.
Besides, what's your problem with Trinity? Why do you feel the need to sit on the porch and bark? Why don't you tell us a little about your team Hot Shot!!!
I've heard people speculate with rumors but thats all they are. With almost all the line being juniors and juniors like Schram, rb/Alex Adams, wrs/Farmer & Chandler back I would doubt it.
Mt Lebo just beat Central Catholic. How will CM play against Mt Lebo?
Mt. Lebanon's win was certainly an eye-opener. It does not, however, guarantee success against the rest of the schedule
First off I played for Canon-Mac in 2003-04 and we won more games in those two years than in any other two years in school history! We were like 16-4. We didn't have any D1 players but many solid high school players who had HEART.
When we did lose it was always to teams with much bigger lines up front. We are always very small as they are this season. Even Trinity was much bigger. And if Coach is going to retire he would have in '04 cause everybody knew that the classes to follow in 2005-06 didn't have much talent. He was offered a big aaaa job with lots of money after '04 which he turned down to stay.
If you played for him you know its not all about wins and losses anyway. Mike's a great player but i doubt it whether thats what will determine how long he coaches. In fact they have only been about .500 with Mike anyway so that wont determine it. I'm close with Coach and was down the stadium when I was home this summer, and even asked him how much longer? He said he hadn't even thought about that.
THSfan-
If you were at the TJ game, you saw Trinity dominate for a good part of that game. So how did the score end up the way it did?
It goes back to bad decisions and play-calling at the wrong times.
Some people will never get it!
Fort Cherry beat Charmichales, West Greene and Bentworth (the two worst teams in the worst conference, the tri county south and Bentworth who will finish second to last in the black hills only ahead of Avella). Forget winning, if Fort Cherry can even come close to hanging in with their next two opponents, Serra and Clairton, then we can have a discussion about how good they are.
Wow...do they keep score differently at Trinity?
If memory serves me...Trinity was losing 20-0 at the half against TJ last Friday...but according to you they were dominating.
The closest they got was 20-7, but ended up losing 34-7...yet, according to you they were dominating; save for a few bad play calls and some poor decision making. You went on to say that "Some people will never get it"...
PLEASE HELP ME GET IT!!!!
If it helps you believe that you were "dominating" a game that you ultimately lost by 27 points, (and it could have easily been more than that)...I MUST HAVE IT, WHATEVER IT IS!!!!
Anon (8:24pm)....
What part of the game did Trinity dominate? Perhaps I was too busy watching the Jags march downfield on their opening possesion to score and take control of the game for good.
Here are the category's that Trinity dominated TJ in.......
1. The miss a wide open reciever on fourth and five by skipping the ball five yards short category.
2. Lets punt the football into the Offensive lines rump roast category.
3. Ain't it fun to get burned on 3rd and long(twice) by middle screens and a draw play category.
4. Why don't we miss another FG category.
I want Trinity to succeed more than anyone. But the blame doesn't rest alone with the coaches. The kids have got to make the plays when the oppurtunity arises. Thats what seperates them from programs like TJ and USC.
The fact that you want to argue that Trinity dominated most of the game against TJ during a 34-7 butt whipping, tells me all I need to know of you. Bottom line, the kids have to make the plays! Nobody else can run onto the field and do it for them.
And you are correct...."Some people will never get it."
Why is all the fuss only about Coach Dalton. Cm is 0-2 against AAAA schools and nobody is fussin about him or is that not allowed on this blog.
It just seems unfair that 1 coach gets trashed everyday but the other doesn't. I know there are alot of CM faithful that aren't happy with what he's done so I think it is only fair that his negative posts get printed too.
Looks like some CM fans have given up on their team after a 1-2 start. Why don't you CM fans stay home and read about the game in the paper the following day win or lose. You are quitting so early in the season. They can beat Peters and Mt lebo. Yes it will be tough but it can be done. Bethel and USC will be a stretch. Have faith CM fans! D
I didn't say they dominated most of the game. I said-a good part of the game-.
And I'm talking about at the line of scrimmage. It was TJ's lines that were being pushed around.
I give a lot of credit to their passing game with Johnson and Giansente, but other than that, Trinity's players are just as good.
That still doesn't make sense...if Trinity was truly able to push TJ around up front - a few bad play calls aren't going to lose a game like that - by a field goal or a single TD maybe...but not by 27 points.
The combined score of Trinity's last 4 games against TJ is 139-21...that is a trend, not a fluke. I don't think it has anything to do with a few bad play calls or any particular bad in-game decisions. The problem has to be deeper than that. Trinity has had talent - they just don't seem to be able to play at a high enough level to compete with those guys.
D
It's reality. If you've watched the 3 games the difference between CM & Trinity was Mike Hull. If he was on Trinity the score would have been different. Against Central the O did nothing and against Woody High they were simply outclassed. The O was dominated and the D was pushed around all night and the Special Teams for Woody started the game with a run back and dominated there too. USC & BP will dominate as well. Peter's is much improved and getting better as is Lebo. Not giving up just facing reality. I have avoided commenting on the coaching decisions before now but the truth is many are questionable such as going for the punt block against Central with the lead....that was a game changer and against Woody he was down 30 and ran the ball 8 times in a row and called plays just to keep the score close.
Anon 7:27 AM
Don't underestimate the difference that a change in momentum makes.
That uncalled for attempt at a "quick kick" before halftime was a game-changer.
Guy retire? If he does, it will be from the AD post. He is, and always will be, a football coach. Besides his family, there is nothing that brings more meaning to life than coaching football.
Uncalled for Quick Kick?? Obviously you don't understand the game of football! When you have the ball at mid field with only a minute or two before half, a quick kick is a great way to pin the opposition and get out of the half.
Trinity has done this several times before with great success. I have seen Cody Endres, as well as Guy Montecalvo's QB's, do it many times before. I'm sure this is just one more thing the Trinity Bashers want to pin on Dalton.
I'm embarassed at what I have seen being at 2 of their 3 games. Do you think Dalton told the QB to punt the ball off the centers rear? Do you think they practice dropping balls on punts, fumbling snaps on punts, roughing the kicker, missing field goals, not completing passes, dropping passes, and multiple turnovers per game?
Trinity has had some very successful teams (for Trinity standards) in the past and those teams didn't make these mental and physical mistakes. So Blame the coaching staff all you want but at some point, you have to point the finger at the children for not executing!! The coaching staff got teams of the past to execute, win, and be successful.....Maybe it is just your kids fault!!! Oh my god, could it be that kids have faults??!! It is true parents! Your kid may not be the athlete you think he is!
Welcome to Reality!!
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