Scholastic Notebook – 11/28/2016

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, November 28, 2016 | 8:56 AM

If they made a TV show on this Steel Valley offense, they might call it the 700 Club.

Steel Valley is having an offensive season like few have in WPIAL history. Or even state history. Steel Valley beat Neshannock, 49-14, in the WPIAL Class 2A title game Saturday night and Steel Valley now has scored 708 points in 13 games (54.5 average).

Steel Valley becomes only the 12^th team in WPIAL history to score 700 points in a season and the 20^th in state history. But Steel Valley could climb near the top of the WPIAL list if the Ironmen go on to the PIAA championship game.

On Friday night, Steel Valley plays Wilmington in a PIAA semifinal. It’s easy to see Steel Valley moving into the top five scoring teams all time in WPIAL history. The most points ever scored by a WPIAL team is 958 by Clairton in 2014. That is also a state record. Next on the WPIAL list is 2007 Jeannette (860), 2013 Clairton (771), 2012 Aliquippa (760), 2010 Clairton (746), 2012 Clairton (740), 2013 South Fayette (719) and 2014 Pine-Richland (714).

If Steel Valley would go on to the state title game, the Ironmen would play 15 games and it’s very conceivable they could move into the top four or so. What’s interesting is all of those aforementioned WPIAL teams scored their points in 16 games, with the exception of the 2013 Clairton team, which played 15.

More Steel Valley Scoring

Steel Valley’s 49 points against Neshannock is the second-most ever scored in a 2A title game. The first 2A title game was in 1934. Since then, the only team to score more than 49 points in the championship was the 2007 Jeannette team with Terrelle Pryor. The Jayhawks beat Beaver Falls, 61-12, that year.

On top of all those statistics, Steel Valley also became the first team to win every game in the regular season and WPIAL playoffs by mercy rule. The mercy rule started in Pennsylvania high school football in 1998.

How to Beat Steel Valley?

No one has come close to Steel Valley this season. So how exactly do you do it?

“You have to control the football, keep it away from them, take chunks and be patient,” said Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio. “Of course, we had that plan, too, but it’s hard to do. They get up on you so quick, you get out of a game plan and try to strike back. But the thing snowballs on you.”

Bears and Titles

Clairton won the WPIAL Class 1A title with a 26-6 victory against Jeannette. The win gave Clairton its 13^th championship, the second-most in WPIAL history. Aliquippa is first with 16. Clairton has won nine of the past 11 1A titles.

Wade Close to 7,000

The more Clairton wins, the better chance Lamont Wade has at reaching 7,000 career rushing yards.

Wade rushed for 100 yards in the victory against Jeannette and now has 6,757 yards. Clairton will play Farrell in the PIAA semifinals Friday and Wade needs 243 yards to become the third runner in WPIAL history to run for 7,000 yards. The others are Hopewell’s Rushel Shell (9,078) and Fort Cherry’s Mike Vernillo (7,646). Armstrong’s Zane Dudek came close this season, finishing his career with 6,977.

Ligonier Uprising

It has been a historic season for a Western Pennsylvania team just outside the WPIAL.

Ligonier Valley has made it to the Class 3A semifinals. Yes, Ligonier Valley. Before this season, Ligonier had never been to the PIAA playoffs. Ligonier Valley had never won a District 6 title before this season. On Saturday, Ligonier Valley upended perennial eastern power Dunmore, 39-19.

Ligonier Valley features a West Virginia University recruit who is having an unforgettable senior season with more than 4,000 yards offense.

Collin Smith was recruited by WVU to play defensive back, but he has been virtually unstoppable as a quarterback. Smith has thrown for 3,127 yards and rushed for 956. Against Dunmore, Smith threw for 294 yards and ran for 74.

Coaching Milestones

A coach from a WPIAL school and another from a school close to the WPIAL hit coaching milestones in the PIAA playoffs this weekend.

West Allegheny’s Bob Palko won his 200^th career game when the Indians beat Meadville in a Class 5A game. Palko started in 1995.

Meanwhile, Wilmington’s Terry Verrelli won his 300^th game when the Greyhounds defeated Kane in the 2A quarterfinals. Verrelli is in his 39^th season. Wilmington used to be in the WPIAL before moving to District 10.

Tags: Clairton, West Allegheny, Wilmington