Scholastic Notebook – 10/10/2014

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, October 10, 2014 | 12:48 PM

If Braydon Toy isn’t the smallest quarterback in the WPIAL, he ranks down there with the tiny guys.

But you will find big statistics in this little Toy.

Toy is only 5 feet 6 inches tall, but has been gigantic for the Kittanning Wildcats. He became the starter only last season and has started 16 games. But he went over 4,000 yards offense last week.

Toy now has 4,116 yards. This season, he has completed 64 of 106 passes for 1,198 yards and also rushed for 473 yards on 60 carries. He has helped Kittanning to a 4-2 record.

A year ago, Toy helped Kittanning to its first undefeated regular season since the 1970s. He finished 102 of 138 for 1,629 yards. He also rushed for 816 yards on 114 carries.

Toy’s accomplishments are impressive because many had doubts how successful he could be because of his size. What is interesting to think is what would Toy be if Frank Fabian hadn’t become Kittanning’s coach in 2012?

Before Fabian took over, Toy was a slotback. But when Fabian took over, he installed the spread offense and moved Toy, then a sophomore, to quarterback. He was the team’s No. 2 QB for a year before becoming the starter last season.

Years ago, Fabian went to West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez to study the spread offense when WVU had Pat White at quarterback.

Brumbaugh for State Record?

South Fayette quarterback Brett Brumbaugh set the WPIAL career passing yardage record last week. Now, the question is can he get the state record? It will all depend on how far South Fayette goes in the postseason.

Brumbaugh enters this week with 8,728 yards. The state record is 10,948, set a few years ago by Derek Bodamer of Port Allegany in District 9.

Brumbaugh is 2,220 yards away. That’s a lot of yards. If South Fayette makes it to the WPIAL championship, Brumbaugh would need to average 317 yards a game. But if South Fayette would make it to the PIAA final for the second year in a row, Brumbaugh would have to average 222 yards a game. Brumbaugh is currently averaging 230 yards a game and hasn’t thrown much in the second half of some blowouts.

The Running QBs

Apollo-Ridge’s Tre Tipton and Duane Brown continue to have a season that has to be unlike any other for two quarterbacks.

Sure, teams have used two quarterbacks before. But have two QBs in the WPIAL ever been this successful running the football?

Tipton, a senior and a Pitt receiver recruit, and Brown, a sophomore, are still both averaging over 100 yards rushing a game and both average at least a first down every time they run. Brown has rushed for 817 yards on 79 attempts (10.3 average). Tipton has rushed for 614 yards on 52 carries (11.8 average).

As passers, Tipton is 23 of 44 for 380 yards and Brown 20 of 41 for 290. They have helped Apollo-Ridge to a 5-1 record.

Is it Better to Receive?

Being one of the tops in the WPIAL in receptions isn’t necessarily a good thing, at least in terms of winning.

The WPIAL’s leading receiver is Serra Catholic’s Joe Satira with 42 catches. Serra hasn’t won a game. In fact, seven of the 15 leading receivers in the WPIAL are on losing teams whose combined record is 7-35.

Perry Going for 500

Longtime soccer coach Mark Perry is closing in on a monumental milestone.

Perry is Central Valley’s girls coach and he needs only one win to reach 500 for his career. Central Valley plays tomorrow (Saturday) at Hampton.

Perry has coached boys and girls teams for 30 seasons at Fox Chapel, Hampton, Center and now Central Valley. His record is 499-115-26. There aren’t a lot of soccer coaches in Pennsylvania history with 500 wins.

That 70s Show

The Mars girls soccer team is on an amazing run. The Planets have now won 73 section games in a row. Mars is 14-3 and finished play in Class AA Section 2 with a 12-0 record.

Perfect on the Pitch?

Soccer season has been close to perfect this season at South Park. Neither the boys team or the girls team has a loss this season. The girls team has two ties and is 15-0-2. The boys team is 17-0.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Central Valley, Kittanning