Starting Freshmen at the Varsity Level.

[Agent15904]

It is my understanding that McCort is starting 4 freshmen this year on their varsity team and they are playing both ways! Two are D&O-Lineman, one is a RB/LB, and the other one is a RB/DB, not to mention their starting QB is a sophomore. I get numbers are down, but is starting a 14 year old at the varsity level both ways even safe? Not to mention starting 4 of them?!? Recruiting must have fallen on hard times on Osborne St. since Salem left. Any other teams out there going with a youth movement? Is this a new trend due to decreasing numbers or is it just a problem at poor McCort?

[Crimson's Ghost]

Well, it's week eight and nobody is hurt so that answers your own question.

[PLDragons24]

Well almost every team in the heritage has multiple freshman starting and every team has at least one freshman that gets a lot of playing time and to be honest you can't even tell most of them are freshman. Everyone matures at different speeds, some are ready to play varsity in 9th grade and some aren't.

[Agent15904]

Well put Crimson Ghost. I guess we'll have to just wait and see.

PLDragons24, no offense but the Heritage isn't the Laurel Highlands. Have you seen the size of some of the teams in the LH this year? Somerset looks like it could be a stand in for a D1 college team. And we're not talking about "playing time." These kids are starting both ways at the age of 13/14 years old. Looking back, I can't even imagine starting both ways as a freshmen and I'd like to think I physically matured early. Not to mention kids are bigger and stronger now then they were 20-30 years ago. Weigh lifting and nutrition has come a long way since then.

[PortagePride]

Portage has also started multiple Freshman the past 2 or 3 seasons and our numbers haven't drastically dropped or anything to cause this to happen. If they're you're best talent and you want them to grow and learn, I see nothing wrong with playing them.

[PLDragons24]

No offense Agent but the LHAC isn't what it used to be 5 years ago. They haven't won a single a championship since 2010 and they didn't win any championships last year. That being said, BG and Somerset both have very good teams this year. I wouldn't sleep on Blairsville though.

[knowitall]

Several freshmen today are 15. All others are 14. Thirty years ago many of today's freshmen would be sophomores

[Crimson's Ghost]

LHAC football isn't physically imposing like it used to be, but it's still better than the other four local leagues. These freshmen couldn't have hung 6-7-8 years ago, but they aren't over their head right now.

[TheRealBleacherCoach]

I was surprised watching somerset and mccort. I couldn't even tell they had freshman on the field. Their size shocked me. Their offensive line played the best of all the teams against somerset. Now somerset also had 3 starters on defense not dressed this week but McCort O-line definatly held their own. They get a good coach in their McCort will be alright in the coming years.

[knowitall]

What are all these good coaches doing today? I hate to see talent go to waste