Fantasy Matchup: Aliquippa vs. Clairton

[YinzerKyle]

Please tell me you did not just say that coach Zmijanac is a bad coach.......

[QuoteTheRaven]

Hes solid, but not elite. All the history Aliquippa has, all the WPIAL titles and only 2 state championships? His gameplan is very elementary. I-formation Henry middle...I-formation Swanson middle...I-formation Henry middle...I-formation Swanson middle. I understand he is old school ground and pound, and theres nothing wrong with that. But run a reverse, run a wildcat, atleast mix it up a little!!! Hes WAY to one dimensional in my oppinion. Against inferior teams Coach Z rams it down their throats year in and year out. But against top state competition, teams on the same level with the Quips, he gets shut down because he is way to one demensional. All Im saying is with the talent Aliquippa has theres no excuse not to be as dominant as Clairton. The Quips get outclassed by the big boys because they get outcoached, 3 yards and a cloud of dust doesnt win state championships. You need a diverse attack and atleast somewhat of a passing game. Im not doubting the Quips talent, im not doubting their strength/conditioning, and im not doubting their history. But what I see is a town LOADED with talent, that beats up on teams within its own district consistently, but when they go up against the big boys they get outclassed almost every year. Not because of talent, but because they are too simplistic and one dimensional in their offensive gameplan.

[AnthonyK]

It wasnt too long ago I was at Ambridge High School watching West Middlesex score 2-3TDs late to beat Clairton and the previous year watching them lose at Heinz to Rochester and I can tell you in the stands they were callin him everything but Nola...Trust me! Now he is a cult figure. Swanson gains 1 more yd last year in Altoona and doesnt sprain his ankle 2 weeks ago where he was about 70% and got caught last week from behind Coach Z would be a legend. I will say this..Aliquippa's OL is a ton more athletic than Dunmores and Wyomissing is a ton better than Dunmore. But what I love about Clairton is they have a Plan A, Plan B and a Plan C. They have a "If they double Boyd" package, They have a "Get the ball to Terrish" package etc etc etc and clearly someone worked with Ford on throwing. Quips ate drank and slept the Power game never worked on throwing or a package cause they didnt need to and it killed them. And to boot they had the ball with 3 minutes left midfield and ran option, then 3 passes with Henry not touching the ball. It was total panic. They abandoned what got them there. Next year they could be so dominant they get away with it. But its funny i sat with Clairton people at games and some series in the first half they're up 14-0 mid second against a really trash opponent and Nola tries 3 passes and doesnt involve Boyd and the fans are screaming about why not give it to Tyler Boyd etc. Well because you could A. Give it to Boyd every down and beat Fort Cherry Serra Imani etc by 80 or work on things in case you don't have Boyd one game or he is doubled and in the end it was extremely helpful. Kudos to Tom Nola and his staff. As far as barber shop talk I'll say 14-14 tie. hahaha

[AnthonyK]

One other thing I wanted to add Coach Zminiac, George Novak, Tom Nola are good people. I'm not so sure a coach from a high income area or extremely rural setting could handle the issues those guys handle. Look at what's happened to Penn Hills and McKeesport since Gordon and Smith left there? You ask any official (I know plenty) to name the schools kids don't cut up and disrespect dont get personal foul penalties you always hear Quip and Woodland Hills. Always. There's something to be said about molding boys into young men and not everybody lives in Wexford or Mt Lebo or Upper St Clair with a two parent home and structure.

[animus]

Nola is hardly a cult figure in Clairton. Trust me on that.

[AnthonyK]

I believe you there Animus. Should have just said Nola won 5 wpials/4 state titles and 63 straight games and for NOW is on everybodies good side. He has a career record of 140-20 or something insane. And Clairton has had talent before Nola and will have talent after Nola as well. Which is why he should retire on top and leave. I'm sure next year when they possibly could lose a game it will be "All Nola's fault". Oh ya I've sat in the Clairton section plenty of games and some of my wife's people have cousins in Clairton. So I know the deal. It's just funny everybodies an arm chair Qb and "would have" did this and did that. Not sure why they don't become coaches themselves. I have a brother in law never put a jock strap on his whole life but every freakin Monday morning I listen to him tell me what's wrong with the Steelers and cause he treats my sister so good I sit there and listen to it. For over 20 years now!! haha

[Big Ike]

It wasnt too long ago I was at Ambridge High School watching West Middlesex score 2-3TDs late to beat Clairton and the previous year watching them lose at Heinz to Rochester and I can tell you in the stands they were callin him everything but Nola...Trust me! Now he is a cult figure. Swanson gains 1 more yd last year in Altoona and doesnt sprain his ankle 2 weeks ago where he was about 70% and got caught last week from behind Coach Z would be a legend. I will say this..Aliquippa's OL is a ton more athletic than Dunmores and Wyomissing is a ton better than Dunmore. But what I love about Clairton is they have a Plan A, Plan B and a Plan C. They have a "If they double Boyd" package, They have a "Get the ball to Terrish" package etc etc etc and clearly someone worked with Ford on throwing. Quips ate drank and slept the Power game never worked on throwing or a package cause they didnt need to and it killed them. And to boot they had the ball with 3 minutes left midfield and ran option, then 3 passes with Henry not touching the ball. It was total panic. They abandoned what got them there. Next year they could be so dominant they get away with it. But its funny i sat with Clairton people at games and some series in the first half they're up 14-0 mid second against a really trash opponent and Nola tries 3 passes and doesnt involve Boyd and the fans are screaming about why not give it to Tyler Boyd etc. Well because you could A. Give it to Boyd every down and beat Fort Cherry Serra Imani etc by 80 or work on things in case you don't have Boyd one game or he is doubled and in the end it was extremely helpful. Kudos to Tom Nola and his staff. As far as barber shop talk I'll say 14-14 tie. hahaha

Had missed this interesting top...Would love to see it! I think AnthonyK the above mentioned game is what changed Clairton. From that point on, and what has seperated Clairton, is now they are as much a passing team as running. I am sure they rather run but as others have said there are times you need to spread it out and be able to keep better teams on thier toes. What is impressive they don't run what I call the "City League" offense of run/run 3rd down more than 3 yards to go you throw a deep ball...Nothing fancy or intermediate "Go deep to the telephone pole I'll throw it as far as possible". Clairton is not Seton Lasalle but there passing routes do include slants and comebacks and not just a deep ball.

I am suprised everyone seems to be saying Aliquippa just runs, I have not seen them really but in the past they had some QB's that could sling the ball and had recievers to boot. It seems like with the 2 RB's they must have abandoned that aspect and relied on 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

That said in 2011-2012 I would have said Clairton wins because of experience. a score of around 24 (2 pt conversions) to 12. This past year I would have pick Quippa because of the size of thier line in a grinding battle of about 13-6. As We all know until Quippa can't compete pride will take over and they won't play in A. I see nothing wrong with it. At most they would have maybe 2 more lopsided games within conference. Most of who they would play in A would be on par with New Brighton, mohawk, freedom, riverside...As a matter fact I think a big seven schedule of Sto, Rochy, Union, Laurel would have been a lil tougher...Playoff time, less tough..A move could still allow you to play some rivals...

[YinzerKyle]

Hes solid, but not elite. All the history Aliquippa has, all the WPIAL titles and only 2 state championships? His gameplan is very elementary. I-formation Henry middle...I-formation Swanson middle...I-formation Henry middle...I-formation Swanson middle. I understand he is old school ground and pound, and theres nothing wrong with that. But run a reverse, run a wildcat, atleast mix it up a little!!! Hes WAY to one dimensional in my oppinion. Against inferior teams Coach Z rams it down their throats year in and year out. But against top state competition, teams on the same level with the Quips, he gets shut down because he is way to one demensional. All Im saying is with the talent Aliquippa has theres no excuse not to be as dominant as Clairton. The Quips get outclassed by the big boys because they get outcoached, 3 yards and a cloud of dust doesnt win state championships. You need a diverse attack and atleast somewhat of a passing game. Im not doubting the Quips talent, im not doubting their strength/conditioning, and im not doubting their history. But what I see is a town LOADED with talent, that beats up on teams within its own district consistently, but when they go up against the big boys they get outclassed almost every year. Not because of talent, but because they are too simplistic and one dimensional in their offensive gameplan.

The reason for this (not defending just saying) is because coach Z is not a football coach. He's a basketball guy and the only reason why he got involved in Aliquippa football is because he was friends with Don Yanessa. Don brought him on staff and taught him the schemes he runs and the concepts he instills. Coach Z will not and can not adapt because that's the only way of coaching he knows. Now, it doesn't make him a bad coach - he's done great for the school and put many kids into college - but the Quips aren't going to stop running their limited offense until someone new comes in.

I think Coach Z is a great guy and does a great things but you are right where I think if they had new ideals it wouldn't hurt.

[animus]

After coming back to this after 2 months I can see this from both sides. Even with an ultra vanilla offence Aliquippa shredded through their opponents like Swiss Cheese and was a play or 2 away from winning a state crown. But while Z himself is set in his ways, it wouldn't hurt having an O-Coordinator that can install some dynamic packages to throw a defense off balance. For instance they can install a diamond pistol with Henry & Swanson in the backfield at the same time.

What really hurt Aliquippa wasn't really their style of offense. It was a problem that most 2A & 1A schools face and that's a lack of a kicking game.