Scholastic Notebook – 11/29/2013

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 29, 2013 | 6:20 PM

It was a pretty big deal this fall when Sto-Rox’s Lenny Williams became the WPIAL all-time leading passer. But it’s looking like Williams’ record might not last more than a year.

South Fayette’s Brett Brumbaugh appears to have a very good shot at Williams’ record next year. Let’s look at the numbers and the possibilities:

Williams, a senior, finished his career with 8,508 yards. Besides that being the best in WPIAL history, it also was fifth-best in state history. Sto-Rox lost lost last week in the WPIAL Class A finals and the loss means Williams can’t add more distance between himself and Brumbaugh.

Brumbaugh is only a junior and 6,525 yards. That puts Brumbaugh only 1,983 yards away from Williams. Plus, South Fayette is in the PIAA quarterfinals this weekend and South Fayette probably is a favorite against Karns City. That would mean there is a strong possibility that Brumbaugh will play at least two more games, and possibly three. He could finish this season about 1,500 yards away from Williams.

Considering South Fayette’s spread offense and a strong passing game, and considering Brumbaugh has thrown for at least 2,000 yards this season and last year, he is a good bet to catch Williams.

Williams also holds the WPIAL record for touchdown passes with 102.  But Brumbaugh also has a good chance to break that record. Brumbaugh has 78 career touchdown passes and 34 this season.

Classification Changes

The PIAA realigns classifications every two years, based on school enrollments. Next year begins a new two-year cycle and earlier this week, the PIAA released enrollment cutoffs for classifications in all sports.

Schools had to report their enrollments to the PIAA in October. Although the PIAA won’t release individual school enrollments until next month, there were many reports this week about some significant changes for some schools.

One of the biggest changes will be in football where Gateway might move down from AAAA to AAA. The Gators enrollment places the team in Class AAA, but schools have about a week or so to inform the PIAA if they want to play “up” in classification. Gateway football coach Donnie Millitzer said the school hasn’t yet decided if they will play “up” or stay in AAA.

Some other significant changes in football are Highlands moving down from Class AAA to AA, and Riverside moving from Class AA to A.

There will also be significant changes in basketball. Biggest among those are New Castle and Hampton will drop back to Class AAA. They played in the WPIAL Class AAAA title game last year. The funny thing is they played in the Class AAA title game two years ago and next year they will be back in Class AAA.

Also in basketball, perennial power Chartiers Valley is moving up from Class AAA to AAAA.

Beaver Falls coach Doug Biega wants his team to play “up” in Class AAA, but Biega said the school hasn’t decided yet what to do. Beaver Falls is the two-time defending WPIAL Class AA champ.

Football Recruiting

Aliquippa football star Dravon Henry has named a top five in his recruiting, and it is different than what he has been saying lately.

Henry now says Pitt, West Virginia, Maryland, Miami and Louisville are now his top schools. He had been saying Pitt, West Virginia, Ohio State and Alabama were his favorites. But it seems like Ohio State and Alabama might not have been recruiting him much.

Also in recruiting, Washington running back Shai McKenzie will announce his college choice Dec. 20 at a news conference. His finalists are Pitt, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.

Volleyball Star Smith to Penn State

It didn’t get as much attention as a top football recruit deciding on a college, but there was significant news on the WPIAL volleyball recruting front recently.

Ambridge senior Lee Smith signed a letter of intent with Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a top NCAA program and Smith is a top propsect.

Smith is a 6-foot-6 outside hitter with an impressive resume. He competed in th 2013 Boys’ Youth National Volleyball training camp. He also plays for the Beaver Valley Premier club team.

“His skills in hitting and blocking will aid him as he develops at the collegiate level,” said Penn State coach Mark Pavlik. “He is a competitor who has been successful at every level in which he has been involved and I am sure that will continue as a Nittany Lion.”

Smith has been an all-WPIAL selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior and was MVP the past two seasons.

Tags: Allderdice, Ambridge, Beaver Falls, Chartiers Valley, Gateway, Hampton, Highlands, Washington