Arch Wood vs LaSalle
- Thread starter HSFB99
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Probably one of the worst Wood-Lasalle games I've ever watched. LaSalle always seems so frustrating to watch, never feel like they take advantage of their talent. Wood returned about 80-90% of their state championship team, but they look much worse than they were last year.
Man was I wrong on this one. I thought Wood would give them a game at least. Malvern next up for Wood and will probably match LaSalles performance .
Me too Romeo. I thought Wood would win by 1-2 TDs based on last years performance and the returning talent (oh boy was I wrong!). They really struggled to move the ball yesterday and generally seemed out of sync in all facets of the game. It doesn’t get any easier for them playing Malvern this week. I thought Wood had a claim to be the number 2 or 3 team in the state coming into this year. They have certainly proved me wrong in that respect. As FJ pointed out, they returned almost their entire state championship team. In addition, their starting line up is compromised of a lot of seniors. That may not bode well for next year.
It could have something to do with their new coach who was selected quickly without much of a search as I recall. I would be calling Mike Carey yesterday .
Mike Carey is not coming back. I think we are two years away from Prep being the only relevant team in the PCL. Maybe one of the smaller enrollment PCL schools takes advantage of the talent gap every few years. 6A schools can't keep up with Prep. They're just so much better with recruiting, resources, development and coaching. The former coaches I talk to say a PCL all star team would be down 35-0 to Prep at the half most years. Wood has a small and very specific path to success, but I don't think the current staff or administration can pull it off.
FJ, you may be right. I’ve only seen SJP, LaSalle and Arch Wood this year, but if you combined LS and AW they would not come close to SJP. They are also the consensus number 2 and 3 teams in the PCL. The gap between those programs is immense. Maybe SJP will take a few steps back after this year, although I am not holding my breath.
You seem to be more tapped into the PCL than me (I really only follow SJP, LaSalle and Arch Wood). I pay more attention to the SOL. You mention Arch Wood has a narrow path to future success. That surprises me as they are the reigning state champs in second largest classification (and returned almost that entire team). Granted, I was fairly shocked by Wood’s performance this past week against LaSalle. I thought they were clearly favored this week. Obviously numbers are down, but they were last year too. What’s going on there?
You seem to be more tapped into the PCL than me (I really only follow SJP, LaSalle and Arch Wood). I pay more attention to the SOL. You mention Arch Wood has a narrow path to future success. That surprises me as they are the reigning state champs in second largest classification (and returned almost that entire team). Granted, I was fairly shocked by Wood’s performance this past week against LaSalle. I thought they were clearly favored this week. Obviously numbers are down, but they were last year too. What’s going on there?
Enrollment and roster numbers are just never going to rebound because there are too many outside factors: tuition too high, resources/aid/administrative support not there, more competition recruiting, transfer rules, etc.
Wood has been a 4A school playing 5A, but they were probably headed to 3A enrollment numbers by 2022. If they continue to accept transfers they would be forced to stay at 6A in 2022. They can't compete in 6A, and I am not even talking about Prep. They need to accept that they are a 3A-4A football team.
Wood has been a 4A school playing 5A, but they were probably headed to 3A enrollment numbers by 2022. If they continue to accept transfers they would be forced to stay at 6A in 2022. They can't compete in 6A, and I am not even talking about Prep. They need to accept that they are a 3A-4A football team.
FJ, I see your point as to the current obstacles they are facing. However, I still find it hard to believe they will be a 3-4A caliber team. Would they have competed for a 5A championship this year? Could they have gotten past Imhotep? I understand Erie Prep and Pine-Richland would be tough games. But could they compete with those programs this year?
I know a lot of people were surprised or impressed that they won 5A last year. They beat a Gateway team that was better than them. They returned a lot of kids this year from that team but the competition is so much better at 5A with the teams you mentioned. The problem isn't this season, it's the future.
Wood may have been competitive in 5A this year who knows? Carey is still a possibility to coach again . I have talked with one of his brothers a couple times about this. His business has held him back particularly this year. I for one hope he returns. BTW whats up with Archbishop Ryan football if you have any idea ????
The PIAA pushed Wood up to 6A because they were bulldozing the local 5A teams.
With pretty much of the same talent level of last year they're no match for LaSalle and SJP.
Winning breeds winning.
Untill the PIAA figures out what to do with the football factories (LaSalle , SJP) , Wood will continue to be one of the PCL also rans.
I'm not the one who started sounding the alarm on Wood's decline. I just gave my opinion on why and what's in the future. I hope they do solve their problem. But I do think theyve been shocked into the reality that other schools have know for some time. It's not easy competing against the SJPs / LaSalles of the world. BTW Wood hasn't beaten SJP in the last 5 years either. My point... How's it feel knowing Wood will never again win a district 12 championship.
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And the talk of Wood moving down in class is absurd. The PIAA will NEVER allow that.
Gone are the days where Wood can play a big time schedule lose 2 or 3, steamroller the PCL also rans and go onto the playoffs. Those cushy days are over.
The problem for Wood is not Wood... It's there's no place for SJP to go or the PIAA would have bumped them up also.
The Wood kids Im sure dont feel like their defeated before they play the game l. They will strap it up and play the game. OMG I just dont get the poor us attitude. Its a monumental challenge . I guess Im one of those who likes a challenge . Im glad I didnt play for a coach with the mindset of we will never win .
I know you're not talking about me. I played for Pettine. And I've seen first hand what the opposing teams were up against.Just talking reality.
Don't kid yourself, as much as the kids at Wood put up a fight and never quit, deep down they know what reality is. Otherwise you and others wouldn't be so concerned for the program.
Wood will be 4A, possibly 3A team in 2022, as long as they don’t accept transfers.
FJ78 spot on. Going forward they won’t be able to compete with Prep n LaSalle cause these schools can financially help 8th graders choosing a school. Numbers down at Wood, can’t compete with 35 kids on team. The Carey shadow also faded out.
He brought in the players and he also mentored Devlin and Atkins on how to coach. Big SR class moving on this yr. They will struggle getting quality players.
FJ78 spot on. Going forward they won’t be able to compete with Prep n LaSalle cause these schools can financially help 8th graders choosing a school. Numbers down at Wood, can’t compete with 35 kids on team. The Carey shadow also faded out.
He brought in the players and he also mentored Devlin and Atkins on how to coach. Big SR class moving on this yr. They will struggle getting quality players.
Wood certainly in a Catch 22. If they give up the recruiting/transfer method of sustaining the program, their enrollment will drop, but so will the quality of team. If they want to maintain some sense of quality, they almost have to recruit and/or accept transfers. This will then trigger the PIAA competitive balance rule and have them playing "up" a level or 2. Remember, this was a team that had an overall losing record as of 2000.
DR They are 6A already.You cant go any higher. They were moved up this year because of the transfer situation. At that point their coach left. If Im not mistaken, I think that two coaches in two years.
The question is ...What do you do about the elephant in the room? SJP
Wilson, I think you are missing that the PIAA reclassifies every 2 years. After 21 season, if Arch Wood doesn’t have 3+ transfers, they are reclassified to their proper classification based on enrollment. That is why people are speculating they will be in 3A or 4A for 22 season. PIAA can’t simply keep Wood in 6A because they want to punish them; they would need 3+ transfers over this cycle.
If you are saying the PIAA will introduce a new rule that keeps Wood in 6A, I suppose that could be true. Although, I’d say it would be far fetched to devise a rule that would make a 3A/4A team play up 2 or 3 classes without any state tournament wins or 3+ transfers over the most recent cycle.
If you are saying the PIAA will introduce a new rule that keeps Wood in 6A, I suppose that could be true. Although, I’d say it would be far fetched to devise a rule that would make a 3A/4A team play up 2 or 3 classes without any state tournament wins or 3+ transfers over the most recent cycle.
