Scholastic Notebook – 12/05/2016

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, December 5, 2016 | 6:29 PM

Clairton’s Lamont Wade and Steel Valley’s DeWayne Murray have run their way into the WPIAL record book. They are two of only seven runners in WPIAL history to rush for 6,000 yards in a career.

While the yards are impressive, maybe the thing that is most impressive about the two is how many yards they gain every time they touch the ball. The yards-per-carry average of both Wade and Murray is among the best in WPIAL history.

Wade is now the third-leading rusher in WPIAL history with 7,005 yards while Murray is sixth with 6,418 yards. But what’s incredible is that both are averaging 11 yards a carry for their career. Wade has carried 604 times for an 11.6-yard average, while Murray has carried 576 times for an average of 11.1.

Wade and Murray are two of only 18 runners in WPIAL history who have gained 5,000 yards for a career. On that list, they are two of only four runners who averaged better than 10 yards a carry for a career. Clairton’s Tyler Boyd is No. 1 with an 11.7 average, just a smidge higher than Wade. Beth-Center’s Tony Welsh averaged 10.4.

Wade and Murray will try to keep their average up this weekend when they try for state championships in Hershey. Wade and Clairton will play Bishop Guilfoyle at 1 p.m. Friday. Murray and Steel Valley will play Southern Columbia Saturday at 11.

Here are the WPIAL runners who gained more than 6,000 yards in their careers:

Rushel Shell, Hopewell – 1,107 attempts for 9,078 yards

Mike Vernillo, Fort Cherry – 927 attempts for 7,646 yards

Lamont Wade, Clairton – 604 attempts for 7,005 yards

Zane Dudek, Kittanning-Armstrong – 713 attempts for 6,977 yards

Matt Gavrish, Penn-Trafford – 962 attempts for 6,512 yards

Dewayne Murray, Steel Valley – 576 attempts for 6,418 yards

Rodney Wilson, West Greene – 825 attempts for 6,304 yards

States for Newcomers

Four WPIAL teams have made it to the PIAA football championships. Two are no strangers to title games while two have never been in Hershey at this time of year.

The four WPIAL finalists that have made it to the championships are Central Catholic, Beaver Falls, Steel Valley and Clairton. This is the seventh championship appearance for both Clairton and Central Catholic while Beaver Falls and Steel Valley are making their firsts.

Drive for Five

Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Clairton are both four-time PIAA champions. That is the most of any team in the WPIAL.

But for championship tradition, no one can match what Southern Columbia is doing. The Tigers are going after their eighth championship and they are making their 15^th appearance in a title game. Six of Southern Columbia’s PIAA championships are in Class 1A, but they moved up to 2A last year and won the title. Southern Columbia plays Steel Valley in this year’s 2A final.

Can Bears Run?

A few of the PIAA championship matchups appear to be more interesting than others. But the matchup within the matchup that is most interesting is in the Clairton vs. Bishop Guilfoyle game in 1A.

The Clairton Bears feature Wade, the third-leading rusher in WPIAL history who has more than 2,000 yards this season. But Bishop Guilfoyle’s defense has been superb against the run. Guilfoyle has allowed only 1,244 yards rushing this season and the Marauders give up only 2.8 yards a carry.

Thursday Night Football

For the first time since the PIAA playoffs started in 1988, there will be a Thursday night championship game.

Because the PIAA switched from four to six classifications this season, the league didn’t want to put all of the title games on Friday and Saturday. So on Thursday night, Imhotep Charter will play Erie Cathedral Prep for the 4A title at Hersheypark Stadium.

 Two games will be played Friday and three Saturday. Although there is a Thursday night game, this is not the first time that all of the games will not be played on a Friday and Saturday. There were a few times over the years where snow postponed games until a Sunday.

Baseball Pitching Rules Vote

While the PIAA football championships are Thursday through Sunday, the PIAA will have a board of directors meeting Thursday, also in Hershey. One of the items that will be voted on again will be the pitching limitations rule in baseball.

The PIAA will put restrictions on number of pitches thrown in baseball this season. In the past, the restrictions were on innings pitched. A rule must pass three readings before going into effect. This would be the second reading.

Under the rule, the maximum number of pitches in a calendar week is 200. A calendar week is Sunday through Saturday. If a pitcher throws 1 to 25 pitches, he does not need any rest. If he throws 26 to 50, he needs one day rest. If he throws 51 to 75, he needs two days. If he throws 76-100, he needs three days. A pitcher can’t throw more than 100 pitches in a game.

Tags: Beaver Falls, Clairton, Hopewell