Pine-Richland 2020
- Thread starter new2pa
- Start date
PR and Harrisburg would be nice. I think Coatesville STILL hasn't signed on for 2020. Can't imagine Ortega wussing out because he has a young team. Rather see the Burg and Pine have at it!
You might get something better, I’ve heard that their going down to Florida for week 0
I can’t confirm but I heard Venice. Tough but exciting matchup if true
You might get something better (availability?) but why go out of state when they're teams to play in state?
Saw on the Trib that the new WPIAL conferences were approved. If Jacky is right, P-R schedule will be:
0: Venice
1. North Allegheny
2. Central Catholic
3. Latrobe
4. Gateway
5. Kiski (conf)
6. Fox Chapel (conf)
7. North Hills (conf)
8 Shaler (conf)
9. Penn Hills (conf)
I like this. Non-conference games against two rivals and best two 6A teams in WPIAL, and another non-conference against a top 3 5A team in Gateway. But conference schedule looks pretty mediorce besides maybe Penn Hills week 9. Really like that there aren't any non-conference games late in the year.
Stalker, I head over the weekend two things about the Venice game - that staff was concerned that admin wouldn't approve it, and that its schedule in-part because it could be a ESPN kickoff weekend TV game. That would be very neat. 3rd time P-R has been on ESPN.
0: Venice
1. North Allegheny
2. Central Catholic
3. Latrobe
4. Gateway
5. Kiski (conf)
6. Fox Chapel (conf)
7. North Hills (conf)
8 Shaler (conf)
9. Penn Hills (conf)
I like this. Non-conference games against two rivals and best two 6A teams in WPIAL, and another non-conference against a top 3 5A team in Gateway. But conference schedule looks pretty mediorce besides maybe Penn Hills week 9. Really like that there aren't any non-conference games late in the year.
Stalker, I head over the weekend two things about the Venice game - that staff was concerned that admin wouldn't approve it, and that its schedule in-part because it could be a ESPN kickoff weekend TV game. That would be very neat. 3rd time P-R has been on ESPN.
Hey new,
Thx...and good for PR playing Venice! Good hunting and health with a tough and physical first 5. I don’t pretend to follow Florida ball as I use to (write ups) but still keep abreast of things. Three nephews/1st cousins played at state championship teams at Dwyer, Lakeland, Frostproof (there’s a name) with a few near misses at Manatee over in Bradenton. The roots go deep in the Sunshine State.
PR will have their hands full with Venice who have often been good, but have recently upgraded the schedule, winning a 7A title in 2017 (8A largest) and in semifinals last 4 years; eliminated by St. Thomas Aquinas 3 of those years. Jim Peacock (2007) has it going at 132-32 W/L (2006 last losing), playing at level of 70s powerhouses. A few years ago they were getting it handed to them by established powers Lakeland, Armwood and of course STA. Now they’re scrimmaging Lakeland and other “programs” (spring ball game with Juggernauts), and scheduling IMG and St. Frances (IMG clone out of Baltimore) and beating Jacksonville power Trinity Christian and always strong Cocoa. Funny hearing Coach Peacock say he scheduled St. Frances before knowing who they were, losing 49-7 and 46-7 to IMG. No one counts those games but good for him taking a swing.
It’s early …. sketchy stuff here …. return high rated lineman in Ethan Mort (6-5, 280, FSU, sr) and Mike Rainey (6-3, 250, jr) from what Coach called his beat OL ever; rest are gone plus TE to places like Ohio U, Richmond, FSU. Qbs both graduated from an up tempo attack but return probably the best receiver corps Rams will encounter all year; 4 of 5 back. 2 fast backs return with +1500 yds combined, S. Johnson 6-0, 160. DJ Escore 6-1, 185 is special at 510 as a soph. So they need a Qb and have holes to fill up front.
Their MLBs are a different breed (sophs last year) quick and light (Cassaway, Ramos, +240 tackles combined, 5-10, 190). Different philosophy down there with an over the top commitment to speed, on lines and OLB. Look more like safeties, hybrids, can cover. DT Charlie Bowens, Wes Piggins, Richardson (DE?), Ethan Beck are back, 3 of 4 DBs. Averaged 33 allowed 26, 21 minus IMG, SF and Trinity overtime periods.
Venice is a serious program. Anyone getting to the semifinal 4 straight years in FL at any level while scheduling IMG, St. Frances, Trinity, Cocoa and Manatee is!
Wonder if P-R has bitten off more than they can chew here to get a "W"? But I like playing tough teams.Make the team and program better. Keeps the bar high.
It doesn’t really matter what they do early because NO ONE in the east will be able to stay within 5 tds of them come December !!
So I guess they are in a win win situation playing a tough schedule because it will only make them better in the long run but like I said above the 5a state final will be a mercy rule by halftime !!
So I guess they are in a win win situation playing a tough schedule because it will only make them better in the long run but like I said above the 5a state final will be a mercy rule by halftime !!
All I saw was they were looking to schedule a week 0 game now, must’ve fallen through. I personally hope they try to go out of state again and find a powerhouse program, they’re gonna have a great team this year might as well
New....I contacted the school with that information, that PR is available. Hopefully Coatesville doesn't sign on and a game with them can be worked out. Harrisburg should be strong again, I'd say the fav to win conference/district making it a good game and measuring stick for both. Be great getting the Mid Penn and Wpial together again in the regular season.
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports...Richland-North-Allegheny/stories/202001300125
Looks like no NA now. Replaced with SV. Some interesting comments from NA athletic director too. That’s disappointing to me, that’s been a prime game the past 7 years.
Looks like no NA now. Replaced with SV. Some interesting comments from NA athletic director too. That’s disappointing to me, that’s been a prime game the past 7 years.
Funny how the AD talks about challenging games, but has alderdice week 0 (I think they barely get 40 kids out every year) and drop PR who will probably be the best team in the Wpial. How would it not be beneficial to play the best team? I think NA is just trying to avoid a anouther mercy rule.
I will give you an english to english translation of the article.
Wexford, PA-
NA is trying to arrange a "Single A / Six A" matchup. NA Athletic Director, Bob Bozzuto offers this rational for the game. "Pine Richland scored 100 points against us over 3 weeks, and quite frankly that hurt our ability to advance to the WPIAL championship game." By scheduling a single A team, they will get the privilage of changing in our spacious vistors locker room and since we have really only had success against districts that have less than 50% of our enrollment, we can get back to the good old days of Tiger Pride. Our fan base will finally be able to go into Whole Foods with their heads up! Thats our goal from here on out."
Wexford, PA-
NA is trying to arrange a "Single A / Six A" matchup. NA Athletic Director, Bob Bozzuto offers this rational for the game. "Pine Richland scored 100 points against us over 3 weeks, and quite frankly that hurt our ability to advance to the WPIAL championship game." By scheduling a single A team, they will get the privilage of changing in our spacious vistors locker room and since we have really only had success against districts that have less than 50% of our enrollment, we can get back to the good old days of Tiger Pride. Our fan base will finally be able to go into Whole Foods with their heads up! Thats our goal from here on out."
Revised P-R 2020 Schedule
0: Open
1. Seneca Valley - Home (6A)
2. Central Catholic - Away (6A)
3. Upper St. Clair - Away (5A)
4. Gateway - Home (5A)
5. Penn Hills - Away (5A conf)
6. Shaler - Home (5A conf)
7. Kisk - Away (5A conf)
8. North Hills - Home (5A conf)
9. Fox Chapel - Home (5A conf)
Very front loaded. Central and Gateway are 2 of the top teams in the entire WPIAL, and Seneca Valley and Penn Hills probably in the top 10 in the District. USC is a top 20 team.
If they can manage to find a good Week 0, that will be about as good as it can get.
Tested early, get healthy, and make a run.
0: Open
1. Seneca Valley - Home (6A)
2. Central Catholic - Away (6A)
3. Upper St. Clair - Away (5A)
4. Gateway - Home (5A)
5. Penn Hills - Away (5A conf)
6. Shaler - Home (5A conf)
7. Kisk - Away (5A conf)
8. North Hills - Home (5A conf)
9. Fox Chapel - Home (5A conf)
Very front loaded. Central and Gateway are 2 of the top teams in the entire WPIAL, and Seneca Valley and Penn Hills probably in the top 10 in the District. USC is a top 20 team.
If they can manage to find a good Week 0, that will be about as good as it can get.
Tested early, get healthy, and make a run.
In case you can't get past the Post-Gazette paywall, here's the article. NA AD sounds like an idiot given the circumstances.
The WPIAL football schedules for all schools in 2020 are now set, and a new policy by the league has made for some terrific non-conference matchups in the first few weeks of the season. How does Thomas Jefferson vs. Gateway sound in Week 1? Or Pine-Richland vs. Central Catholic, and Clairton vs. Washington in following weeks?
On Thursday morning, the WPIAL released those schedules. The league schedules games for all 119 teams for Weeks 1 through 9, conference and non-conference. Schools can choose an opponent of their own if they decide to play a Week Zero contest.
Unlike previous seasons, the WPIAL hand-picked the non-conference games and the league decided to make the matchups based on competitiveness and at times geography. In the past, the league said non-conference games were picked at random. That policy often created extremely lopsided games and teams were sometimes traveling far for a meaningless non-conference matchup.
Also, the WPIAL decided this year to put all non-conference games in the beginning of the season. In the past, non-conference games were scheduled throughout the season. Sometimes, teams were playing a non-conference game in the last two weeks of the season.
Under the new schedule, teams that have been strong in the past have been matched up with other formidable opponents in non-conference games. Some teams that have struggled have been matched against teams that might make for a more competitive game.
“I love this. I like change,” Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz said.
Gateway coach Don Holl added, “If you’re building and cultivating your program and living in a culture of competitiveness, you want these type of things. Nobody is wishing they are facing murderers’ row and I don’t think we’re invincible, but who wouldn’t want to compete against the best?”
Pine-Richland played in the past three WPIAL Class 6A championships, but the school’s enrollment placed the Rams in Class 5A for the next two seasons. Pine-Richland will still play two Class 6A schools (Seneca Valley and Central Catholic) to open the season. In the next two weeks, Pine-Richland will play Upper St. Clair and Gateway, two strong Class 5A teams.
“The matchups were made for competitiveness and also location, when possible,” WPIAL associate executive director Amy Scheuneman said. “Sometimes both fit. Sometimes they did not.”
But what is extremely odd in the WPIAL’s new schedule is that North Allegheny was given two “open” weeks in Week 1 and 2. No other team was given two open weeks to start the season.
North Allegheny and Pine-Richland have developed a strong football rivalry in recent years. Kasperowicz expressed a strong desire to continue to play North Allegheny and Central Catholic, even if it were non-conference games.
Scheuneman added, “We had a conversation with North Allegheny and they requested to get their own games in both Week 1 and 2. Seeing how they are our largest school and we always hear the comment that nobody wants to play them, we let them get their own games. Them offering to find their own games, allowed us to schedule Week 1 and Week 2 without anyone having an opening in their schedule.”
At a meeting of football coaches and athletic directors a few weeks ago, the WPIAL showed a tentative schedule for non-conference games. The schedule had Pine-Richland playing North Allegheny and Central Catholic. But when the official schedules came out, the North Allegheny vs. Pine-Richland game was off.
“Whatever the WPIAL gives us, we’re going to go with,” Kasperowicz said. “I love to keep some of the rivalries we had with 6A teams like Seneca Valley and Central Catholic, but I’m extremely disappointed we can’t continue one of our biggest rivalries with North Allegheny. I don’t know why. I know the original schedule had us playing, but that wasn’t the final schedule. Now we’re not playing.”
Kasperowicz said he would like to play North Allegheny in Week Zero. But North Allegheny athletic director Bob Bozzuto said the Tigers already are scheduled to play Allderdice (2-7 in 2019) of the City League in Week Zero.
Bozzuto offered an explanation on why North Allegheny doesn’t want to play WPIAL teams in Week 1 and 2.
“We talked to the WPIAL and they said most people don’t want to play us anyway and it would help them scheduling if we didn’t have to have games (Week 1 and Week 2),” Bozzuto said. “I don’t want to play 5A schools in our area. I don’t think it’s beneficial to 6A teams. I said that last year. We took some aggravation when we played (5A) West Allegheny.”
Bozzuto went on to say “hopefully we can get two challenging games on our schedule.”
When asked if Pine-Richland and other WPIAL 5A schools would be challenging enough, Bozzuto said, “If they would’ve been in our conference, then we would’ve had to play them. I don’t want to play a 5A local team that’s not in our conference. That’s our right and our opinion. I thought there were other things the WPIAL could’ve done (with conference alignment), but there is no animosity. We just said we’re going to get our own opponents in Week 1 and Week 2.”
Gateway was the WPIAL Class 5A champion last year and has an extremely tough non-conference schedule. The Week 1 game against Thomas Jefferson should be highly anticipated. Thomas Jefferson is a perennial power, was 16-0 and won the PIAA Class 4A championship. Although Thomas Jefferson lost a number of starters to graduation, the Jaguars should still be strong.
After playing Thomas Jefferson, Gateway renews its rivalry with Penn Hills in Week 2. After that, Gateway plays Bethel Park and Pine-Richland.
“We’re excited to have that Penn Hills rivalry back and so is Penn Hills,” Holl said. “There’s a lot of great history in that game and it should’ve been played. Pine-Richland is probably going to be the prohibitive favorite in Class 5A heading into the season. We’ll know a lot about us early on.”
The first four weeks of Pine-Richland’s schedule has the Rams against Seneca Valley, Central Catholic, Upper St. Clair and Gateway.
The WPIAL football schedules for all schools in 2020 are now set, and a new policy by the league has made for some terrific non-conference matchups in the first few weeks of the season. How does Thomas Jefferson vs. Gateway sound in Week 1? Or Pine-Richland vs. Central Catholic, and Clairton vs. Washington in following weeks?
On Thursday morning, the WPIAL released those schedules. The league schedules games for all 119 teams for Weeks 1 through 9, conference and non-conference. Schools can choose an opponent of their own if they decide to play a Week Zero contest.
Unlike previous seasons, the WPIAL hand-picked the non-conference games and the league decided to make the matchups based on competitiveness and at times geography. In the past, the league said non-conference games were picked at random. That policy often created extremely lopsided games and teams were sometimes traveling far for a meaningless non-conference matchup.
Also, the WPIAL decided this year to put all non-conference games in the beginning of the season. In the past, non-conference games were scheduled throughout the season. Sometimes, teams were playing a non-conference game in the last two weeks of the season.
Under the new schedule, teams that have been strong in the past have been matched up with other formidable opponents in non-conference games. Some teams that have struggled have been matched against teams that might make for a more competitive game.
“I love this. I like change,” Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz said.
Gateway coach Don Holl added, “If you’re building and cultivating your program and living in a culture of competitiveness, you want these type of things. Nobody is wishing they are facing murderers’ row and I don’t think we’re invincible, but who wouldn’t want to compete against the best?”
Pine-Richland played in the past three WPIAL Class 6A championships, but the school’s enrollment placed the Rams in Class 5A for the next two seasons. Pine-Richland will still play two Class 6A schools (Seneca Valley and Central Catholic) to open the season. In the next two weeks, Pine-Richland will play Upper St. Clair and Gateway, two strong Class 5A teams.
“The matchups were made for competitiveness and also location, when possible,” WPIAL associate executive director Amy Scheuneman said. “Sometimes both fit. Sometimes they did not.”
But what is extremely odd in the WPIAL’s new schedule is that North Allegheny was given two “open” weeks in Week 1 and 2. No other team was given two open weeks to start the season.
North Allegheny and Pine-Richland have developed a strong football rivalry in recent years. Kasperowicz expressed a strong desire to continue to play North Allegheny and Central Catholic, even if it were non-conference games.
Scheuneman added, “We had a conversation with North Allegheny and they requested to get their own games in both Week 1 and 2. Seeing how they are our largest school and we always hear the comment that nobody wants to play them, we let them get their own games. Them offering to find their own games, allowed us to schedule Week 1 and Week 2 without anyone having an opening in their schedule.”
At a meeting of football coaches and athletic directors a few weeks ago, the WPIAL showed a tentative schedule for non-conference games. The schedule had Pine-Richland playing North Allegheny and Central Catholic. But when the official schedules came out, the North Allegheny vs. Pine-Richland game was off.
“Whatever the WPIAL gives us, we’re going to go with,” Kasperowicz said. “I love to keep some of the rivalries we had with 6A teams like Seneca Valley and Central Catholic, but I’m extremely disappointed we can’t continue one of our biggest rivalries with North Allegheny. I don’t know why. I know the original schedule had us playing, but that wasn’t the final schedule. Now we’re not playing.”
Kasperowicz said he would like to play North Allegheny in Week Zero. But North Allegheny athletic director Bob Bozzuto said the Tigers already are scheduled to play Allderdice (2-7 in 2019) of the City League in Week Zero.
Bozzuto offered an explanation on why North Allegheny doesn’t want to play WPIAL teams in Week 1 and 2.
“We talked to the WPIAL and they said most people don’t want to play us anyway and it would help them scheduling if we didn’t have to have games (Week 1 and Week 2),” Bozzuto said. “I don’t want to play 5A schools in our area. I don’t think it’s beneficial to 6A teams. I said that last year. We took some aggravation when we played (5A) West Allegheny.”
Bozzuto went on to say “hopefully we can get two challenging games on our schedule.”
When asked if Pine-Richland and other WPIAL 5A schools would be challenging enough, Bozzuto said, “If they would’ve been in our conference, then we would’ve had to play them. I don’t want to play a 5A local team that’s not in our conference. That’s our right and our opinion. I thought there were other things the WPIAL could’ve done (with conference alignment), but there is no animosity. We just said we’re going to get our own opponents in Week 1 and Week 2.”
Gateway was the WPIAL Class 5A champion last year and has an extremely tough non-conference schedule. The Week 1 game against Thomas Jefferson should be highly anticipated. Thomas Jefferson is a perennial power, was 16-0 and won the PIAA Class 4A championship. Although Thomas Jefferson lost a number of starters to graduation, the Jaguars should still be strong.
After playing Thomas Jefferson, Gateway renews its rivalry with Penn Hills in Week 2. After that, Gateway plays Bethel Park and Pine-Richland.
“We’re excited to have that Penn Hills rivalry back and so is Penn Hills,” Holl said. “There’s a lot of great history in that game and it should’ve been played. Pine-Richland is probably going to be the prohibitive favorite in Class 5A heading into the season. We’ll know a lot about us early on.”
The first four weeks of Pine-Richland’s schedule has the Rams against Seneca Valley, Central Catholic, Upper St. Clair and Gateway.
NA is 1-5 vs PR over the last six meetings and has been out scored 195-108. The are 2 and 6 over the last 8. Bob banned a PR qb from the NA facility and now just banned the PR program. Maybe Bob is just thinking he is being smart and honestly he most likely is in this case. If NA starts losing to 5A teams and specially Pine to often, parents will lose their mind. Admins and coaches will lose their jobs. The NA AD position is one of the better ones. As a football fan, i would prefer he just go back to rigging the WPIAL baseball seeding but I get why he doesnt want to schedule them.If you dont know what im talking about it is the worst kept secret. I talked to one of my NA buddies who is actually embarrased by his explanation as to why no Pine.
Can't imagine Coach K dodging SJP. We loved, as in looked forward to kicking McDevitt's ass and all the rich kids (West Shore) where ever possible. Ok rarely, but you got to take a swing.
They’re playing where their enrollment puts them, and also its clear no public school has a chance competing for a state title in 6A at the very least next year
Like Jacky said, they are playing where they should. If we are going to talk about WPIAL Public schools playing up, that conversation starts with TJ and maybe West A and Clairton, not P-R. LoL
Alot of the people I've spoken with believe this P-R team could be the second best team in the State - and still a mile behind SJP. Not 2017 dominant, but really good. 5 TO's against PCC is the only thing IMO that was between P-R and another rematch against a wounded SJP club this year.
Because P-R is the only PA Public school to beat SJP since their run started, I'm going to cut them some slack. I think they are the only PA school besides LaSalle in 2015. Maybe NP had a couple wins before SJP became dominant in 2013. Not sure.
Somebody else can beat their heads against the juggernaut and see if they can break through. Maybe some of the massive school (like NA) can have a turn.
P-R will be back in 6A soon enough, and the 2 OSU kids, the Clemson kid, the Miami/Syracuse kid, and the Temple kid will all be gone!
Can't win if you don't play them. I was responding to "Lil's" question on not moving up to 6A and "New" responding it's because of SJP. I didn't say they should move up.
Had a chance to talk to some football folks last night. Gave me a little scoop on P-R's week 0 process. They were talking to at least these before the deal with the NJ team was finalized.
1. Harrisburg
2. NA
3. Olentagy Liberty (OH)
4. Martinsburg, WV
5. Mentor, OH
6. Archbishop Wood
7. DeMatha
From what I was told, Mentor and ABW already had games, NA begged off and is now playing City League 2-7 team Alderdice, and the 1, 3, and 4 wouldn't confirm. I guess NJ had been in the works a few weeks and it just happened to come at exactly the right time so they pulled the trigger. I think its a great game and good experience for the kids. Don't know much about the team except they were good last year and have good coach.
Oh, also was told DeMatha was considered, but coach felt they would be way too far out of P-R's league. Sorta like playing IMG.
1. Harrisburg
2. NA
3. Olentagy Liberty (OH)
4. Martinsburg, WV
5. Mentor, OH
6. Archbishop Wood
7. DeMatha
From what I was told, Mentor and ABW already had games, NA begged off and is now playing City League 2-7 team Alderdice, and the 1, 3, and 4 wouldn't confirm. I guess NJ had been in the works a few weeks and it just happened to come at exactly the right time so they pulled the trigger. I think its a great game and good experience for the kids. Don't know much about the team except they were good last year and have good coach.
Oh, also was told DeMatha was considered, but coach felt they would be way too far out of P-R's league. Sorta like playing IMG.