In this same space one week ago, this fearless prognosticator of WPIAL football received some serious ribbing for selecting Washington over Clairton. That pick didn't turn out so well and gave this column a dubious debut.
Seeking help, I consulted a myriad of self-help gurus. Tony Robbins, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Oprah all laughed at the request.
The search continued.
Talked to Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt who said," Always take the conservative approach playing on the road."
Talked to West Virginia coach Bill Stewart near midnight early in the week and he offered, "Geez whiz, you asking me to even think about high school football when we're playing the best Marshall team we've ever faced? Can't help you anyway, it's time for another practice."
Finally, after much reflection, there's only one way to help and that's improve on last week's pathetic 3-3 record.
And, don't worry Bears fans, this prognosticator won't pick against your squad again. We're only looking for competitive games here.
Thursday
Beaver Falls (1-0, 1-0) at Aliquippa (1-0, 1-0)
As this former reporter from the Beaver County Times can attest, any time these two traditional powerhouses clash, it is newsworthy. This game will be televised live tonight by FSN.
There won't be a game played in Class AA this season with more talent on the field but picking against the Quips at The Pit (one of the WPIAL's great venues) is not wise. Aliquippa, 27-22.
Friday
Chartiers Valley (0-0, 0-1) at Trinity (0-0, 1-0)
The Colts gave up 35 points to Montour in the first half last week before a stirring comeback fell short. Chartiers Vallley's offense has given the Hillers fits in recent years, winning three straight in the series. Trinity, with Brad Martin, Pat Frey and Mike Cleveland, already looks better on offense than it did last year but it might not be enough to keep up with the Colts. Chartiers Valley, 35-31.
Central Valley (0-0, 1-0) at West Allegheny (0-0, 1-0)
Did anyone think the merger of Center and Monaca would fail to field a competitive football team? Central Valley looked the part in Week 1. This week, it gets the defending WPIAL Class AAA champs minus Wisconsin recruit Mike Caputo, who suffered a severe ankle injury last week. That makes this one a lot closer, but ... West Allegheny, 17-10.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic (0-0, 1-0) at Bethel Park (0-0, 1-0)
Hmmm, another Taglianetti blocking punts for PCC? Imagine if those brothers all played at South Fayette. The Vikings notched a high-profile win against Akron Buchtel last week. Bethel Park, meanwhile, continues to plug along, winning games at an alarming rate and doing so without much fanfare. The potential for an upset is there. Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 24-21.
Hopewell (0-0, 1-0) at Montour (0-0, 1-0)
Rushel Shell led the Vikings to a tough victory at Belle Vernon, a team that should be a factor in the Big Eight Conference. Can the junior do it again this week? Montour looked outstanding during the first half against Chartiers Valley then produced three first downs after halftime. Two teams coming off confidence-building victories. Montour, 27-14.
Carmichaels (0-0, 1-0) at California (1-0, 1-0)
This prognosticator doesn't see how any Class A team in the WPIAL has a nice home facility than California. And the Trojans looked nice in dispatching Mapletown last week. The T.D. Conway to Dakota Conway connection could be the most potent in the Tri-County South Conference. Carmichaels, on the other hand, likes to run the football and Zach Mundell rushed for three scores last week. Carmichaels, 26-20.
20 comments:
HEY DID ANYONE HEAR ABOUT A (CLAIRTON - TJ) MERGER IN THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS THEY SAID THE SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE MET AND ARE DISCUSING A PLAN TO SEND CLAIRTON STUDENTS TO TJ WOW WHAT BREAKING NEWS IF THIS MERGER HAPPENS LOOK OUT WPIAL AND NATIONAL POWER HOUSES THEY WOULD DESTROY PA FOOTBALL TEAMS ON THE (AAAA) LEVEL AND (AAA) BY HUGE NUMBERS WEEKLY CHECK OUT THE HISTORY OF THESE TWO PROGRAMS AND LOOK AT THE WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE PIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE SCHOOLS ARE ONLY 4 MILES APART NOW SO IF THIS HAPPENS WHICH IM PRETTY SURE IT WILL FOOTBALL WILL BE CHANGED IT'S THAT BIG OF A MERGER WITH CLAIRTON'S SKILL POSITIONS AND TJ'S OLINE COME ON MAN WHO WOULD BEAT THEM ILL ANSWER THAT NOBODY BUT THEMSELVES IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR PA FOOTBALL THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE IT WOULD MAKE WESTERN PA FOOTBALL GET NOTICED MORE NATIONALLY.
wow...that might be the longest sentence I have ever read.
In all seriousness, I know the school boards have not discussed this. Clairton will have a school until the state forces them to merge. When that is, who knows? I do know that TJ does not have enough room in their school to house all of Clairton's students. And, if the merger were to happen, they would still be a AAA school.
Don't think TJ would let that happen without a fight though. The truth is they dont want that merger.
Hey last anonymous Blogger its me long sentence guy lol how in the world do you know anything about the clairton school board and the thomas Jefferson school board and your the only one that wouldnt want to see this merger because they would mercy rule your school in the first quarter I'm not on this site to start trouble I love this blog site but I'm just saying what u have heard from multiple sources and I can prove it so if you can prove me wrong let's go.
Aside from football, what's another positive outcome for TJ if they took Clairton?
Anon 7:05
How bout a solid education for Clairton kid's. That will create a better competitive workforce as we go on in the future. I know its easy to say Clairton kid's are problem child's. But just maybe if clairton kids are given a fair chance to receive a quality education, they will apply them self's when there is a legit future. At the end of the day this is more than just rich/poor, white/black, culture and sports. This is about educating our youth. I know I'm not the most educated, but I understand its importance.
it's the same reason that Trinity will never take Wash High. Low test scores, Poverty, Behavior problems, Over crowding, Gang violence. Who needs that headache? All in the name of high school football, No thanks.
Ringgold vs Hampton is going to be an intersting matchup. This will be the Rams first test of the season. To me, this will establish if the Rams are going to be a respectable team in AAA (6 or 7 wins). The Rams certainly have speed, but the line is going to be the x-factor. I just don't think EF had a line that could challenge the Rams. I hope Hampton doesnt either. lol
There is more to schools merging than just football prowess. In fact, when talking about merging, sports ranks somewhere around what food is going to be served in the cafeteria and what color the walls are going to be. Education and financial stability are what motivates mergers, nothing more, nothing less. I can assure you that the State Department of Education does not take sports into consideration one iota when considering a merger.
The TJ/Clairton merger has been talked about since the early 80's. It has always been "5 years down the road". Now, at some point, it is very possible that it may happen. But I can tell you with certainty that, as we stand here now, there are no imminent plans to merge those schools.
Anon 6:16am
You should be ashamed of yourself with the comments you made. I am sure that you would be upset if your children were placed in a group because of sterotypical ignorance. My children go to Wash High and are receiving a quality education. Sure our district has it's problems, just as yours does!
You have GOT to be kidding me!! If ur that naive to think that low scores, gangs?? poverty? and behavior prblms? are limited to only Wash High, I can assure you , you are living in a fairytale!! I know many problems at Trinity that are going on!! Maybe the HIGH doesnt want any part of merging with TRINITY! I wud never support it!!
wud?
Apparently that part about low test scores at Wash High is true.
Apparently not. Washington actually made AYP. Trinity is made of a bunch of redneck hillbillies and a school board with their heads so far up their a++es they can't tell the time of day. Trinity has more drug problems and cliques than Wash High will ever have.
What's funny is that the people sticking up for Wash. High are trashing Trinity and everyone in Washington that has a decent head on their shoulders and is not in denial knows that Trinity is a far better school than Washington in terms of crime, education etc.. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Washington people, if you feel that way about THS, GOOD. Trinity is not, and will never be interested in a merger with Washington. It would only benefit Washington area.
Anon. 9:09 am
I have news for you. I am a Trinity graduate and my children attend Wash High. My children are receiving a quality education that is preparing them for the next step in their academic careers. As far as I am concerned you have not investigated the "other side of town" when you make your judgements upon Wash High. Sure we have our issues in the school but most of them are a direct result of their home situations. I am sure that if our students were given a "golden spoon" to feed from, like most Trinity students, then maybe things would be different. Stop the Wash High bashing and start competing with us on the athletic fields once again! I am not sure when the last time Trinity defeated Wash High in anything meaningful. Scimmage games aside, check the record books!
Pick Games in the coverage area
I pick every local game in Thursday's paper.
Anon at 12:41 PM, I went to both school districts, so this is out of experience, understand? Also, The last time Trinity has beaten Wash High in "anything meaningful" was the last scrimmage. It's funny how you say "meaningful" as if you put a blindfold on and want to discount how Trinity knocked Washington all over their own field the last few times that they scrimmaged, right? Let me ask you, why would Trinity waste time trying to get a game with a AA school that they tossed around in a scrimmage when they are AAA and it will do nothing to better them? Let me ask you this, how many Prexies went D1 last year or even better, in the last 3 years? Trinity in case you didn't know, has always had the talent, just not the coaching. But then again, i'm sure you already know that because Washington's success left when Montecalvo did.
ths the scrimmage frist off when you play a controled game that is not real 10 plays on o and10 on d when your not sop. to blitz ths blitz every down and there coach ran hi mouth the hole time now i went to ths now when you have 3or4 wins a season and still make the play offs wow you are a real power house
Anon @ 9:06, I'm aware of how scrimmages are played, I played also. If you want to talk about the blitz every down, what then would the excuse be for when THS was running offensive plays and streaking down the field? As for coach running his mouth, don't all coaches run their mouths? That's how they communicate. Just a side note, I don't really know that I buy that you are from THS because you are very pro-Wash High in what I can make out and your grammar is absolutely terrible. You're pulling at strings. Talking about 3-4 wins a year. What about now, the only time that really counts or matters? This season? Wanna talk about week one? What happened to Wash High against a single A school ( Wash High -0 /Clairton -42). How about THS against a quad A bigger school (THS-40/CM 22). The truth of the matter is you will reflect on the past because you don't want to speak of what's going on now and that my friend is called "denial". Consider yourself enlightened.
anonymous 9:06 you didnt go to Trinity, you would have actually been able to put a sentence together that made sense... The only sport that Washington could beat trinity in anymore is basketball(trinity might have a shot this upcoming year) yet doubtful, Trinity even beat them at track this past year they wouldnt be able to even compete with them in baseball softball football wrestling etc... And to September 12, 2010 8:48 AM you might want to check the paper not all of the Washington school made AYP
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