Scholastic Notebook – 11/08/2013

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, November 8, 2013 | 2:51 PM

There are 10,000 reasons to like Lenny Williams at quarterback. Williams is a senior at Sto-Rox and it has been well-documented that he is the all-time leading passer in WPIAL history in yards and touchdowns. But what has been lost in the passing numbers and records is the fact that Williams now has over 10,000 yards offense.

No other WPIAL player is known to have 10,000 yards offense in a career.

Williams has 7,799 yards passing and his rushing yardage puts him over 10,000. Williams passed for more than 2,000 and ran for more than 1,000 last year. So far this season, he has thrown for 2,050 yards and rushed for 347.

As for throwing, Williams has a chance to reach 8,000 yards passing. Only six QBs in state history have thrown for 8,000 career yards. They are Matt Bodamer of Port Allegany, Derek Buganza of Brockway, Brendan Nosovitch of Allentown Central Catholic, Kyle Smith of Lancaster Catholic, Pat Devlin of Downingtown East and Tyler Smith of Wilson.

Incidentally, to show how much passing has increased in recent years, five of those six quarterbacks who passed for 8,000 yards graduated in the past five years. The only one who didn’t was Devlin, who graduated in 2006.

Brumbaugh Chasing

Depending on what happens the rest of the season, you have to wonder if Williams’ WPIAL career passing record will last more than one season?

One could see South Fayette’s Brett Brumbaugh possibly breaking the record next season. Brumbaugh currently has 5,495 career yards while Williams has 7,799. Considering that Brumbaugh has thrown for 2,066 yards already this season and 2,823 last year, he seemingly would have a chance at Williams’ record next season.

One other thing about Brumbaugh. He needs only 5 yards passing to become the 16^th in WPIAL history to throw for 5,500 career yards. In fact, Brumbaugh needs to throw for only 173 yards tonight against Seton-LaSalle to jump seven players and move into ninth place all time. Paul Jones is ninth with 5,667 yards.

Besides Jones, Brumbaugh would jump North Hills’ Eric Kasperowicz, West Allegheny’s Tyler Palko, South Fayette’s Niel Loebig, North Allegheny’s Mack Leftwich, Seton-LaSalle’s Bill Stull and Penn-Trafford’s Tyler Huether.

Little Indians Make Noise

The Indiana football team isn’t confused with some of the WPIAL powers and the school doesn’t get much publicity in the Pittsburgh area. But shouldn’t the Little Indians get some credit for what they have done in the past five years or so?

No, there have not been WPIAL championships and the Little Indians might get pummeled Friday night by West Allegheny in the Quarterfinals. But hey, this is the third time in six years that Indiana has made the quarterfinals.

Indiana went 7-3 last year and made the playoffs. It was 8-3 in both 2011 and 2008 and made the quarterfinals.

We Meet Again

The Upper St. Clair boys and the Peters Township girls soccer teams lost in WPIAL championships last weekend. They didn’t have to wait long for a chance at revenge. Only seven days, to be exact.

In the PIAA soccer Quarterfinals on Saturday, Upper St. Clair plays Peters Township. Last Saturday, Peters Township defeated Upper St. Clair, 1-0, in the title game. It is actually the fourth time these two teams will play this season. Upper St. Clair won the two regular-season meetings, 4-3 and 6-1.

Meanwhile, in the PIAA girls Quarterfinals, Peters Township will play Seneca Valley. Peters Township lost to Seneca Valley in last week’s WPIAL title game.

Four for Four?

The Peters Township girls are trying to take the path to PIAA history.

Peters Township has won three PIAA titles in a row. No team has ever won four – at least in fall soccer. The PIAA used to also sponsor spring soccer and teams from Eastern Pennsylvania participated. Central Bucks West won four spring championships from 1993-96.

Besides Peters Township, only two teams have won three consecutive PIAA titles in fall soccer. West Chester Henderson did it from 1997-99 and Villa Joseph Marie from 2000-02.

State Volleyball

The PIAA girls volleyball Quarterfinals also are on Saturday. No WPIAL team is left in Class A. Three WPIAL teams are left in Class AAA and two in AA.

Tags: Indiana, Upper St. Clair