ADVERTISEMENT

Live feed

Forum list Trending threads

Live feed

 Posts

PIAA District 1 - Halfway Point

B
CAMoleskinner said:
Fletch -

I sure hope the 'Skins see a playoff game. They'll have to go 3-1 the remainder of the run which does seem doable/possible (Pennridge, CB East and Pennsbury can be wins but I'm not banking on CB South -- and nothing against any of those teams, by the way).

We'll see soon enough.

And I'm probably stating the obvious.
Click to expand...
They should be a playoff team, but I'm thinking they'll come in at 6-4, with a loss to South and getting picked off by one of the other three teams. I just don't think they're at the level yet where they can run the table against those three. I think all three of those games could be one score in either direction. Their first win looked very promising, but their three wins since then came against teams with a combined three wins.

Watching them against West last week... they have size, talent (the QB was very impressive), and a good-sized roster. There's no reason that they shouldn't be competitive with the top teams in the league. Really at a crossroads with the upcoming coaching change. Hand it off to an assistant or get a full program reset with a new coach from outside the program?
Click to expand...

Prep LaSalle

Relayer
paul from philly said:
The Holy War. Hasn't meant much in recent years but with Brett running things, there will be no shortage of offensive strategies. But then again Tulla may be right that it will be a defensive game. Should be a good one! And I think the Beef and Ale is close enough to Upper Dublin. Right down Joshua!

Get your popcorn!!!
Click to expand...
Better get to the Ale House early. Game 1 starts at 4:08 and one can anticipate a packed bar.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: lilromeo

WPIAL 5A

A
NH is kind of an odd team. Their defense is easily one of the top 5 in 5A. The LB and DB groups are elite level. The defensive line is a bit small but they have been very effective. On the other hand the offense is very average. The offensive line is not good which is a big problem. The QB was just a sandlot player when the season started. They still rely on big plays but have been showing some improvement as the season progresses. I think they are a legit team that has a chance to be 9-1 when the season ends.
Click to expand...

Prep LaSalle

T
Stalker said:
Got a few. Will say the following.
* Both play solid defense with SJP at 21ppg, LS 7 (!)
* SJP's schedule includes no winning teams but a few real powers in OLGC and St. Eds.
OLGC at 4-2, who they edged 21-19, includes losses to undefeated Depaul-NJ and Riverdale Bapt-Md. Loss to St. Edward at 3-3 shouldn't mislead with St Ed losing to undefeated Boyle-Ky (-17), Massillon (-10) and Glenville (-1). Big wins vs Elder and Pick-North. SJP's 2nd qtr meltdown (allowed 5Tds, historic for St. Eds) something of an anomaly, despite St. Eds typically being one of the best programs in the country.
* LS's schedule is respectable (5 of 6 winners) with Harrisburg, Malvern and Calvert Hall wins but nothing like Hawks. Most of their opponents played powerful teams where you can do "linkage" for comparison. Calvert Hall at 4-2, is not their strongest team. Being routed by Spalding (6-0) 38-0 not as troubling for linkage thoughts knowing this is one of Spalding's very best teams. Harrisburg was managing (poorly) the loss of one of the best quarterbacks in the state in the opener. Most thought they were in BIG trouble but not by 38pts., 21-28 ok.
* Both score a lot of points, SJP at 32, LS at 31.

These are observations anyone can make. And I don't know these teams intimately. Saw some film where I thought SJP looked a little slower unless that was the comp of St. Ed's.....plus film that can mislead. LS's passing game could wreck things but Hawk's could steal a pick or two as well. A lot of risk in a HS passing attack.

Agree with RobberLucky that "It's hard to catch the Prep in one off-season," and leave it with that inference.
Click to expand...
I agree that the records and scores to this point in the season don't mean a lot.

For a team like SJP with several inexperienced players in key roles opening in Cleveland against St. Edward's was especially tough. You could focus on the 35 points they gave up in 8 or 9 minutes of the second quarter or on St. Edward's not scoring in the other three quarters and the Prep putting up two second half TDs. They should have beaten Good Counsel by a couple of TDs but a strange combination of things (including a very questionable penalty call) made it a nail-biter. Erasmus is much weaker than the Erasmus team SJP played two years ago. The Judge game was simply a big mismatch--like LaSalle's games against O'Hara and Episcopal.

Calvert Hall is not nearly at the same level of Good Counsel. LaSalle's best opponent so far has probably been Malvern, but Malvern lost to Roman, which has since lost to Bonner and by a big margin to DeMatha.

My point is obvious: very little in August and September for either team tells us much more than that LaSalle has improved a good bit and the Prep is not as strong as the they've been most years recently. I suspect the winner will be determined by penalties and turnovers--unlike in some games in recent years where the Prep got penalized much more than LaSalle but still won handily. I also think the game in November could look very different depending on injuries--not having West available at the end of the Good Counsel game made a big difference-- on how much Folkes develops, etc. Not sure how much depth LaSalle has.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: Stalker and HSFB99

Prep LaSalle

S
MC1975 said:
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Got a few. Will say the following.
* Both play solid defense with SJP at 21ppg, LS 7 (!)
* SJP's schedule includes no winning teams but a few real powers in OLGC and St. Eds.
OLGC at 4-2, who they edged 21-19, includes losses to undefeated Depaul-NJ and Riverdale Bapt-Md. Loss to St. Edward at 3-3 shouldn't mislead with St Ed losing to undefeated Boyle-Ky (-17), Massillon (-10) and Glenville (-1). Big wins vs Elder and Pick-North. SJP's 2nd qtr meltdown (allowed 5Tds, historic for St. Eds) something of an anomaly, despite St. Eds typically being one of the best programs in the country.
* LS's schedule is respectable (5 of 6 winners) with Harrisburg, Malvern and Calvert Hall wins but nothing like Hawks. Most of their opponents played powerful teams where you can do "linkage" for comparison. Calvert Hall at 4-2, is not their strongest team. Being routed by Spalding (6-0) 38-0 not as troubling for linkage thoughts knowing this is one of Spalding's very best teams. Harrisburg was managing (poorly) the loss of one of the best quarterbacks in the state in the opener. Most thought they were in BIG trouble but not by 38pts., 21-28 ok.
* Both score a lot of points, SJP at 32, LS at 31.

These are observations anyone can make. And I don't know these teams intimately. Saw some film where I thought SJP looked a little slower unless that was the comp of St. Ed's.....plus film that can mislead. LS's passing game could wreck things but Hawk's could steal a pick or two as well. A lot of risk in a HS passing attack.

Agree with RobberLucky that "It's hard to catch the Prep in one off-season," and leave it with that inference.
Click to expand...

WPIAL 5A

2
new2pa said:
That may be true. Would lead me to believe 5A not as good as people think - cause NH is not good.
Click to expand...
yes maybe- the local "top 25" list for Pittsburgh area- like 13 out of 25 are A? Kinda stupid. Overall, as a "group of teams" 4A is underrated, and 5A is overrated. Both have some great teams.

idk- NH looked pretty solid against PR- and they game-planned well. I would not be the "top 2" of PH, PR and NH, maybe both will make 5A semi
Click to expand...

WPIAL 5A

2
BradlyPitt said:
but aren't they handpicking a few playoff teams this year so they don't repeat what happened with USC last year missing the playoffs with only two losses? no way they don't pick Peters if they only have a loss to USC and Bethel Park
Click to expand...
yes but any system is gonna be flawed and get criticized. part of my point, is the "south hills" teams in 5A are massively overrated. North Hills or Woody would kick the crap out of a couple of those teams. Several of the "wins" of those teams are 3A, yea 3, crazy. Once the "dust settles" this conference will looks weak and might not get a wildcard- so if Peters loses to Bethel and Moon, they are 4th, not locked into playoffs. That could happen
Click to expand...

WPIAL 5A

B
2020sports said:
still too early to say- but no way South Fayette belongs that high, they might not even make the playoffs- their team has not gone "deep" in playoffs for many years- certainly not in 5A-

crazy to say, but its possible for Peters to miss the playoffs! Every team has win at least 3 conference games, and they only have 1 so far

just too early
Click to expand...
but aren't they handpicking a few playoff teams this year so they don't repeat what happened with USC last year missing the playoffs with only two losses? no way they don't pick Peters if they only have a loss to USC and Bethel Park
Click to expand...

Prep LaSalle

T
paul from philly said:
The Holy War. Hasn't meant much in recent years but with Brett running things, there will be no shortage of offensive strategies. But then again Tulla may be right that it will be a defensive game. Should be a good one! And I think the Beef and Ale is close enough to Upper Dublin. Right down Joshua!

Get your popcorn!!!
Click to expand...
Paul, I'm not saying it will be a defensive game, only that the outcome may depend on which defense does better against the other team's offensive strength. The Prep's secondary is relatively inexperienced and has looked quite vulnerable at times.
Click to expand...

Prep LaSalle

T
RobberLucky said:
I don't think anyone in the state (unless you follow LS closely) had LaSalle 6-0 at this point. I think Prep is still the better team. But, for once, LaSalle has the best player (Joey O'Brien) and they have the better qb. Gordon has done a fabulous job since he took over in January. He's addressed every aspect of the program and improved it. It's hard to catch the Prep in one off-season. So regardless of what happens, LaSalle moving on from Steinmetz and handing the reigns to Gordon was the best thing possible for the program and now everyone can see it.
Click to expand...
Do you think O'Brien is better than Sacca and West? I don't know, having seen O'Brien only on the bits of Bob Long's broadcasts I've seen.
Click to expand...

Prep LaSalle

R
I don't think anyone in the state (unless you follow LS closely) had LaSalle 6-0 at this point. I think Prep is still the better team. But, for once, LaSalle has the best player (Joey O'Brien) and they have the better qb. Gordon has done a fabulous job since he took over in January. He's addressed every aspect of the program and improved it. It's hard to catch the Prep in one off-season. So regardless of what happens, LaSalle moving on from Steinmetz and handing the reigns to Gordon was the best thing possible for the program and now everyone can see it.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: HSFB99, paul from philly, bucksftball and 1 other person

Prep LaSalle

T
lilromeo said:
This should be the game of the year. I would think most people will go with the Prep as a slight favorite, but I will go with the upset . Drew Gordan will be watching and guiding Brett from the heavens LOL. Nice venue also at Upper Dublin. Whoever comes out ahead will probably be facing the other again anyway in the PCL playoffs. Look for some fireworks !!!!
Click to expand...
SJP and LaSalle are the only 6A schools in the PCL, so they are guaranteed to meet in early November.
Click to expand...
  • Like
Reactions: lilromeo and MC1975
Load more
ADVERTISEMENT

Filter

ADVERTISEMENT
Top Bottom
Back