Great Programs...can they keep it going?

[WPIAL_Fball]

As hard as it is to say this...Congratulations St. Joe's for 2 straight champs. I'm not going to complain about any private vs. public like others have but there is something about seeing a town come together around their school! Sad to see Pine Richland lose, it's been awesome to see that community come together and rally around this team that came out of nowhere this year (after going 4-5 and 5-5 the last 2 years!) St. Joe's earned that win for sure. Do they have a lot returning next year? What are the odds they're back in Hershey? I'd say odds are PR is a one and done here on Hershey appearances, they look like they're losing a lot.

Congratulations to Archbishop Wood - 4 straight appearances and 3 championships in 4 years. I think they're 54-7 over the last 4 years! Quite an accomplishment, it takes a lot of talent, great coaching, and some luck to make a run like that. Again sad to see a WPIAL team in Central Valley lose. Can Archbishop Wood do it again next year - how much talent are they losing? Central Valley has a great history in their short existence, not sure if they'll contend again next year but they'll be back eventually!

Clairton...the end was just embarrassing. 6 appearances in the title game in 7 years. They've won 4 and lost 2. They stand a good chance to get back next year (as they do any year) with Wade coming back but they need to learn how to lose and the coaches and players need to learn a little humility. 6 appearances in 7 is a great run but again...the conduct was utterly embarrassing to the WPIAL.

Last but not least. South Fayette - 32 straight wins. 2 Straight PIAA championships. 3 appearances in 5 years in Hershey. 65-6 record over the past 5 years and some great victories including a 3-0 record over Aliquippa, 2-0 over Hickory, and the signature win for the program against Imhotep last year 41-0. This is quite a run they're on! You just have to love a public school going on a run like this, it's a huge testament to the coaching and what's happening at the middle school/JV levels too! Next year they return the entire starting offensive line, their 2,100 yard running back and their #1 and #3 receivers. They're losing Brumbaugh but they have to be an early favorite (along with Aliquippa and Hickory) in the west. It will be interesting to see if they end up taking a 44 game winning streak into Heinz Field against Aliquippa next year in November (obviously a lot of games to be played between now and then).
This post was edited on 12/14 10:30 PM by WPIAL_Fball

 

[njfan47]

Well stated WPIAL_Fball. St. Joe Prep loses a lot, but has some very good players returning, with RB Swift being the headliner. I think they have a good chance to get back to Hershey.

Wood loses a lot. However, they do have about 8-9 underclassmen contributors returning, led by the QB. I think a lot of kids will step up, but it will be difficult for Wood to get back to Hershey. Wood does have a pattern of upperclassmen transfers, who are probably kids who want to play in a good program with a chance to win a championship. Of course, some posters on here know that they are recruited by Wood.

 

[Stalker]

AAAA; great point on "community". I experienced that with my nephew going to the PIAA final. Just how sports equates to pride in a community may have to be experienced to be believed but it is magical. I like PR's coach and think he will be back but players like DiNucci come along every....????....years.

AAA; the repetitiveness of dominance is boring, especially contrasted to what you mentioned about Pine Richland. And when we say.."nobody can challenge St. Joe's or Wood at the start of the season, something is lost. It's the same thing in 3 with McDevitt. Guys on the board know me well enough to know that's not a slam to either school or private schools.

AA; 3-peat? Maybe a Wpial with what they have coming back.

A; Neshannock will be strong too.

Thanks for coming on the board this year with your views.
This post was edited on 12/15 10:14 AM by Stalker

 

[kicker2001]

Wood will be good but I predict a drop next year. They will have enough skill kids coming back, but they lose 4 senior lineman. The one starter coming back is decent and will get better, but was probably the weakest of all the lineman this year. They will have a very you ng inexperienced line next year. That is their bread and butter as everyone knows.
I see a drop next year but the year after next they could be very good again.
Tep could take them out next year.

 

[WPIAL_Fball]

Perhaps next year finally is Imhotep's year...but that's been said before with nothing to show for it. They were the only team to stay within 10 points of Wood all year (their loss to LaSalle aside).

 

[t2pyah]

next Pine Richland QB could be better than DiNucci

as a middle school kid played on freshman team ; and already better than many high school starting QBs




http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3785137/philip-jurkovec


http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3785137/highlights/195485386



also an outstanding basketball player:

remember the name:

http://blogs.post-gazette.com/sports/varsity-blog/40500-pitt-recruit-rowan-on-torrid-free-throw-streak

 

[WpialHSFB]

At 4A level Woodland Hills and Pitt CC will be very good with what they have returning. I've heard NA will be better also - anyone out there that can validate?

Wilson was a young team - I was very impressed with their D-line. They will be tough next year

Bishop McDevitt will more than likely be the 3A favorite, bringing back a lot. We shall see...

South Fayette will be fun to watch, I would be surprised if they do not pull it off again.

Clairton brings back a lot beside Wade (Matthews).

PA looks to have a lot very good teams next year.

 

[ed o'brien]

Bishop McDevitt will be interesting. They'll be breaking in a new QB , but bring back what's probably the deepest wide receiving corps in the state. They lose a lot on defense and a stud running back in Andre Robinson. Que'Shawn Jenkins, his replacement while he was out, will be gone too. Question is will there be anybody to even give them a challenge coming out of District 3.

I definitely agree with you about Woodland Hills and Pitt CC. I'd have to look to see what NA has, but they have some big horses onthe OL coming back.



Originally posted by WpialHSFB:
At 4A level Woodland Hills and Pitt CC will be very good with what they have returning. I've heard NA will be better also - anyone out there that can validate?

Wilson was a young team - I was very impressed with their D-line. They will be tough next year

Bishop McDevitt will more than likely be the 3A favorite, bringing back a lot. We shall see...

South Fayette will be fun to watch, I would be surprised if they do not pull it off again.

Clairton brings back a lot beside Wade (Matthews).

PA looks to have a lot very good teams next year.

 

[Stalker]

He looks like he's 6-4 or more, really big kid. Slender but not a stick. Seeing what Coach K has done....not just DiNucci.... tells me PR is in for a nice ride like Ortega at Coatesville or McNamee at Central Dauphin; good young coaches who realize the football can also be thrown. Forgetting Qb, that was some good personnel out there.

 

[Mr All American]

This goes for everywhere in the state. If programs win then kids will stay in the area to play. Winning begins and ends with a great coaching staff that adapts to what they have in the program. In addition to coaching staff a program must have great administration. All the usual programs that go deep into the playoffs have these qualities.

 

[WPIAL_Fball]

Originally posted by Mr All American:
This goes for everywhere in the state. If programs win then kids will stay in the area to play. Winning begins and ends with a great coaching staff that adapts to what they have in the program. In addition to coaching staff a program must have great administration. All the usual programs that go deep into the playoffs have these qualities.

Another huge benefit of going deep in the playoffs is these kids were still playing this weekend and practicing last week. Other student athletes have moved on to basketball, wrestling, etc. as early as Halloween. It has to be a huge bonus for the coaches to continue to work with kids (especially younger JV age kids who are working on the scout team, etc.) for up to 7 additional weeks. I'm sure it's a huge reason why good teams and programs are able to stay good. South Fayette, Wood & SJP have Sophomores coming back next year who have already played & practiced the equivalent of 3 regular seasons.

 

[ramgreen]

Re: Wood could take a step back

I've followed Wood closely for last 3-4 years and i think next year would have to be a miracle job by the staff to compete deep in the playoffs again. Look at their O and D this year…almost all seniors. The underclassmen that do play are decent players and could develop but I'm thinking definitely knocked out by Imhotep next year if not sooner

 

[wcburrs87]

Re: Wood could take a step back

Originally posted by ramgreen:
I've followed Wood closely for last 3-4 years and i think next year would have to be a miracle job by the staff to compete deep in the playoffs again. Look at their O and D this year…almost all seniors. The underclassmen that do play are decent players and could develop but I'm thinking definitely knocked out by Imhotep next year if not sooner

They do lose a lot of seniors and experience, but the foundation is strong and has been for awhile now. Definitely will take a step back on some level. I think Imhotep as a D-12 3A favorite is fair with what they return (Though Moore and Dreuitt-Parks are good ones), but AW is still the favorite in the PCL and by no means should anyone count them out in terms of making a deep run.

In seven years of PIAA play they have 5 finals appearances (3 wins). A semifinals appearance and quarterfinal appearance. They have never not made it to the final 8 in seven years. That's impressive.

 

[SPEED&JUMP DR.]

Re: Wood could take a step back


Is it unreasoanble to assume that Wood will go out and get 3 high quatlity upper class linemen to transfer in along with a skill player or 2? You really need to look at Wood in a different light than most high school teams where you would typically look at a roster and say they lose this guy but have this guy coming back.

 

[WPIAL_Fball]

Re: Wood could take a step back

Originally posted by SPEED&JUMP DR.:

Is it unreasoanble to assume that Wood will go out and get 3 high quatlity upper class linemen to transfer in along with a skill player or 2? You really need to look at Wood in a different light than most high school teams where you would typically look at a roster and say they lose this guy but have this guy coming back.

To me that would be sad if they did that. Don't they have Juniors and Sophomores that were on the bench this year and worked hard for the opportunity to play next year? Where were these transfer kids 2 or 3 years ago when this class came into 9th grade at Wood. Something about that just feels wrong to me.

 

[SPEED&JUMP DR.]

Re: Wood could take a step back


Wood, unlike some other PCL teams, is not shy about taking in upper class transfers. The exact numbers I do not have available, but its typically a handful of kids. For example, This years starting fullback transferred in out of Bensalem for his senior year.

 

[wcburrs87]

Re: Wood could take a step back

If the trend continues they might add 1/2 sr. Transfers that make an impact. Maybe, another impactful underclass via transfer. It's the nature of the beast. Wood wins the 3A state title this year without Arcangeli. If he's not there then you probably see someone like Cooper play the position. Or, maybe it's Mack Scheartz. Or, the soph Shawn Thompson plays some there. Regardless, the production is there because no one runs the fullback as well as them. And it all starts up front where their entire OL, plus the TEs/H-backs all were at Wood as freshman. Wood really doesn't need to accept the sr. transfers, but it's a non-issue on why they are successful.

 

[WPIAL_Fball]

Re: Wood could take a step back

I see your point that they'd still win regardless, but I'm not contending that it's why they are successful. I don't know Mack or Shawn but I feel bad for them (tongue in cheek) that they get passed up by some transfer who just comes in for his senior season. I also don't understand how the PIAA doesn't say that's a transfer for athletic intent. Perhaps it's the fact that it's a religious school and they're ruling that it's divine intervention! To me if you're a part of that team and you sweat and work in the offseason for 3 years and give your all to a team you should be given the chance to prove yourself. It's one thing to get passed up by a more talented sophomore, it's a whole different story to be passed up by somebody who took the easy path and transferred in when they knew they would play. If you don't need the senior transfers then don't take them, reward the kids that were loyal to you.

I guess it is a good life lesson for kids though. Someday you'll work somewhere and work hard and put in a lot of time. Then a good position will open up and they'll go to the outside and hire somebody else, haha.

 

[shfoot]

Re: Wood could take a step back

Ur a WPIAL guy, how many times has WPIAL turned down transfers only to be reversed by the PIAA board. The PIAA doesn't want to get sued.

 

[WPIAL_Fball]

Re: Wood could take a step back


Yes, the WPIAL determines that these are athletic transfers and does the right thing. Then the PIAA doesn't have the backbone to do the same. It's pretty frustrating around these parts when that happens.

It's also different transferring from public to public vs. from public to private. When a kid's family decides to move to a new district and buy a new house it's kind of hard to say that is for athletic purposes (although I don't put it past some families to do that). It's a lot easier to say, oh next year I'll just go to a private school. You don't have to move or buy a house or anything like that...just apply, write a check and it's done.