APB, Where are they Now?

With all the talk of young, unproven talent sure to excel at the varsity level, The Varsity Letters felt the time was appropriate to issue an All Points Bulletin for a player who entered high school athletics with unfair expectations.

Several years ago at Trinity's Hiller Stadium, I was covering a football game when two people pointed out one player on the field for the pre-game introductions of the school's youth football teams.

Both people inside the press box told me the same thing.

"That kid there is going to be the next Brian Davis."

Those are words spoken in Washington every time the next youth league great prepares to hit ninth grade. The comparison is never fair and never will be.

Let's get this straight.

There's only one Brian Davis, a high school athlete so talented people miles outside of Washington descended on the town just to watch the guy play football and basketball.

Anderson Hutchinson was the player being compared during this instance. Hutchinson tore up the local youth league and many expected him to do the same when he joined Trinity's varsity football team.

Though Hutchinson was a key contributor for Trinity, that day never came.

It wasn't Hutchinson's fault people wanted to label him as the next Brian Davis. Not like he asked for the moniker. During Hutchinson's final two years of varsity play, Ben Jennings was the primary runner.

Hutchinson started at cornerback for the Hillers and helped them upset Penn Hills in the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs before nearly beating Mt. Lebanon in the next round. Hutchinson was also a successful sprinter on the track team.

Someone mentioned Hutchinson was training for a career in mixed martial arts.

If anyone can confirm Hutchinson's whereabouts, please contact The Varsity Letters.

Associated Press state rankings

The AP released its state rankings within the hour. They're still being compiled by the Patriot-News of Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania high school football rankings from the Patriot-News of Harrisburg for the preseason, with school’s district in parentheses, followed by last year's record and final ranking from 2009. NR means not ranked. Honorable mention teams listed alphabetically.

CLASS AAAA Rec Pvs
1. North Penn (1) 14-1 5
2. Ridley (1) 13-2 4
3. Woodland Hills (7) 12-2 8
4. Cumberland Valley (3) 12-3 6
5. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) 8-3 NR
6. Downingtown East (1) 10-3 NR
7. North Allegheny (7) 9-2 NR
8. Easton (11) 13-2 2
9. La Salle College HS (P) (12) 14-1 1
10. Neshaminy (1) 9-3 NR
Teams to watch: Bethel Park (7) 10-2, Gateway (7) 12-1, George Washington (12) 8-3, McDowell (10) 8-3, Mount Lebanon (7) 5-5, Parkland (11) 10-3, Wilson (3) 11-2.

CLASS AAA Rec Pvs
1. Allentown C.C. (11) 12-2 3
2. West Allegheny (7) 12-3 5
3. Thomas Jefferson (7) 11-1 10
4. Bishop McDevitt (3) 12-1 NR
5. Archbishop Wood (12) 11-3 7
6. Pottsgrove (1) 14-1 8
7. Manheim Central (3) 15-1 2
8. Montour (7) 5-5 NR
9. Chartiers Valley (7) 8-2 NR
10. Susquehanna Twp. (3) 12-2 4
Teams to watch: Abington Heights (2) 11-2, Cardinal OHara (12) 8-3, Cathedral Prep (10) 10-3, Hopewell (7) 12-2, Interboro (1) 12-1, North Pocono (2) 9-2, Selinsgrove (P) (4) 16-0.

CLASS AA Rec Pvs
1. Lancaster Catholic (P) (3) 15-1 1
2. Greensburg C.C. 13-3 2
3. West Catholic (12) 12-3 3
4. Aliquippa (7) 11-2 7
5. North Schuylkill (11) 13-1 6
6. South Fayette (7) 10-1 NR
7. Forest Hills (6) 13-1 5
8. Tyrone (6) 10-3 NR
9. Keystone Oaks (7) 10-2 NR
10. Northern Lehigh (11) 10-3 NR
Teams to watch: Beaver Falls (7) 10-2, Central (6) 10-2, General McLane (10), 11-1, Loyalsock Twp. (4) 10-4, Mt. Carmel (4) 7-5, Trinity (3) 7-4, Wilmington (10) 13-2.

CLASS A Rec Pvs
1. Dunmore (2) 12-1 NR
2. Clairton (P) (7) 15-1 1
3. Rochester (7) 12-1 5
4. Southern Columbia (4) 9-5 9
5. Bellwood-Antis (6) 11-1 6
6. Springdale (7) 8-3 NR
7. Steelton-Highspire (3) 8-3 NR
8. Bishop McCort (6) 14-1 3
9. Mercyhurst Prep (10) 10-1 NR
10. Line Mountain (4) 8-4 NR
Teams to watch: Beth-Center (7) 8-3, Farrell (10) 14-1, Marian Catholic (11) 6-5, North Catholic (7) 9-3, Riverside (2) 4-8, Schuylkill Haven (11) 14-1, Sharpsville (10) 10-3, York Catholic (3) 7-5.

(P) - PIAA champion. Number in parentheses is PIAA district.

Frisco's state football rankings

Rod Frisco compiled state football rankings for the Harrisburg Patriot-News and Associated Press for years. He still does the weekly rankings, which must be a lengthy, difficult process, but now he does it for his own web site www.RodFrisco.com.

For die-hard high school sports fans, the site is a must read.

Here's a quick look at Frisco's rankings in each classification. For his comments on each team and his honorable mention, visit his web site.

The Varsity Letters will publish Frisco's rankings throughout the football season.

Class AAAA
Team (District) 2009
1. North Penn (1) 13-1
2. Ridley (1) 13-2
3. Woodland Hills (7) 12-2
4. Cumberland Valley (3) 12-3
5. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) 8-3
6. Downingtown East (1) 10-3
7. La Salle College (12) 14-1
8. Bethel Park (7) 10-2
9. Wilson (3) 11-2
10. George Washington (12) 8-3

Class AAA
1. Bishop McDevitt (3) 12-1
2. Allentown C.C. (11) 12-2
3. West Allegheny (7) 12-3
4. Archbishop Wood (12) 11-3
5. Thomas Jefferson (7) 11-1
6. Abington Heights (2) 11-2
7. Chartiers Valley (7) 8-2
8. Pottsgrove (1) 13-1
9. Montour (7) 6-4
10. Cathdral Prep (10) 11-3

Class AA
1. Lancaster Catholic (3) 15-1
2. West Catholic (12) 12-3
3. Greensburg C.C. (7) 13-3
4. Aliquippa (7) 11-2
5. North Schuylkill (11) 13-1
6. General McLane (10) 11-1
7. South Fayette (7) 10-1
8. Forest Hills (6) 13-1
9. Tyrone (6) 10-3
10. Loyalsock Township (4) 10-4

Class A
1. Dunmore (2) 12-1
2. Clairton (7) 15-1
3. Rochester (7) 12-1
4. Southern Columbia (4) 9-5
5. Steelton-Highspire (3) 8-3
6. Springdale (7) 8-3
7. Sharpsville (10) 10-3
8. Taylor Riverside (2) 4-8
9. Line Mountain (4) 8-4
10. Mercyhurst Prep (10) 10-1

Another imposter

This story sounds an awful like the 20-seomthing from Florida who made his way onto a high school basketball team in Texas last year.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/21-year-old-poses-as-middle-school-football-play?urn=highschool-266086

Trinity gets bad news, Sweat a starter and more

Trinity senior Ty Billie will miss anywhere from two to six weeks with a leg injury suffered during the Hillers' opening scrimmage against Keystone Oaks.

Billie, a wide receiver and defensive back, hurt the leg when a teammate rolled on it on the final play of the scrimmage. Billie practiced last week and participated in Trinity's scrimmage against Uniontown.

Turns out Billie, who Dalton believes has Division I potential as a wide receiver, practiced and scrimmaged with a fractured bone in the leg. He will miss Trinity's season opening game at Canon-McMillan and, depending on the prognosis received Monday, could be out up to six weeks.

* I interviewed former Trinity standout Andrew Sweat Saturday evening for an upcoming story in the Observer-Reporter. A former O-R Athlete of the Year, Swear was named Ohio State's starting strong-side (SAM) linebacker for the Buckeyes' season opener against Marshall.

Ohio State is ranked No. 2 in the majority of preseason polls I've seen.

* The annual O-R Preseason Football Guide - all 72 glorious pages of it - will be published Tuesday. It includes previews on all high school football teams from the O-R coverage area in addition to the South Hills teams covered by the Almanac. Also, the guide features stories on the Steelers, Pitt, WVU, Penn State, Cal, W&J and Waynesburg.

This year's cover story includes South Fayette's Christian Brumbaugh and Peters Township's Austin Hancock and the rich tradition of quarterbacks from the region.

* I participated in my first fantasy football draft today. Anyone ever wonder if a high school fantasy football league would work? Anyone part of one?

If there was a league consisting of WPIAL players, the guess here is the No. 1 pick would be West Allegheny's Mike Caputo, maybe Hopewell's Rushel Shell.

If the league were confined to local teams, I'd take South Fayette's Jeff Davis or Charleroi's Quentin Briggs with the top pick.

* The following play defies description. It's high school football at its funniest.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/The-worst-high-school-football-play-ever?urn=highschool-265720

D.C. female football coach makes debut

WASHINGTON (AP) — When the whistle blew and the opening kickoff sailed through the air on a beautiful late-summer night, Natalie Randolph could finally take a deep breath and focus on the thing she wants to do most — coach football.
After months in the media spotlight, Randolph made her debut Friday night leading the Colts of Coolidge Senior High School. Her inaugural season got off to a rough start with a 28-0 loss to Archbishop Carroll.
Randolph is believed to be the nation’s only female head coach of a high school varsity team.
“It’s a good thing. We’ve got a black president, so why not a female football coach?” said Raymond Orange, a spectator in the packed stands at Coolidge Stadium, a turnout that was a far cry from the only 500 or so fans who usually show up.
The 30-year-old Randolph was hired in March amid much fanfare, with a mayor running for re-election proclaiming “Natalie Randolph Day” in the city, but she has found the public attention at times overwhelming. At one point, the school was turning down all requests for interviews.
The petite Randolph wore the standard Coolidge coaching gear — black visor, white polo shirt with the Colts logo and tan shorts. She kept a poker face through much of the penalty-filled first half, delegating much to her assistants, save for the occasional words of wisdom for her players. Her team trailed 7-0 at halftime.
“You have this!” she yelled to her offense after a tough series.
Randolph, an environmental sciences teacher at the school, was chosen from about 15 candidates after the previous coach resigned. She inherited a team that went 6-4 last season.
A Washington, D.C., native and former University of Virginia track star, Randolph played six seasons as a receiver for the D.C. Divas of the National Women’s Football Association and spent three seasons as an assistant coach at another D.C. high school.

Preseason Elite 11

Alex Adams, Canon-McMillan
Senior
Running back/linebacker
Adams (suspension) won't play in the Big Macs' season opener against Trinity. Upon his return, Canon-McMillan hopes Adams can be a consistent presence on both sides of the football. There's no doubt that Adams has the skill, size and speed to be a good one.

Zach Barnes, Washington
Senior
Fullback/Linebacker
The always-talented Prexies are unusually loaded with talented underclassmen. While those guys develop, steady players like Barnes are essential to a postseason return. An exceptional athlete who can rebound against players eight inches taller, Barnes should lead the High in tackles.

Nick Bolias, Monessen
Senior
Wide receiver/defensive back
Last year, opponents shied away from Monessen's ShelDon Miller. It turned out throwing in Bolias' direction was a big mistake. Bolias continually turned away would-be pass catchers, played the run well and earned Class A all-state honors.

Quentin Briggs, Charleroi
Junior
Running back/Defensive back
A cousin of Darrell Harding, Charleroi's all-time rushing leader, and Ken Griffey Jr., Briggs brings 2,295 rushing yards and a pair of 1,000-yard seasons into his junior year. The area's toughest runner to tackle after contact, Briggs puts up big-time stats in the fourth quarter.

Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette
Senior
Quarterback
Brumbaugh is the reigning Observer-Reporter Player of the Year after he passed for 2,183 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior. The 6-4 righty has scholarship offers from Akron, Bowling Green and Buffalo. William & Mary is high on Brumbaugh's list.

Andrew Erenberg, Peters Township
Junior
Running back/defensive back
Erenberg came back to Peters Townshp after spending his freshman year at Pittsburgh Central Catholic and helped the Indians to their first winning record since 2003. Erenberg rushed for nearly 900 yards last year and has an experienced line blocking in front of him.

Sal Faieta, Beth-Center
Junior
Quarterback/linebacker
Beth-Center believes Faieta, who started as a sophomore, is prepared to elevate his game to a different level this year. Faieta passed for 1,109 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He's also a hard-hitting linebacker and an emerging college prospect.

Derrick Fiore, Ringgold
Senior
Running back/receiver/defensive back
First-year Ringgold coach Matt Humbert believes Fiore could catch the eyes of some schools at the Mid-American Conference level this year. Fiore will get his chances on offense as he lines up next to the quarterback in Ringgold's version of the spread offense.

Austin Hancock, Peters Township
Senior
Quarterback/linebacker
Hancock made his mark at quarterback for Peters Township, where he passed for 1,298 yards and rushed for 441 last year. Colleges are looking at Hancock as an outside linebacker, where he'll play this year on defense.

Jake Sofran, Beth-Center
Junior
Fullback/linebacker
Might be the area's toughest two-way player and certainly one of he strongest. As a sophomore, Sofran registered 129 tackles in leading a stout Beth-Center defense. He also paced a balanced offense with 500-plus rushing yards.

Nolan Spicer, South Fayette
Senior
Offensive line/defensive line
Spicer, the WPIAL Class AA shot put champion in the spring, figures to be the Lions top lineman in their dynamic spread offense. He's already accepted a scholarship to Division I-AA Liberty and will be the key blocker for Jeff Davis and Brumbaugh.


Two players not mentioned most likely to make this list at the end of the season – Jeff Davis, South Fayette; Jeff Tarley, Beth-Center


Player in line for breakout season – Quad Law, Ringgold


If only this were the Elite 22 or Elite 33 – Davis, Tarley, Law, Charleroi's Kyle Shannon, Fort Cherry's Corey Garry and Gary Kiefer, Wash High's Julien Anderson, Canon-McMillan's Alec Schram, Trinity's Ty Billie and Kyle McWreath, McGuffey's Derrick Whipkey, Ringgold's Dylan Patch, Monessen's Brett Crenshaw, Jefferson-Morgan's Brandon Kozich and Chartiers-Houston's Mykel Dorsey.

Legends of the Fall, Chapter 3

During the same era when Monessen High School had Eric Crabtree and Bill Malinchak and Beaver Falls boasted Joe Namath, a pair of all-time greats at Wash High led the Prexies to sparkling records under coach Dave Johnston.

In 1961, Wash High's Bob Stock earned second-team Associated Press All-State honors. The other Prexies legend is this week's focus for Legends of the Fall.

Ted Vactor

An outstanding two-way back at Washington, Vactor played in the 1962 Big 33 game before he went to Nebraska. From 1963-65, Vactor played for head coach Bob Deveaney's nationally ranked Cornhuskers.

Vactor was a standout running back at Nebraska and he also played cornerback as well. He was All-Big Eight Conference first team in 1965 and played in two Orange Bowls (1964 and 1966) and a Cotton Bowl (1965).

After a one-year stint with Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Football League, Vactor signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent in 1969. Vactor was mostly a back-up defensive back and a special teams ace during his six seasons in the NFL.

He played for the Washington Redskins from 1970-74 and the Chicago Bears in 1975. Vactor played in the 1973 Super Bowl, which Washington lost to Miami.

Vactor is a member of the Washington-Greene Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of fame and an inductee into the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

Links n'at

Just came across an extensive list of the top football players in the WPIAL for the upcoming season. I must say, it's rather thorough and had to take considerable time to put together.

To read, click
http://www.westernpafootball.net/gotw-5/wpial%E2%80%99s-2010-top-returning-athletes/


Dylan Bongiorni's transfer from Burgettstown to West Allegheny incited some anger from readers on this blog, including several who believed he would fail to make an impact for the defending WPIAL Class AAA champs.

According to the Post-Gazette's Mike White, Bongiorni's first scrimmage as West Allegheny's quarterback went well.

http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/varsity-blog/20974-qgoing-campingq-monday-report