FOOTBALL COVERAGE
- By Tdewire
- PaPreps Clubhouse - Subscribers Only!
- 15 Replies
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ok, I hear ya- but this stuff only really effects 6A. Still pretty impressive to win at 1-5. And, even though there are negatives, there are a lot more teams benefitting from the 6 levels- better chance for winning records, playoffs, which keeps more kids playing football, so that is a positive.
it’s boring in my eyes because when classifications split and 6A shrunk to just a handful of teams, the prestige of winning a WPIAL title in the highest class really took a hit. it's hard to celebrate a championship when you’re playing in essentially a mini-league of five or six teams. It feels more like a round-robin trophy than a real gauntlet. I hate to say that as an NA fan, but no one really care about their wpial title wins, as evident by people on this forum
Back when 4A was the biggest classification, winning the WPIAL was a war. You had legit powerhouses like Woodland Hills, Central Catholic, North Hills, McKeesport, Upper St. Clair, Gateway—20+ top-tier programs competing. That gave WPIAL titles real weight, even without a state championship. So while they won zero state titles, Woody High’s early-2000s run meant something because of the depth of competition. That’s why a lot of people speak fondly of them, even on this website
I believe the only 6A teams that will be remembered are 2017 Pine-Richland and 2021 Mt. Lebanon. They transcended the watered-down format by statistical domination and winning states
It’s boring for sure. The only interesting year really was 2021, with lots wpial public schools winning states. 2023 NA vs Central was also entertaining. Other than that, pretty boring. Last year was dreadful. Hopefully the go back to 4 classes
yer funny- splitting hairs, on 5 or 6 years for gateway? The other issue w them, is they have won zero playoff games in the last 4 years.it's been 5 years, year 6 didn't start yet, though they probably won't win it next year
4 championship appearances in 6 seasons, that is great
what is great to you?
it's been 5 years, year 6 didn't start yet, though they probably won't win it next yearuh ok, so it's been 6 years since Gateway played in a championship- not 7.
Yes, agreed the run for Peters has been impressive, good program. Cannot throw out the "great" term often
Yes, Pennsbury has had some great teams over the years. Recently they have played in two eastern finals, losing both. In the 2006 east final Pennsbury lost to Bethlehem Liberty 45-38 in 4 OT's. Maybe one of the more underrated playoff games in PIAA history. I was there, it had everything.Question from an uneducated Western PA guy- I was looking at the Pennsbury football website- seems to include an impressive history- but I see references to SOL National Championship? What does that mean?
good call- yes May seems reasonable- I just looked at this fall's brackets- at this moment, id sayThought this would be a good time to start
Central has to be the betting favorite, but Walker Jr. always has a trick up his sleeve, so Il go with them
Pine is the favorite I’d imagine, USC lost a ton. I’m not sure about Peters
uh ok, so it's been 6 years since Gateway played in a championship- not 7.Gateway won WPIAL 5A in 2019
how is Peters not a great program?
2018 - semifinal loss after having the lead to Penn Hills, which won the state
2019 - close loss to Gateway in WPIAL final
2020 - mercy rule loss to PR in WPIAL title game, I think that PR team is arguably the best WPIAL team of the last 7 years or so
2021 - 2nd round playoff loss to PR
2022 - missed playoffs with only 3 losses, the system has since changed to prevent teams like that from being left out
2023 - WPIAL champ, state runner up
2024 - WPIAL runner u[
on top of that they are now regularly putting kids in D1 schools, Ivy league etc how is this not a great program?
I don't understand you saying Central coaches aren't as good as PR but then you argue Central's coaches develop their kids
of course recruiters go there, they are an all star team
Gateway won WPIAL 5A in 2019BP- im not gonna debate with you- but it's just not accurate to say the "consistent winning" programs in HS football are "cheating and bending rules" to get transfers. It takes a lot more than just talent. Perfect example- Gateway- they have had great talent, but have not even made it to a championship, for like 7-8 years. And, id have to guess, they probably DO bend some rules.
Peters- the big change has been Plack- he's a very good coach, and has developed them into a good program.- good not great. Lebo has had 3 different coaching staffs in the last 3 years- pretty sure most people would say they have shaky coaching.
And Central- again, I'm not gonna debate you- there is more involved than just "putting the kid on the field." They gotta coach and develop the kids, and college recuiters go there, more than some other school in the area- the kids get better exposure. James Franklin, PSU, says "we need more Pittsburgh Central Kids." Pretty sure PSU has never even VISITED maybe 90% of other high schools in Western PA. AND, how NFL? Right now, I think there are like 3-4 kids actively playing in the NFL. That is not fake, or hype.
And- lasty- the idea of what is "normal" in high school sports- it's just so different- high school sports are "not what they were" 30 years ago- just not even the same as 3 years ago... there is just a "new normal." And it kinda seems to be changing year-to-year.
ok he is playing somewherePillar plays at Mercyhurst. IMO, a big reason that PR has beaten PCC several years in a row is an edge in coaching
BP- im not gonna debate with you- but it's just not accurate to say the "consistent winning" programs in HS football are "cheating and bending rules" to get transfers. It takes a lot more than just talent. Perfect example- Gateway- they have had great talent, but have not even made it to a championship, for like 7-8 years. And, id have to guess, they probably DO bend some rules.Reston Lehman has big offers from everywhere across the country, Peters was always below average in football until 2018 now they regularly have prospects including kids that I don't think are good enough for the next level
Central puts more kids in big schools simply because those kids choose to go there, not because Central has some "secret sauce" that turns these kids into prospects
aside from maybe Butler I don't think there is any proof those schools are lacking resources or anything at all, USC and Lebo aren't lacking anything other than just not having the horses on a consistent basis, Woodland Hills lost a ton of enrollment but it probably doesn't help they choose to play up 2 classes
North Hills has been killed by transfers, Gateway used to benefit more than anybody from transfers in the mid to late 2000's
it's normal to have down years, it's not normal to be in the title game every year for a decade+ ie Central, PR etc the teams that don't have down years are bending the rules and getting transfers
Pillar plays at Mercyhurst. IMO, a big reason that PR has beaten PCC several years in a row is an edge in coachingyes but I was actually referring to Ethan Pillar
yeah everybody says he's a good guy, seems like a bit of a phony to mevery likely true- he prob asked them for a full time job/big salary, they said no, and that's why he went to penn state- he is a good guy and a great coach- but he has done that before
Reston Lehman has big offers from everywhere across the country, Peters was always below average in football until 2018 now they regularly have prospects including kids that I don't think are good enough for the next levelyou are correct, these kids do not "need to go to private schools." But, usually they are better off. My point, is it's a lower risk, It's a lower gamble to go there- they have a much better track record than every local public school- I'm talking about the "best" kids, Power 4. I'm not sure what you mean that the Peter's kid was "recruited more" than the Central kids is just not true. I'm not a Central booster, or alum, i dont "love them" but they put more kids in big schools, it's really no debate.
In many ways, public/local is better, especially for the "average" or even the "good athletes," which is why i am talking about the 1%, the best kids. Private schools have less rules, more flexibility, which makes it easier for college recuiting. It is very diffcult to build and maintain a successful public school football program in western PA- that is why there are so few of them. Butler, Woodland Hills, Gateway, Lebo, North Hills, even USC- these are schools that "used to be great" and really are no longer- this is why they "lose kids" to transferring. This happens due to shaky coaching, or shaky resources, or a combination.
And again, the "payoff" is now real money, as soon as they graduate high school.
yes but I was actually referring to Ethan PillarThe 23 team had all the talent in the world and couldn’t stop QB power. I thought that was one of Art Walkers best coaching jobs.