George Guido: Six-classification system for football affecting rivalries, attendance

By: George Guido
Tuesday, September 3, 2019 | 6:00 PM

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If you’re looking for an Alle-Kiski Valley football rivalry game this week, don’t bother.

Of the 13 schools in the Valley News Dispatch circulation area, none play each other.

It’s the outgrowth of the six-classification system, which is in its fourth season.

If you run a gas station, however, you’re in luck.

Highlands is at Blackhawk. Deer Lakes travels to Uniontown, and Riverview will motor to Charleroi.

Plum is at Gateway — about a 4-mile trip — so that isn’t bad.

The point is athletic directors and school officials around the WPIAL are complaining about empty stadiums and puny gate receipts, partly because of unfamiliar opponents too far from home.

This also hurts boosters clubs, 50/50 sellers and concession stand operators, who in most cases rely on the income to have season-ending banquets, buy letter jackets and serve pregame meals to teams.

The WPIAL would like to return to four classes, then slot teams into the PIAA postseason according to their playoff finish. That happened in 1988 and ’89 when the WPIAL and PIAA had different classification barriers.

In 1988, for instance, Wilmington was the WPIAL Class A champion, but the Greyhounds entered the state playoffs as a Class AA school.

Knoch goes for No. 300

The 2-0 Knoch Knights will be going for the 300th victory in school history Friday at home against Beaver.

This includes any wins accumulated during the 1956 and ’57 seasons when it was known as South Butler High School.

Knoch fans hope a 300th win won’t be as nail-biting as No. 200.

On Sept. 20, 1996, at Burrell, quarterback Jeff Sturgeon was sacked and Knoch couldn’t line up for another play as time expired. But officials said Burrell ran onto the field to celebrate a 20-19 win before the clock showed three zeros and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Since the game can’t end on a defensive penalty, the Knights ran an untimed play.

Sturgeon passed 45 yards to Robert Milliron to give Knoch a 25-20 victory.

Wash High goes for No. 700

One of the WPIAL’s most successful programs also is on the brink of a milestone.

Washington will shoot for victory No. 700 on Saturday afternoon at Summit Academy.

The Prexies are 2-0 after wins over Laurel Highlands and Charleroi.

Bob Gregg, a broadcaster at WJPA radio in Washington, found a previously unaccounted for 1923 game where Wash High defeated Pittsburgh Allegheny in a playoff, 60-6.

In case you missed it

David Bednar made his major league debut Sunday for the San Diego Padres.

The 2013 Mars graduate retired the Giants in order on three fly balls in the ninth inning to preserve an 8-4 victory.

Bednar, 24, is a September call-up who pitched for the Padres’ Class AA affiliate Amarillo Sod Poodles in the Texas League, striking out 86 in 58 innings.

The son of Mars coach Andy Bednar, David played three seasons at Lafayette before being selected by the Padres in the 35th round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

Arizona-bound

While Bednar is in the majors, Plum graduate Alex Kiriloff and Norwin’s J.J. Matijevic will play in the Arizona Fall League this year.

Another player, catcher Joey Bart, the No. 1 prospect for the Giants, also will spend the fall in Arizona.

He is the son of 1979 Burrell graduate Tom Bart and grew up outside of Atlanta, attending Buford High School and later, Georgia Tech.

The younger Bart was drafted by Giants at No. 2 overall in 2018 and already is in Class AA with the Richmond (Va.) Flying Squirrels.

The Top 10

Here is a list of the 10 Alle-Kiski Valley football schools with the most victories.

Sept. 4, 2019

1. Freeport 555

2. Springdale 409

3. Leechburg 392

4. Kittanning 389

5. Ford City 352

6. Plum 324

7. Knoch 299

7. Kiski Area 298

9. Burrell 282

10. Tarentum 269

Tags: Deer Lakes, Highlands, Knoch, Plum, Riverview, Washington