Oct 31 2009
By Mike White | Saturday, Oct. 31, 2:10 p.m.
It's not unusual for a football player to come back and watch his alma mater play. So it was no surprise to see former Gateway star Cam Saddler on the sideline for last night's showdown between the Gators and McKeesport.
But Saddler brought a friend with him - Pitt running back Dion Lewis.
Cam Saddler, left, with Pitt teammate Dion Lewis. Photo courtesy of Post-Gazette photographer Matt Freed.
Saddler and Lewis watched the game from the sideline. What stuck out to me was Lewis' size. I knew he wasn't big, but Lewis and Saddler are about the same size in height, although Lewis is thicker. When I mentioned to the two that they were the same size, Saddler laughed and said, "See, I tell you all the time that I'm bigger than you."
Saddler is one of the most colorful speakers I've ever dealt with in 30 years of covering high school football.
At Lewis' size, it is somewhat amazing what he is accomplishing. But it's another example of how, it seems more and more these days, there is room for small people like Lewis - and Saddler - in major-college football.
Shell gets 2,000
Hopewell sophomore running back Rushel Shell went over 2,000 yards rushing for the season. He is only the third WPIAL running back in 30 years to rush for 2,000 yards in the regular season.
McKeesport will drop
I heard some people this week say if McKeesport lost to Gateway, McKeesport still might get the No. 2 or 3 seed for the WPIAL playoffs. No way now. McKeesport was handled by Gateway. I'm not saying McKeesport isn't good, but the Tigers didn't show much against Gateway.
Even if McKeesport gave Gateway a better game, I still think McKeesport would've gotten a No. 4 or 5 seed. But now I'm certain. Gateway will get No. 1, Woodland Hills No. 2 and Bethel Park No. 3. North Allegheny and McKeesport will get the 4-5 seeds, and it doesn't really matter much what order they are in because 16-team brackets are designed to have 4-5 play each other in the second round.
More Gateway stuff
* It says here that Gateway junior linebacker-tight end-receiver Armstead Williams will be pretty heavily recruited next year. He's that good.
* This is the first time in school history that Gateway had back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. The Gators' other undefeated regular seasons were 1965, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1980 and 1986.
Where Kalkstein stands
Someone sent me a comment, wondering what quarterbacks are in front of Rob Kalkstein on the WPIAL's all-time passing list. Kalkstein is now fifth with 5,800 yards. Pine-Richland's Jake Long is fourth with 5,830. The only three quarterbacks in WPIAL history who have thrown for 6,000 career yards are Sto-Rox's Adam DiMIchele (6,741), South Fayette's Andrew DiDonato (6,573) and Steel Valley's Luke Getsy (6,010). If Gateway would make it to the PIAA championship game, Kalkstein would seemingly have a shot at the record. That would give him six more games to get 941 yards. He could do that.
I think Gateway has an excellent shot to make it to the WPIAL final. This team is beginning to look maybe as good as last year's team that lost in the WPIAL final.
Should they be in?
I keep going back and forth about the number of teams that make the WPIAL playoffs. On one hand, taking four teams from each conference does create some more interest for a number of schools. On the other hand, there are some bad teams that make the playoffs.
The funny thing is it's the biggest classification that has the worst teams in the playoffs. Baldwin made it with a 2-7 record. Sorry, but no 2-7 teams should be in the playoffs. Plum and Penn-Trafford also made it with 3-6 records. All three of those teams are in Class AAAA.
But then you have a team like Springdale. The Dynamos are 7-2, but would not make the playoffs if the WPIAL didn't take four teams from each conference. But Springdale qualified as the No. 4 team in Class A.
All this being said, I think the WPIAL better start looking at some alternative playoff plans at some point in the near future. Because I truly believe that within five years, the PIAA will either shorten the season by a week, or there will be six classifications. That will put a kink in the WPIAL's postseason plans.
Photo of the year?
Take a look at the photo below from PG photographer Matt Freed. I think it's one of the best of the season. It is McKeesport's Julian Brown taking down Gateway's Dayonne Nunley - by the locks.
I was on the sideline when this happened. I wondered if a penalty would be called. It wasn't. Remember years ago when an opponent pulled Troy Polamalu by the hair. That's what this play reminded me of.
Oct 30 2009
By Mike White | Friday, Oct. 30, 4:50 p.m.
I've been doing a live blog at whatever game I cover on Friday nights. Judging by the number of hits, it seems to be going over well. I will be at the showdown tonight between Gateway and McKeesport, but there will be no live blog because McKeesport isn't allowing reporters in the press box.
McKeesport's press box isn't very big to begin with and school officials feel they can't fit all of the media members in there. Coaches from both teams will be in the press box, as well as clock operators, those filming for both teams, and statisitcians from both schools. Plus, Comcast is televising the game to be shown tomorrow night, and two seats will be taken up by TV announcers.
So, it's kind of hard to type and do a live blog when you don't have anywhere to type or put your computer. McKeesport has set up a tent in an end zone with tables. So I will roam the sidelines and hopefully give you a halftime update and a final score.
Oct 29 2009
By Mike White | Thursday, Oct. 29, 10:45 p.m.
The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana is ranked among the top quarterbacks in the country this season. Nick Montana is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior at Oaks Christian School in California who has already committed to Washington.
He was selected to the Under Armour All-American Game in St. Petersburg, Fla., Jan. 2. Below is a photo of Nick, his father and mother, Jennifer. Does the son resemble Dad at all, when Joe used to rule the fields at Ringgold High School?
Oct 29 2009
By Mike White | Thursday, Oct. 29, 9:45 a.m.
Thomas Jefferson's success in the WPIAL over the past decade has been well-chronicled. But the Jaguars are getting close to becoming the winningest team in the entire state since 2000.
At the start of the season, Don Holl of Pennsylvania Football News published a list of the winningest teams in the state since 2000. Southern Columbia was ahead of Thomas Jefferson by five at the time. But Southern Columbia is only .500 this season (4-4 record). So Thomas Jefferson is gaining ground.
Here is an updated list of the dozen teams in Pennsylvania that have won the most games since 2000 (WPIAL teams in bold).
Southern Columbia 120-18
Thomas Jefferson 119-14
Manheim Central 110-19
Rochester 108-22
Selinsgrove 106-21
North Penn 105-22
Aliquippa 104-17
Central Catholic 104-19
St. Joseph's Prep 101-20
Strath Haven 100-22
Lakeland 99-23
Jeannette 98-19
Looking back at high school days of NBA stars
The latest edition of Mitch Stephens' "Starting Point" series is now on Maxpreps.com. Here is his story. This time, Stephens took Sports Illustrated's preseason all-NBA teams and looked back at their high school careers.
Did you know that LeBron James was a very good receiver in football at St. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron before giving up the sport after his junior season?. He had over 700 yards receiving as a junior. James, pictured at left during one of his high school games at Mellon Arena against New Castle.
And did you know that Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz was a state wrestling champ in middle school?
And did you know that Tim Duncan was a successful swimmer in his younger years?
And did you know that Dwayne Wade did not play much on the high school varsity team as a sophomore, but grew four inches in the next year?
Oct 28 2009
By Mike White | Wednesday, Oct. 28, 12:15 p.m.
Items that I had tucked away in my notebook.
Pitt is off to one of its best starts in a while, and have you noticed how the team has a big WPIAL flavor to it.
Saturday against South Florida, pretty much half of the starters were from WPIAL schools. Is this unusual? I think so. I don't remember this many starters from the WPIAL in a while.
In order to check, I went back and looked at the starting lineup for a game in 2005. Only six of the starters were from WPIAL schools. On offense, it was lineman C.J. Davis (West Allegheny), tight end Erik Gill (Belle Vernon) and quarterback Tyler Palko (West Allegheny). On defense it was defensive back Darrelle Revis (Aliquippa), defensive back Josh Lay (Aliquippa) and defensive end Chris McKillop (Kiski Area).
Now look at Saturday's game. Mike Shanahan (Norwin) got his first start at receiver. And although Pitt lists Dorin Dickerson (West Allegheny) second on the depth chart at tight end, he is really a starter. Other starters on offense from the WPIAL were receiver Jonathan Baldwin (Aliquippa), offensive linemen Jason Pinkston (Baldwin), John Malecki (Franklin Regional) and Lucas Nix (Thomas Jefferson), and quarterback Bill Stull (Seton-LaSalle).
Bill Stull during his Seton-LaSalle days
Jonathan Baldwin during his Aliquippa days
Defensive starters from the WPIAL were lineman Mick Williams (Monessen), defensive backs Dom DeCicco (Thomas Jefferson) and Elijah Fields (Duquesne) and lnebacker Adam Gunn (Kiski Area).
All told, that's basically 11 starters from the WPIAL. Pitt can't live solely off WPIAL players. There aren't enough good ones. But apparently, if you get the right ones, they can make a difference.
Bey gets offer
Gateway running back-defensive back Orne Bey and receiver-defensive back Dayonne Nunley got their first Division I scholarship offers Tuesday from Miami, Ohio, of the Mid-American Conference.
Bey has carried the ball fewer than 50 times in eight games, but is averaging 13 yards a carry.
Speaking of Gateway prospects, Coach Terry Smith thinks he has a few juniors who could be recruited pretty heavily by Division I schools. The one I really like is linebacker-tight end Armstead Williams, who is 6 feet 3, 220 pounds. Very athletic and has a long, lean body.
Kyle Wilson scholarship fundraiser
Kyle Wilson was a Central Catholic High School football player who died last year. His family has set up a scholarship fund in Kyle's memory. The fund is for students in high school and college. The first fundraiser for the fund is tonight at Heinz Field.
Oct 27 2009
By Mike White | Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10:30 a.m.
Here are state rankings in the Post-Gazette and Harrisburg Patriot-News.
Below that is the latest National Prep Poll. Still no Pennsylvania team in the top 25 nationally, but Gateway and McKeesport are ranked in the Northeast.
POST-GAZETTE HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS
PIAA CLASS AAAA
- North Penn 1. Bishop McDevitt
- Bishop McDevitt 2. North Penn
- Gateway 3. Gateway
- St. Joseph’s Prep 4. St. Joseph's Prep
- McKeesport 5. McKeesport
PIAA CLASS AAA
- Thomas Jefferson 1. Thomas Jefferson
- Selinsgrove 2. Selinsgrove
- Manheim Central 3. Wilson Area
- Wilson Area 4. Manheim Central
- Hopewell 5. Hopewell
PIAA CLASS AA
- Dunmore 1. Dunmore
- Lancaster Catholic 2. Center
- South Fayette 3. Beaver Falls
- General McLane 4. Aliquippa
- West Catholic 5. West Catholic
PIAA CLASS A
- Rochester 1. Rochester
- Farrell 2. Farrell
- Bishop McCort 3. Bishop McCort
- Laurel 4. Laurel
- Clairton 5. Clairton
NATIONAL PREP POLL RELEASED
National Prep Football Poll
By Jamie DeMoney
The National Prep Football Poll is compiled by high school sports journalist Jamie DeMoney with input from sportswriters, experts, and coaches. The national Top 25 and regional Top 10's follow with won-loss-tie records:
#1. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Aquinas (7-0-0), extended win streak to 31
#2. Duncan, S.C., Byrnes (8-1-0), beat then-unbeaten Dorman, 17-10
#3. Cedar Hill, Texas (8-0-0), 181 points in last three games
#4. Westlake Village, Calif., Oaks Christian (7-0-0), 28 straight wins
#5. Cleveland, St. Ignatius (9-0-0), beat regionally ranked St. Xavier, 30-21
#6. Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco (6-0-0), topped regionally ranked Bergen Catholic, 28-20
#7. Lakeland, Fla. (7-0-0), led by Florida St.-bound QB Jarred Haggins
#8. Dallas, Skyline (8-0-0), averaging 47 points per game
#9. Loganville, Ga., Grayson (9-0-0), five shutouts this season
#10. Peoria, Ariz., Centennial (9-0-0), three-time defending state champ
#11. Huntington Beach, Calif., Edison (7-0-0), pounded area-ranked Newport Harbor, 34-6
#12. Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha (8-0-0), 18 Washington Catholic titles
#13. Chesapeake, Va., Smith (8-0-0), features Penn St.-bound DT Evan Hailes
#14. Warner Robins, Ga., Northside (8-0-0), has won 62 of last 65
#15. Cincinnati, Moeller (9-0-0), whipped Cleveland-area power St. Edward, 40-10
#16. Miami, Washington (8-0-0), clinched seventh straight district crown
#17. Jenks, Okla. (8-0-0), outgunned state-ranked Bartlesville, 63-40
#18. River Ridge, La., John Curtis (7-0-0), edged state-ranked St. Charles, 19-18
#19. Denver, Mullen (8-0-0), allowing only 5 points per game
#20. Charlotte, N.C., Independence (9-0-0), seeks eighth unbeaten regular season in nine years
#21. Hampton, Va., Phoebus (8-0-0), blanked rival Hampton, 17-0
#22. Park Ridge, Ill., Maine South (9-0-0), second straight undefeated regular season
#23. Fort Thomas, Ky., Highlands (9-0-0), 35 consecutive in-state wins
#24. Sammamish, Wash., Skyline (7-1-0), next plays state-No. 2 Bothell
#25. Anaheim, Calif., Servite (7-1-0), only loss to No. 11 Edison
NORTHEAST RANKINGS
#1. Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco, 6-0-0
#2. Lansdale, Pa., North Penn, 8-0-0
#3. Harrisburg, Pa., McDevitt, 8-0-0
#4. Monroeville, Pa., Gateway, 8-0-0
#5. Philadelphia, St. Joseph’s, 6-1-0
#6. McKeesport, Pa., 7-1-0
#7. Jersey City, N.J., St. Peter’s, 5-1-0
#8. Oradell, N.J., Bergen Catholic, 5-2-0
#9. Central Valley, N.Y., Monroe-Woodbury, 8-0-0
#10. Westwood, Mass., Xaverian, 7-0-0
Oct 26 2009
By Mike White | Monday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.
During an interview with Hopewell sophomore running back Rushel Shell the other day, I posed a hypothetical question to him just for fun. I asked him what if the NCAA passed a rule saying you had to sign with a college team immediately, even as a sophomore. And if you could sign with any team in the country, who would you sign with?
Shell said Florida.
Now this does not mean Shell is headed to Florida. It does not even mean the Gators have offered him a scholarship. They haven't. Please don't jump to conclusions. But it does show a little of what school Shell likes. He said he has always liked Florida.
Shell will undoubtedly have numerous scholarship offers within the next few years. He got one from Pitt as a freshman. When I asked him if any other school had offered, he said he simply gets a lot of letters.
Shell, by the way, attended the Pitt game Saturday against South Florida.
To see the entire interview with Shell, you have to go to our PG + site here. and sign up. Note that it is a premium site.
Erie McDowell and the WPIAL
Erie McDowell has played a WPIAL conference schedule the past four seasons, even though McDowell is a District 10 and can't compete in the WPIAL playoffs. For two years, McDowell played in the Northern Six and the past two seasons in the Foothills. McDowell had said it wanted to join the WPIAL next season and also be part of the WPIAL playoffs. But that now appears to be in question.
Here is an interesting article from John Dudley of the Erie Times-News about McDowell's future and also the future of Class AAAA in District 10.
51 already clinched
Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, 51 teams have already clinched WPIAL playoff spots. That leaves 13 spots open.
Check tomorrow's Post-Gazette and we'll have a conference-by-conference breakdown of playoff scenarios.
Oct 24 2009
By Mike White | Saturday, Oct. 24, 1:15 a.m.
News, notes and anecdotes from the eighth night of the high school football season
Sto-Rox quarterback Paul Jones limped off the field early in the fourth quarter of last night's game against Keystone Oaks. He might have tweaked the same ankle that was broken this summer. But the injury didn't look serious.
"I'm not really sure what it is," said Sto-Rox coach Jason Ruscitto. "We're going to have check it out. It's probably just scar tissue, and it's probably something he's going to have to deal with over the next six months. But that's just speculation. We'll see."
Paul Jones scrambles last night against Keystone Oaks. Photo courtesy of the Post-Gazette's Matt Freed.
Keystone Oaks won the game, 27-20, and it was one of the craziest games I've seen in a while. I should've known it was going to be a crazy one, just by what happened on the opening kickoff. The game was being televised live by Comcast and PCN. At the start of the game, a girl with a bright orange vest stood in the middle of the field. She lets the officials know when the game can start because TV is ready. Well, she never told the officials they could start the game, but it didn't stop Keystone Oaks from kicking off with her right in the middle of the field.
The whistles blew before the teams started hitting each other. It was a do over. Keystone Oaks had to kick off again - with the "TV girl" finally off the field.
But here are some of the other crazy happenings in the game, and surrounding the game.
* Sto-Rox's Drew Carswell actually missed the ball with his foot while trying to punt.
* Four different Sto-Rox players completed passes.
* Sto-Rox made a nice fourth-quarter comeback with its quarterback leading the way - but it wasn't Paul Jones. Jordan Latimer relieved the injured Jones and threw two TD passes.
* Keystone Oaks had only four first downs after three quarters, and led by 20-8.
* A Keystone Oaks spokesman came into the press box about 10 minutes before the game and said Jordan Maddox wasn't playing because of an injured hamstring. Five minutes later, he came back and said Maddox was playing. Maddox did play, by the way.
* The wife of Jason Ruscitto gave birth to the couple's second boy Thursday.
* The 1-year-old son of Keystone Oaks coach Nick Kamberis was taken to the hospital during the day with a little difficulty breathing.
OK, enough. It was a great game that came down to the final few seconds.
Carswell impressive
Pitt looks like it might be getting a good one in Drew Carswell. I've seen him twice and he's impressive as a receiver and also linebacker. He's about 6-5 or 6-6 and does some impressive things, both on offense and defense. He caught nine passes for Sto-Rox. He made a great, diving catch of a pass for a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
Keystone Oaks coach Nick Kamberis went as far as saying Carswell will probably play in the NFL someday.
"You're talking about a kid who is going to be playing on Sundays someday," Kamberis said. "I think he' s pretty good. You're not going to find a better player."
But pegging him for the NFL now is pretty strong, isn't it?
"I haven't been around many guys who have played in the NFL, but he's pretty darn good and pretty scary," Kamberis said.
Carswell made a verbal commitment to Pitt this summer.
Surprisingly close
Thomas Jefferson defeated Belle Vernon by only 26-20. The closeness of the game was a little surprsing. Now don't take this next comment the wrong way because Thomas Jefferson is still capable of winning WPIAL and state championships. But the Jaguars are not as good as they were the past few seasons.
Avonworth good again
I really thought Avonworth might have been a flash in the pan a year ago when the Antelopes made it to the WPIAL semifinals. I thought it might have been one of those years that a team builds for, and then becomes mediocre again. Wrong. Coach Jason Kekseo has guided Avonworth to a 7-1 record. Nice job, Jason Kekseo.
Check this out
* Jeannette lost to Mount Pleasant, which means Jeannette has to beat Greensburg Central Catholic, or the Jayhawks' string of 15 consecutive playoff appearances will be broken.
* Life in Class AAAA hasn't been anywhere near as good for Pine-Richland as it was in AAA. The Rams moved up in class last year, qualified for the playoffs as the fourth-place team in the Northern Six Conference, but was promptly knocked out of the playoffs. This year, Pine-Richland will not even make the playoffs.
* Nice job by first-year Seneca Valley coach Don Holl, getting Seneca Valley to the playoffs. Seneca Valley has clinched third place in the Northern Six.
* Just a reminder that the top four teams in each conference make the playoffs. Teams that finish first and second play home games in the first round of the playoffs.
Explaining Erie McDowell situation
We need to clear up Erie McDowell's situation in the Foothills Conference. Erie McDowell is a District 10 team and will not participate in the WPIAL playofs. We at the Post-Gazette were under the impression that Erie McDowell's games would count in the standings, but the team wasn't eligible for the playoffs. But according to WPIAL Executive Secretary, the games do not count at all. They need to be treated as simply non-conference games.
Oct 23 2009
By Mike White | Friday, Oct. 23
Live blog from Sto-Rox at Keystone Oaks game at Dormont Stadium. .... also reports from other games.
FINAL SCORE KEYSTONE OAKS 27, STO-ROX 20
10:03 p.m. - Sto-Rox can't score, turning the ball over on downs. Final pass to Drew Carswell on fourth down incompleted. KO wins
10:01 - Long pass by Latimer puts Sto-Rox at the 9. Unbeliveable game. One of the best I've seen in a while.
9:47 p.m. - Three plays after Sto-Rox tied the game, Matt McCann ran 49 yards for a touchodwn. PAT makes it 27-20, KO with 1:45 left. McCann now has 270 yards rushing on 25 carries.
9:44 p.m. - Shaler leading North Hills, 20-17, with eight minutes left..... Blackhawk leading Moon, 14-12.
9:38 p.m. - Crazy. Paul Jones is out of the game, but sophomore QB Jordan Latimer hit Josh Beverly with a short pass that was turned into a 31-yard touchdown play. Pitt recruit Drew Carswell made the diving catch of the two-point pass out of the muddle huddle and it's now 20-20 with 2:50 left.
9:32 p.m. - Sto-Rox QB Paul Jones was sacked a few minutes ago, slightly limped off the field and has not returned. Jordan Latimer is now playing QB and has Sto-Rox driving with three minutes left.
9:20 p.m. - At the half, Moon and Blackhawk are scoreless. Can Moon end its long losing streak?
9:08 p.m. - Sto-Rox QB Paul Jones was sacked and limped slightly off the field with 10:42 left in the game. But he appears to be OK. After James left, sophomore Jordan Latimer came in, threw a pass and Dejuan Reddix caught it for a 34-yard TD pass. Two-point pass failed and it's now 20-12 with 10:19 left in the game. Latimer played the first two games of the season when Jones was out with a broken ankle.
9:03 - End of the third quarter and KO still leads, 20-6. Sto-Rox drove inside the 20-yard line, but KO dug deep and Sto-Rox turned over the ball on downs again. Second time inside the 20 the Vikings turned over the ball on downs.
8:57 p.m. - Upset in the making. Center leads Beaver Falls, 14-0, at halftime. Beaver Falls is undefeated.
8:52 p.m. - Upper St. Clair leads Peters Township, 17-7, at the half.
8:41 p.m. - Shaler leads North Hills, 20-10, at halftime.
8:39 p.m. - From Matt Farago, Pine-Richland leads Seneca Valley, 17-0, at the half.
8:37 p.m. - Less than a minute into second half and Keystone Oaks is in the end zone. Matt McCann gains 53 yards on first play of half. Then runs 2 yards for the TD and the PAT makes it 20-6 with 11:12 left in the third.
8:33 p.m. - Second half ready to start here.
8:20 p.m. - You have to love Sto-Rox's band. It includes five football players. I don't know if they play much in the game, but they move around a lot at halftime, especially the drummers. But Jason Rippole actually plays an instrument. I think it's the saxophone. Not real good on my instrument identification.
And here are a few of those players. Photo from fan Joe Boonda.
8:17 p.m. - More from North Hills basketball coach Buzz Gabos. Shaler has come back and leads North Hills, 13-10, with 8:23 left in the half.
8:10 p.m. - Update: North Hills leads Shaler, 10-6, end of one.
From MSA Sports, Bethel Park beating Canon-McMillan, 14-3; Pine-Richland leading Seneca Valley, 7-0. Gateway over Connellsville, 33-0; Charleroi leading Washington, 7-6.
Montour is beating Hopewell, 14-10. Shouldn't be that surprised. Montour is good enough to beat Hopewell.
Hampton and Franklin Regional are tied, 7-7.
8:09 p.m. Halftime and Keystone Oaks leads Sto-Rox, 13-6. Sto-Rox drove to the KO 8-yard line late in the half, but turned the ball over on downs. On fourth down, Paul Jones threw an incomplete pass.
Jones, the Penn State recruit, is 8 of 16 in the first half for 80 yards. It's been rare when he's been able to sit in the pocket and throw. KO has gotten good pressure on him - and Jones has been off target with a few of his throws.
8:04 p.m. - From Dukie Holzer, Upper St. Clair leads Peters Township, 7-0. Remember how excited Peters was after that 4-0 start? The Indians won't even make the playoffs.
8:01 p.m. - Report from Buzz "The Great" Gabos. North Hills leads Shaler, 10-0, in a big Northern Six Conference game. Late in the first quarter.
Photo below from colleague Mike "Reggie" Sanserino, who is covering the North Hills-Shaler game. As you can see, rain has hurt crowd there also.
7:39 p.m. - End of the first quarter and Keystone Oaks leads, 13-6.
7:36 p.m. - Keystone Oaks' Matt McCann just went on a 69-yard drive that set up Jordan Maddox's 4-yard TD run. The PAT failed and Keystone Oaks leads Sto-Rox, 13-6. McCann went over 1,000 yards on the long run.
7:30 p.m. - Sto-Rox standout QB Paul Jones was on the bench for a handful of plays the last drive. The reason? The Wildcat offense. The Vikings are using it some and Drew Carswell, a receiver and a Pitt recruit, ran it well, gaining 28 yards on three carries in the drive. Dontae Gilmore scores the TD on a 2-yard run. A run for the two-point conversion failed and it's 7-6 KO with 2:26 left in the first quarter.
7:13 p.m. - Sto-Rox QB Paul Jones is 0 for 4 so far. Another thing I don't ever remember seeing. Sto-Rox punter Drew Carswell went to punt the ball, and actually missed it. At least that's what it looked like - and a TV replay showed the same thing. Keystone Oaks recovered at the 18 and Matt McCann scored a TD two plays later. PAT 7-0 with 6:53 left in the first quarter.
7:02 p.m. Never mind that person in orange in the middle of the field!!!!!
I have never seen this before. There was a person on the 50-yard line in a bright orange vest. The TV person. They tell the officials when TV is ready and the game can start. This game is being televised live by Comcast and PCN. Well, the officials let Keystone Oaks kick off with that person on the field. But the play was whistled dead after the kick when the officials realized the TV person was still on the field. So Keystone Oaks kicked off again. Too funny.
6:56 p.m. - A change. We've just been informed in the press box that Jordan Maddox will play. A Keystone Oaks spokesman said "he talked his way into the lineup. He's going to play."
6:46 p.m. - Just received word that Keystone Oaks running back Jordan Maddox will not play because of a hamstring injury. That's a blow for Keystone Oaks because he had rushed for 897 yards on 90 carries.
6:45 p.m. - I know it has rained and the forecast is for more rain, but there are only 16 people on the Sto-Rox side. The Keystone Oaks side might have only 100 people. I was at a Sto-Rox Thursday night game earlier this year and the crowd was bad there, too. What's up?
Sto-Rox coach Jason Ruscitto is a Daddy again. His second son was born yesterday. His name? "Well, Luke for short," Ruscitto said during warmups. "But the full name is Luciano."
Ahhh, must be Irish.
Who'll stop the rain?
For the fourth Friday in a row, it's raining. I don't ever remember a regular season with so many rainy Fridays.
Did you know Jones has 5,000?
It didn't get much attention, but Sto-Rox quarterback Paul Jones went over 5,000 career yards passing last week. He is only the 14th quarterback in WPIAL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards and the second one this year. Gateway's Rob Kalkstein did it a few weeks ago.
Paul Jones stretches before the game.
Reaching 5,000 is impressive for Jones because he basically did in three seasons, besides a little bit of action as a sophomore. He is now 319 of 540 for 5,074 yards and 55 touchdowns.
Leak in the press box
Not to complain, but I'm just wondering how safe this press box is here? There is a leak in the roof and is dripping into the press box. But here's the thing: the leak is coming in through fluorescent lights that are in the ceiling. Maybe they want to do something before someone gets lit up - literally. I'm just sayin'.
Oct 23 2009
By Mike White | Friday, Oct. 23, 1 a.m.
I have no statistical data to prove this. It's one of those things I keep track of in the back of my mind. But I have to come to this conclusion:
This is one of the worst seasons for Friday night weather in a long time.
Raindrops keep falling on Friday nights, like they did in this Central Catholic-Woodland Hills game a few weeks ago.
Checked the weather forecast for tonight and it's the same old story. Rain. This will be the fourth Friday in a row with rainy weather. And not just a shower here or there. It has rained a lot on these Fridays. I'm telling ya in the past decade, we've had good weather on most Friday nights - at least in the regular season. Sure, come November and playoff time it can turn cold and weather can be bad. But rain on four Friday nights in a row?
It's hurting attendance, too. I've been at some big games that would normally be packed. But the poor weather keeps some people away. But with all the turf fields in Western Pennsylvania, you don't see as many mud games any more, although it used to be kind of fun to see two teams rolling around in muck.
Sto-Rox vs. KO on TV
Sto-Rox vs. Keystone Oaks is one of the top games in the WPIAL this week, and can be seen live on PCN television tonight.
The contest is Comcast's game of the week. Those games are usually on tape Saturday nights and then in the "On Demand" section. But PCN decided to pick up the game as its game of the week on live television. PCN shows a game every Friday from around the state.
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